The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Cast of Characters:

Ian McKellen - Gandalf the Grey

Bilbo Baggins - Martin Freeman

Thorin Oakenshield - Richard Armitage

Smaug - Benedict Cumberbatch

Tauriel - Evangeline Lilly

Thranduil - Lee Pace

Bard the Bowman - Luke Evans

Balin - Ken Stott

Bofur - James Nesbitt

Legolas - Orlando Bloom

Director - Peter Jackson

Screenplay - Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro

Based on the novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence and frightening images

      Bilbo and the gang are back to fight Orcs and dragons and make New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. billions of dollars in the second installment of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved literary classic, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

      Following the events that took place in the first film last year, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) and the company of dwarves - led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) - are continuing their quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, the dwarves once great homeland. Standing in their way of course are the army of Orcs and the Sindar Elves, who aren't enemies per se, just very reluctant to help the dwarves considering the pasts between the two.

      Their biggest challenge though is the one who now inhabits the Lonely Mountain - Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch), the last great dragon of Middle-earth. Inside the Lonely Mountain is the dwarves's coveted Arkenstone and it'll be up to Bilbo, the "burglar" hired by the dwarves, to take back the Arkenstone from the feared Smaug.

      Despite making more money than either the first or second Lord of the Rings installments, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey wasn't as well received as the original trilogy (although The Hobbit isn't a prequel, it was actually the first book written in the series, but hey, that's the Tolkien nerd in me talking). Although I enjoyed the first installment for this trilogy, my initial complaint was why make it a trilogy when it's the shortest book out of the four. A part of me feels, making just one three hour movie or even just two instead of three would've been better. In the end, whatever, it is what it is and honestly if I was the studio head here I would've probably stretched it to twelve films and watched it rain dollas making me holla in my office. That said, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is slightly better than the first. More often than not, for any film franchise, that's not the case, but it's always the trajectory studios wanna see. While the first film had some pacing issues and the scenes with the elves (who really have just a minor part in the book) went on longer than they should, Jackson keeps the ball rolling here at a better pace, which includes a barrel riding sword and arrow fighting sequence that is one of the most exciting and terrifically choreographed action sequences in film this year. While most of the cast are those we were already introduced to in the first film, we are introduced to some new ones. Evangeline Lilly is quite a badass as Tauriel. She's certainly a chick I would never wanna cross like some Orcs are foolish enough to do. We're introduced to Beorn in a small scene, but I only bring him up 'cause he's one of my favorite characters from the story. Orlando Bloom returns as Legolas, the role that put him on the map. At first, the Tolkien nerd burst out of me when I heard he'd appear in the film, ("He's not even in the book!!!!") but it was nice seeing him again onscreen, particularly considering, aside from the Pirates movies, he hasn't been in much else worth seeing. Richard Armitage once again is terrific as Thorin (a perfect casting choice, in my opinion). We don't get as much Bilbo as we could and, who are we kidding, as we should, but Freeman still embodies the role quite well, and of course, when he isn't sharing a love-hate relationship with Professor X, it's always great to see McKellen don the wizard robe as Gandalf. Like the title states, we are finally introduced to Smaug and who better to voice him than vocally gifted Benedict Cumberbatch, who appears to have starred in every other film that came out this year. Cumberbatch (who, like Andy Serkis with Gollum, also provided the motion capture for the character) provides the devious Smaug with all the fear, menace and fury that those of you, like me, who loved the dragon in the book will wanna see. It's the part of the film I was most looking forward to, and it's the strongest of the film. Cumberbatch and Freeman in no way dissapoint.

      There are moments, like the first, where it feels just a bit more stretched out than it needs to be. That also could've been maybe due to the fact that I finished my soda early, so by the 140 minute mark I was crossing my legs and holding my bladder going, "Come on, just bring the dragon down already, Bilbo!" Nitpicks aside, the story picks up from the first in a slightly more exciting fashion. Although some will gripe about the abrupt ending, here's hoping the third installment finishes the story off right. I give The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug an A- (★★★½).

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