Review of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) by Ulla D — 30 Dec 2014
I'm a Hobbit Purist so I don't quite know what to make of it story-wise. I love the new characters, but I like the story in the original Hobbit movie. I'm also a Hobbit alum myself from when my school did the stage version in which I played Gollum. Sadly, my buddy Gollum doesn't make an appearance, but other "Lord of the Rings" alumni do and it's refreshing to see some old and new faces in the cast. I don't really like the ending of the movie, but it does introduce the next part quite nicely. Pacing was better in this installment, being able to go right into the story.
"The Desolation of Smaug" picks up where "An Unexpected Journey" left off. We join our favorite band of dwarfs, one wizard, and a Hobbit on their quest to restore Thorin Oakenshield as the rightful King Under The Mountain. They have to defeat the dragon Smaug (brilliantly voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) who has overtaken the kingdom and all its treasure. Some parts are added in from the appendicies of the book, while others were written exclusively for the movie.
I personally didn't mind the new material in the movie, but I thought some of it wasn't as seemless as it could have been.
As for Smaug, I don't think that they could have picked a better actor to voice the part. Honestly I would have been shocked if they picked anyone other than Benedict Cumberbatch. When I originally read the book, I always imagined Smaug would have the same type of voice he had in the movie.
All that being said, the movie does have some points that parents of younger viewers should be aware of. Although not nearly as gory as "An Unexpected Journey", the movie does have several scary moments which could bother younger viewers. There are plenty of scary creatures as well, such as Orcs that could frighten younger audiences. "The Desolation of Smaug" would be more appropriate for audiences over 12 years old.
In the end, this is a story about loyalty & friendship and I can't wait to see what the next installment brings.
This review of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) was written by Ulla D on 30 Dec 2014.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug has generally received very positive reviews.
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