lots of Orc-kills Rambo style

Rating: 7/10 (8 June 2015)

Smaug is loose and reigns his fire upon Lake-Town. Bard manages to kill the dragon with the Black Arrow. Thorin Oakenshield and the dwarfs reclaim the mountain and its treasures but the gold has driven Oakenshield mad. He is obsessed with finding the Arkenstone but Bilbo has already taken it. The elfs and the villagers descend on the mountain to claim their fair share but Thorin is mad with greed. All the while, the Orcs are secretly closing in on the argumentative bunch.
Over the years, I've come to the conclusion that these movie series need 'Previously On' segments. In this movie, the plot is pretty simple and recounting it is not an absolute necessity although a refresher would be helpful. What is truly needed is a section to rebuild the dramatic tension. The story just plop down right into a battle. It's an abrupt start and not in a good way. I also dislike the silly villainy of Alfrid Lickspittle. It's not particularly funny and rather insipid. Also the Orcs are nothing more than cannon fodder. It doesn't feel scary when they are mowed down Rambo style. Nevertheless, this is a fun adventurous ride. Tauriel continues to be a good addition providing the only feminine touch and some needed heart. Almost everybody has their fair shake. It's a machine that force out action and kills Orcs like an assembly line.