Review of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) by Paul J — 02 Apr 2015

The middle chapter of The Hobbit is a rollicking adventure that doesn't let up. It may not have the character development of the first chapter but it certainly has an intense quota of action. The progressive complications escalate and it's one exciting set piece after another. There's also plenty of imagination. The river barrel sequence is the highlight and it's refreshing to see two elves join the party. Both Legolas and Tauriel steal the show. But many characters have their moment to shine, including Gandalf, and the film ends with a classic cliffhanger. Once again, the Extended Cuts are a must. In some respects, the Lord of the Rings saga works better if you start with The Hobbit trilogy. Not only is it more child-like but also the reveal of the hidden door seen with moonlight in Desolation, is bettered discovered here, than in Fellowship.

That said, Desolation is probably my least favorite Lord of the Rings film. The one thing missing is heart. It's lacking that strong emotional moment that moves us, which all the other chapters have. Also, the third act of Desolation was totally rushed. You can see Jackson and his team totally scrambling and improvising regarding the finale. (I also felt the damn dragon talks way too much). As the 'making of' reveals, originally there were only supposed to be two movies and then halfway through Desolation they decided to make a trilogy. This change of plans makes this entry suffer. But considering this, it is still remarkable what they pulled off.