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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug poster

CAST
MARTIN FREEMAN
RICHARD ARMITAGE
MANU BENNETT
ORLANDO BLOOM
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
LUKE EVANS
STEPHEN FRY
RYAN GAGE
EVANGELINE LILLY
LAWRENCE MAKOARE
IAN McKELLAN
JAMES NESBITT
LEE PACE
KEN STOTT
AIDEN TURNER

BASED ON THE NOVEL “THE HOBBIT” WRITTEN BY
J.R.R. TOLKIEN

SCREENPLAY BY
PHILIPPA BOYENS
GUILLERMO DEL TORO
PETER JACKSON
FRAN WALSH

PRODUCED BY
CAROLYNNE CUNNINGHAM
PETER JACKSON
FRAN WALSH
ZENE WEINER

DIRECTED BY
PETER JACKSON

GENRE
ADVENTURE
FANTASY

RATED
AUS: M
UK: 12A
USA: PG-13

RUNNING TIME
161 MIN

 

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (2013)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is another cracking entry in Peter Jackson’s continuous Middle Earth saga, yet story and pacing issues ranks it at the bottom of an impressive list and confirms that Jackson’s decision to adapt J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy novel into a trilogy was not a wise one.  

Ever since Peter Jackson wowed us with his three part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, movie studios have been pre-occupied with packaging their top shelf blockbusters in bunches of three (The Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean and Batman franchises the most successful). Yet with The Hobbit it seems that what Jackson has turned fashionable just might go out of style.

Let’s not get confused here: The Desolation of Smaug is top grade action adventure entertainment, impeccably crafted and performed, with many nail biting moments and thrilling action sequences. Yet cracks have begun to appear in Jackson’s once iron clad formula, with the New Zealand filmmaker’s decision to disband with an originally planned two part adaptation and forge ahead with the all-important “trilogy”, a decision that has seen this second Hobbit chapter (and fifth in the overall Middle Earth cannon) feature more filler and shakier pace than any of the previous instalments, such is the price one pays when turning a 301 page children book into three epic movies.

…The Desolation of Smaug begins with our heroes – homesick Hobbit Bilbo (Martin Freeman),  great wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan), and the thirteen questing dwarves led by their king Thorin (Richard Armitage) – on the run after escaping certain death from murderous Orc leader Azog (as seen in the first, superior film).

Their life and death journey leads them to venire into a dreaded forest riddled with black magic. This gives way to a thrilling and at times downright scary sequence as Jackson unleashes giant spiders upon his heroes, in the process making those of us with the slightest hint of arachnophobia squirm like worms on a hook, wriggling at every sight of these monstrous arachnids who like their prey packaged in tight webbing for easier consumption.

After such a high cue so early in proceedings, so follows the inevitable comedown into middle act territory. Yet while Jackson previously had the material to avoid any mid-plot sagging, it is in …The Desolation of Smaug where Jackson’s greed has one upped his ability to make another wholly satisfying Middle Earth saga. A romantic alliance just does not convince, the return of an iconic character from the Lord of the Rings feels like cheap applause material, and the introduction of a new character not originated in Tolkien’s novel is more distraction than enhancement.

By the time we are snapped back into place via a rowdy river battle scene where barrel riding hobbits, blood crazed Orcs and snarky elves do battle in gloriously, almost slapstick style choreography,  it is made clear that Jackson’s ego has taken priority over making the right decisions.

Yet in any 161 min movie there is always room for redemption. Enter, the dragon. With a title like …The Desolation of Smaug an appearance by Tolkien’s iconic dragon is expected, and boy does Jackson and his wizards at Weta Digital deliver. A mixture of CGI and motion capture work, Smaug is a creation every bit as impressive as Jackson’s previous motion capture characters (Gollum, King Kong). Taking the place of Jackson’s usual go to motion capture guy Andy Serkis (who is affectionately known in these parts as the Marlon Brando of mo-cap) is prolific British thesp Benedict Cumberbatch, and what a devious joy he is, giving intelligent malevolence to a fire breathing beast that awes and frightens at the very sight of him.

That the Smaug scenes are the best in the Hobbit series (thus far) is testament to how effective the combined powers of Tolkien’s words, Jackson’s direction and Weta’s VFX magic can be. When Jackson sticks to the game plan Tolkien laid out for him, amazing happens. Yet when Jackson strays like he has during key moments here, you can be forgiven if thought this chapter was titled “The Desolation of Tolkien”.

****

 

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