THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (MOVIE REVIEW)

December 15, 2013 The Dork Knight Uncategorized 0


This is the second installment of The Hobbit trilogy by director Peter Jackson. This also marks the fifth film overall regarding J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth saga. The Desolation of Smaug opens a year earlier with the initial meeting between the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and the Dwarf Thorin (Richard Armitage) and then it picks up where An Unexpected Journey left off.

After escaping from the Misty Mountains, Bilbo, Thorin and the rest of the dwarves continue on their quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch).


Along the way they encounter and have to fight off giant spiders. Bilbo and the dwarves are “aided” by the Wood Elves led by Legolas (once again played by Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly). But afterwards become their prisoners.
Bilbo, with the aid of the ring, frees the dwarves and their quest to Erebor continues. Their quest leads them to the lake town of Esgarothand a man named Bard. This water-based lake town of man sits at the foot of the Lonely Mountain of Erebor. And although they don’t suffer the devastating destruction left behind by the dragon, Smaug, Esgaroth has suffered as well. They live in quiet fear of reawakening the dragon. Which is something that happens when Bilbo goes searching for the Arkenstone.

The Desolation of Smaug is a marginal improvement over the first film.  It’s still not on the same level as the Lord of the Rings trilogy but the last hour leading up to its final scene makes you want to see the epic conclusion. If I had a particular criticism, is that Peter Jackson tends to over do it ala George Lucas in terms of the “wow factor” on the technological side of storytelling. Sometimes less is more.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug **1/2 (out of 4)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight

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James aka “The Dork Knight” is a blogger and writer based out of Upstate New York. For James, it all started with a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… when he dragged his mom to see The Empire Strikes Back 10 weeks in a row. He lives and breathes nerd culture. James is proof that a Star Wars fanatic can be a passionate Trekkie as well. So much so James dressed up as Captain Kirk to the premiere of Star Trek VI in 1991 and still has the uniform. When it comes to Comic Books, Sci-Fi or Fantasy whether in print or digital, in the theatre or on my TV screen, I’m all about it and I love it. So bring your Phaser (set to stun), Lightsaber, Sonic Screwdriver, a Wand, Mjolnir or the Ring to rule them all, because this site is for the dork in all of us.