Bilbo and company return in this epic, action-packed adventure, which sees the dwarves come up against their greatest foe, in an attempt to reclaim the lonely mountain of Erebor from Smaug the Destroyer.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) marks a change in Martin Freeman’s Bilbo Baggins. Once a quiet and tranquil being of the Shire, Bilbo becomes a heroic figure, saving the day on more than one occasion. Whether it be from the threat of giant spiders, or from the elves of the Woodland Realm, it is clear that Bilbo found more than just the ring of power in Gollum’s cave; he also found his courage. In the absence of Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen), Bilbo justifies his position as the burglar of the group, as he helps the dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), to gain entrance to the lonely mountain.
The problem with this movie comes down to two key points. First of all, despite the 161-minute running time, the film seems rushed in places. The use of editing, particularly the use of the dissolve transition, is evident in the opening 30 minutes of the movie to speed up the progression of the narrative. Then there is the creation of the woodland “She Elf,” Tauriel, played by actress Evangeline Lilly. Although she gives a good performance, and, along with Orlando Bloom’s Legolas, she does help to drive the narrative in the action sequences, she is involved in a romantic subplot with the so-called “good looking” dwarf, Kíli (Aidan Turner). This romantic subplot seems unnecessary because there is great friction between the races of dwarves and elves, and the time used on this subplot could’ve been spent on improving the journey at the beginning of the film, instead of using editing techniques to speed it up.
On a more positive note, the movie moves at a much quicker pace than its predecessor, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), which came under some criticism for its length and lack of action sequences. This, however, feels like a completely different movie; the action sequences are played out terrifically and an element of suspense is always increased by the ever-present tracking orc pack.
Credit also goes to Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Freeman is reunited with his co-star of the BBC television series, Sherlock, and their chemistry is evident on screen. The pair deliver outstanding performances in the confrontation between Bilbo and Smaug the dragon, as well as in the climactic sequence of the film.
The strongest sequence of the movie comes at the end, where Bilbo and the dwarves try to reclaim the Arkenstone from Smaug the Magnificent. The Arkenstone will unite the dwarves, and persuade more of their kin to march on the lonely mountain, and defeat the evil dragon. The motion capture used in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is seen once again, bringing the dragon to life.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug uses the advances in technology, such as 3D and a shooting rate of 48 frames per second, to enhance the viewing pleasure and enable this heroic journey to be told. The ending leaves everything open for The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2014), which promises to be a fantastic finale to the fantasy series.
Author Biography
Thomas Morgan is a film studies student at the University of Sussex. He particularly enjoys the films of Woody Allen, and hopes to become a film director and scriptwriter in the future.
Film Details
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
New Zealand/USA
Director Peter Jackson
Runtime 161 minutes
