Review – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Carmen Paddock reviews Peter Jackson’s second adaptation of the Hobbit.

Image credit: Metro

The second installment of Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth trilogy clocks in at 161 minutes, slightly shorter than its predecessor (and all three of The Lord of the Rings) but still ample time for thrilling action sequences; high adventure across forests, rivers, towns, and mountains; and one massive dragon.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will almost certainly delight fans of the franchise with its fast-paced plot, fantastic performances, and excellent art direction and effects.

Once Howard Shore’s haunting music and New Zealand’s stunning scenery are combined, the familiar atmosphere immediately immerses viewers in Middle Earth and the adventures at hand – a testament to Jackson’s and his team’s artistic coherence.

The film begins with a flashback to an introductory scene only heard about in the books.  It then largely picks up where An Unexpected Journey ends, following the dwarves on their continued escape from the band of Orcs led by Azog the Defiler.  Without giving too much away, the ensuing journey takes the party across amazing landscapes, to exciting new places, and into contact with a host of colourful characters – elves, men, shape-shifters, and dragons.

Although Jackson keeps the core storyline intact, those who have read the books, may find a few of the plot changes – some quite egregious – a source of contention and consternation.  The action culminates in terrible suspense; those who have not read the book will have to wait another year to see how that cliffhanger turns out!

Image credit: The Times

The performances are strong throughout the immense cast.  Martin Freeman’s impeccably-timed and precise mannerisms are perfect for Bilbo, and he convincingly portrays the hobbit’s increasing boldness and ingenuity alongside his growing attachment to his new-found ring.

Richard Armitage is once again a compelling, dynamic Thorin; no one aspect of his character – his stubbornness, charisma, power lust, courage, and developing rapport with Bilbo – overpowers another, highlighting both his heroic side and his deep flaws.

The rest of the dwarf company are all fully-developed characters – standouts include Ken Scott as Balin, Graham McTavish as Dwalin, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, and Aidan Turner as Thorin’s impetuous nephew Kili.

Sir Ian McKellen’s Gandalf is a classic, while Orlando Bloom reprises Legolas and is every bit the beloved wood elf of before.  He is joined by Lee Pace as his father, Thranduil, and Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel, a female elf warrior of Peter Jackson’s creation.

Pace creates a nuanced portrayal of a king desperate to defend his people against the growing darkness, while Lilly impresses as a bold, powerful, and utterly competent heroine.  Her addition to the story is quite welcome.

Luke Evans’s Bard and Stephen Fry’s Master of Laketown vary slightly from their book counterparts, especially in their relation to one another, but the two actors flesh out the characters nicely.

Oscar-worthy: Benedict Cumberbatch voices Smaug.
Image credit: Total Film

And no actor review would be complete without mention of Benedict Cumberbatch, who voices both the dragon Smaug and the Necromancer of Dol Goldur.  Despite two different voice modifications, both are noticeably  Cumberbatch – a refreshing touch of recognition amidst the CGI visual performances.  And what a deep, commanding voice it is!

The cinematography keeps the film’s mis-en-scene almost indistinguishable from earlier installments.  A nice artistic touch is varying the shots by location depending on the quality of each: the filming in Mirkwood is dizzying while the Woodland Realm is dreamlike and Erebor is vast and sweeping.

On the whole, the visual effects are successful, the only downfall being that the computer generated Orcs seem less menacing and more ‘plastic’ than their prosthetic, human-acted counterparts found throughout The Lord of the Rings.

Smaug, however, is a phenomenal creation.  At once recognisably and traditionally dragon-like, yet also entirely unique (his movements had an almost bat-like quality), he is a marvel of computer designs, and possibly worth a visual effects Oscar all on his own.

Despite serious departures from original plot details, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is a solid, enjoyable, and thrilling continuation of a decades-long franchise.

Although the final chapter, out in December 2014, cannot come soon enough, leaving the fantastic Middle Earth of Peter Jackson’s meticulous creation will be a difficult goodbye.

Carmen Paddock

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Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Image credit: New Line Cinema

“Bilbo Baggins, I am looking for someone to share in an adventure with…”

With this soon to be iconic line, the adventure of The Hobbit begins. The Hobbit proves that Peter Jackson really is the only man who should do Middle Earth. Guillermo Del Toro flirted with directing and that was interesting but when it finally went back to Jackson, I knew it was in good hands.

My faith well placed and having wondered if lightning could ever possibly strike twice, I found out that it really can. And it can be something special by its own right, separate from its older sibling that people still swoon over today. Despite LOTR being the epic behemoth that it is, The Hobbit feels like quite a different beast completely. LOTR was very much a story of a difficult quest, where the stakes were much higher and the tone decidedly darker. The Hobbit feels much more like classic fantasy, in that it takes you on a magical adventure. That is where the film’s strength lies: in its ability to transport you to Middle Earth much like LOTR did but with a different mood and tone.

As with LOTR, the scale is quite magnificent. The beautiful surroundings of New Zealand perfectly capture the fantastical setting of Middle Earth, from the rolling hills of the Shire to the endless mountain ranges of the Misty Mountains. This helps enhance the experience as the reliance on photography makes the experience feel both real yet magical.

One part of the visual experience that struck me was the colour. In The Hobbit, colour is incredibly vibrant, the mixtures of green and oranges enhance the feeling of magic making Middle Earth seem even more mythical. This vibrancy often contrasts with the darker tones and more serious matter of the LOTR saga.

The basic premise is that Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, is invited on an adventure by the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves to reclaim their homeland from the evil dragon Smaug. Jackson, however, makes it much deeper than that by delving into not only the original book but also other elements of Tolkein lore. This is a make or break decision as if this is not done well it could ruin the entire storyline. Fear not, the story is woven seamlessly into the rest of Tolkein’s world, providing you with a much more detailed adventure into the world of Middle Earth.

Martin Freeman is superb as Bilbo. The journey from the simple Hobbit of the Shire to the brave adventurer is managed wonderfully. He provides subtle humour and inspirational courage. However, the real fun of the film comes from the Dwarves. Thirteen separate Dwarves each with their own unique personality provide the true soul to the film. Only a third of the way through the trilogy, I have already developed a real attachment to the characters, similar to the love fans have for the Fellowship in LOTR. You will laugh, shout and cry as you feel for these characters as they fight for their home.

Of course, the returning characters are on top form. Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving are just as memorable in reprising their classic roles. As with LOTR, Jackson has been meticulous with choosing the right actors to play the right roles. Each actor portrays their character uniquely creating a whole mixture of personalities that add warmth to the film.

Obviously, there are still some potential knocks in the road. There is much scope for the trilogy to go off course. Unlike LOTR, this film will not please all. There will be some who, like I do, find it to be a true adventure where the film much like the book grabs you by the hand and takes you to a completely new world. However, some people may prefer the greater seriousness of LOTR and may dislike the comparison.

Before you go into the film, the best thing you can do is forget LOTR and get lost once more into the world of Middle Earth. It’s filled with memorable moments that had me as overwhelmed as LOTR did. It’s an adventure that you should not miss out on!

My Rating: 4.5/5

Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Average: 3.2/5

Alex Phelps, Online Games Editor