The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is the second part of the Hobbit movie trilogy directed by Peter Jackson and based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. It opens up with Thorin Oakenshield arriving at the Prancing Pony in Bree and settling down for a meal. This moment of peace doesn’t last long as he notices he’s being watched by two very shady characters to his right and left. Actually shady isn’t the right word as their murderous intent is clear, and it’s directed towards him. Right when they get ready to make their move towards him, Thorin is joined by a much friendlier face, and that’s Gandalf the Grey. This causes Thorin’s would be challengers to scurry away but Gandalf tells him it’s time for him to do what his father wouldn’t do. It’s time to reunite the dwarf armies and take back the mountain from Smaug. They can no longer wait because there are dark forces on the move and the 2 who were getting ready to attack him before Gandalf arrived weren’t an aberration because there’s now a bounty on his head. Gandalf tells Thorin that his plan is indeed possible but he will need a burglar to steal the Arkenstone from Smaug. One year later Bilbo is watching from a distance the pack of Orcs pursuing them but he also notices another beast, and far more vicious apparently. When he tells Gandalf and the company of dwarves about this, Gandalf is very alarmed and knows they must make haste to reach a safe refuge in the area. He knows who or what this creature is and knows it’s not to be trifled with. This journey, which started months ago, doesn’t seem to be getting any easier and it’s not expected to as they still have to reach the greatest calamity of them all: Smaug, the dragon.

I really enjoyed the first movie, and also felt that where it ended was the perfect spot knowing the book and considering it was being turned into 3 movies. The opening of this one was excellent with a recap that showed nothing from the first movie so whether you saw the first movie and remembered it or not, the opening here re-established the importance of this journey on two levels. It re-established it on a personal level by showing it’s not only connected to Thorin’s heritage but his life because of the bounty now on his head. And on another level the importance was shown with the strange machinations going on behind the scenes that wouldn’t bode well for anyone, and part of the sinister scheme was making sure the dwarves couldn’t re-take the mountain and kill their king even after all these years. So it’s not just a pack of Orcs seeking revenge that’s striving to stop them but someone with bigger plans.

And the action starts immediately after, and Peter Jackson does a great job in maintaining the intensity of a sequence, pulling you in, and even adding some humor without losing any of the gravity of a situation (the dwarf who runs the fastest). And Beorn, a skin-changer, gets an introduction truly worthy of the character, and Gandalf explains it best as to why they’re seeking refuge with one who appears to be an unstable beast, and that’s because the man could be reasoned with, unlike the pack of Orcs. The overall tone of the journey is still clear as the menacing nature of the Orcs even affected Beorn’s history.

Now I was completely into it at this point, and granted I’m an unapologetic LOTR nut, the story was laid out very well with the right amount of action and exposition. There were so many reasons to actually want to see the dwarves succeed in this quest.

Things would change up as it wouldn’t just be a cat and mouse chase with the dwarves avoiding the Orcs for long as Azog is summoned to Dol Guldur by the master for a bigger purpose, and to set a plan in motion. The dwarves and Bilbo aren’t off the hook completely as Azog taps his son to continue pursuing them while he prepares to be a commander of legions for war. And Gandalf, with his impeccable knack for being at the right place at the right time, decides against going with Bilbo and the Dwarves through Mirkwood as he discovers black speech written on one of the trees. He can’t ignore all the signs that something very sinister is going on and leaves to do his own investigation but not before warning them that they have to stay on the path or else they’ll be lost forever. Once this split happens things become so engrossing that when the movie is focusing on a specific group it’s easy to forget about what’s happening with another group until they’re shown again. And I mean this in the best way possible. The feeling is almost the same as when the dwarves can’t find their way out of the woods but instead of being disoriented and fighting the feeling, this is one that’s meant to be embraced. Whether it’s Gandalf and Radagast investigating more about the necromancer’s activities, the dwarves and elves coming face to face in the woods, or when the groups are separated again, it’s all captivating. And there are many tidbits to appreciate such as Bilbo finally giving his sword the name Sting, or a picture of Gimli being shown. And the action sequences move the story along very well and in creative ways too. Every action sequence utilizes the traits of the different creatures involved to the fullest so no two action sequences feel the same. So a fight against spiders feels as entertaining as the elves fighting against orcs, and the fight choreography is just stunning. I don’t even want to give examples here just so you can fully appreciate the sequences and be amazed with how it transitions from one action to another. Peter Jackson is truly a master at creating epic moments that instead of feeling over the top smoothly fit into the storyline and somehow retains that personal feeling. The battle at Helm’s Deep is a prime example of that, and even though there is no battle on that scale in this one, that touch is still there.

There is character development here with the most obvious change in character belonging to Bilbo. I understand now why they were so adamant about casting Martin Freeman because he has been truly believable in every step of Bilbo’s growth from just a hobbit in the shire to a more confident and experienced fighter, decision-maker, as well as capable of conveying some of the negative effects of the ring. Bilbo Baggins has truly been nailed perfectly. Anything I write here won’t do justice to Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and if you’ve ever seen him in that role then you understand completely. The dwarves of course get plenty of shine as Thorin (Richard Armitage) has the right combination of strength, courage, and stubbornness expected of a dwarf. I also have to point out Balin, who comes off as representative of the history of the  dwarves under the mountain, their wisdom as well as their long desire to have a home once again. And this time around the other dwarves are more distinct as well. I felt Legolas was a great addition to the story with some incredible scenes, and even got in some hand to hand combat. His personality is the same for the most part but he is somewhat grittier and often terse towards the dwarves. And for a completely new character, Tauriel is outstanding in every single way. She’s very believable, and capable, when fighting the orcs with great skill, and obviously very beautiful with enough charm to leave Kili enthralled. So yes there is some romance in this, and it’s done extremely well. Some of Stephen Colbert’s question about how much would the social structure and class distinctions of the elves be explored was touched on here but I expect there to be more in the extended edition (or maybe the third part).

The story would lead the group to the world of men and Laketown, and again, the characters would be represented very well. So if you’re a LOTR fan and aware of the story or you’re not, you’ll still be able to enjoy how this was realized and how the characters come off.

Of course this would be a waste if I didn’t mention Smaug, and going into this movie I had high hopes for the dragon and he exceeded all of them. The initial scene with Bilbo and Smaug was very intense, and I won’t give it away but his voice was bone-chilling, and the first time his chest lit up and he blew fire I couldn’t hold back my reaction (and no I didn’t get kicked out the theater). All the adjectives attached to Smaug’s name in this movie are definitely true, and he’s as terrifying as he is psychologically manipulative and arrogant. The action sequences with him involved are exhilarating and a joy to watch. Apparently time has made people forget how Smaug was called the greatest dragon of his day, and viewers of the Desolation of Smaug will agree.

SUMMARY

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is an excellent follow-up to the Hobbit and exceeds the first movie in every way. From the opening scene (don’t miss the Peter Jackson cameo) to the final scene, this movie is engrossing with a combination of its story, suspense, great characters and action sequences. I must stress that there is another movie after this, since someone in the audience didn’t know, and with the way it ended I would have been willing to go another 3 hours just to be able to enjoy the final part. But the material in this one is far from extraneous as the true identity of the necromancer is revealed, and of course there’s Smaug the Magnificent. And the only thing that soars higher than Smaug when he takes flight is this series, which is on the verge of being another masterpiece.