The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - A Grandiose Continuation

Just like “An Unexpected Journey,” but even grander – those who couldn’t get enough of the four Tolkien films will certainly not be disappointed by “The Desolation of Smaug.”

Thorin Oakenshield, the heir to the dwarven throne, and his companions continue their journey to the Lonely Mountain, into the depths of the ancient city seized by the fire-breathing dragon Smaug. The expedition faces Mirkwood, the home of wood-elves, which has become infested with dark forces. To complicate matters, the dwarves and the hobbit must make this journey alone – the wizard Gandalf is forced to leave them to investigate a powerful being that has taken up residence in Dol Guldur.

There are films that run for an hour and a half, but feel like three hours. With “The Desolation of Smaug,” we have an even more “advanced” situation – the film lasts two and a half hours, but feels like five. In this particular case, however, this will serve as the best recommendation for many – after all, is five hours spent in a beloved fantasy world not better than two and a half?

Peter Jackson himself appears in the frame early on – he comes out of a house and munches on a carrot.

It should be clarified from the outset that this effect is not achieved because the film “sags” or is simply boring, no. It’s just that there are a lot of events in it – or rather, what is commonly called “adventures,” and this is even surprising, considering that Peter Jackson split one not-so-thick book into three initially long films. Wandering through Mirkwood, an army of spiders, a meeting with wood-elves, an escape in barrels and a battle with orcs, a raid on Dol Guldur, a visit to Lake-town, repelling an orc attack, and finally, a confrontation with Smaug… It is clear that Peter Jackson is genuinely in love not even with this world, but with his interpretation of it – he arranges each act of the plot in as much detail as possible, but in such a way as not to lull the viewer to sleep. As a result, you get the feeling that you are watching not one big film, but several episodes of a series in a row – and only God knows when the session will be interrupted. Jackson, however, did not become original and ended “The Desolation of Smaug” with a classic ending in the spirit of “The Empire Strikes Back” – the cast is removed, the client leaves, everything is lost! How to wait for the final part of the trilogy now?

Orlando Bloom is two years older than Lee Pace, who plays his father in “The Desolation of Smaug.”

Familiar Territory, But Is It Too Familiar?

It was said above that Jackson did not become original, and this is another “plus-minus” of “The Desolation of Smaug.” On the one hand, the picture fits seamlessly into the cycle – this is not the case with the first and second “Star Wars” trilogies, years later our children will watch the saga, starting with “The Hobbit,” and not experience any difficulties when switching to “The Lord of the Rings.” On the other hand, in the ten years since the release of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” Jackson’s “grand style” has worn out slightly. Pompous pauses, expressive extreme close-ups, computer “doubles” of elves jumping over heads, like Jet Li in “Fong Sai-Yuk” – there is no special freshness in all this anymore. We’ve been there, seen that, passed through, heard it, we know. And even the dragon Smaug, undoubtedly impressive in the first minutes of his appearance, somehow suspiciously quickly becomes familiar and commonplace.

A Fresh Addition: Tauriel

However, there is at least one successful fresh solution in “The Desolation of Smaug” – we are talking about the “combat elf” Tauriel, played by Evangeline Lilly, and her charming “romance” with one of the dwarves, Kili. This heroine was not in Tolkien’s book, but she fit into the film like a glove. Perhaps, you can even play the seer and assume that the new generation of teenagers has received their Princess Leia – a bright object of romantic (erotic?) fantasies. Tauriel doesn’t seem to show anything special, but she looks stunning, deals with armies of orcs extremely deftly, and shoots with her eyes no less effectively than from a bow.