Middle Earth's magic is back for another 3 enjoyable hours

Rating: 8/10 (28 December 2013)

Middle Earth perhaps was not meant to look 'real' on screen, and I don't think Tolkien even intended it to be a 'earthly possible' world when he created it. They say the human mind are hardwired to advance into the surreal with every imagination and artistic exploration they attempt. My point? Peter Jackson's creative team have made Middle Earth an unrealistic, but spectacular world for us to wish to be part of. My proof? Who here didn't wish that they lived as hobbits in Hobbiton when you see that cute, peaceful and lazy village, where all you do is eat, drink and laugh? Who didn't cried and star wide-eyed at Rivendell when the harps and angelic choristers greeted the majestic waterfalls and mountain valleys of the Elf haven? Middle Earth is officially the most sought after vacation or living spot that doesn't exist.
Now, enough with Middle Earth itself and talk The Hobbit. This review is wholly intended as a review of the entire series with whatever that is available thus far, with strong emphasis on the 'Desolation of Smaug'. I managed to keep Lord of the Rings out because I know haters of the Hobbit series will see this a extreme bias to review new movies with a universal legendary trilogy as support.
Wow...where to begin? This is my favourite movie of the year and it tunneled itself past several long-standing contenders for the top.
The movie kicks straight into the action with a sense of urgency that actually lacked in the first movie, with the dwarfs and Bilbo continuing on their quest to reach Arebor and retrieve treasure from the dragon Smaug and a certain specific gemstone that's of the most importance to Thorin, leader of the company.
'An Unexpected Journey' did its part to celebrate the old trilogy and welcome us back to Middle Earth with new and colourful characters, while also giving us back 'The' Wizard, the jolly and fun Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen) and a new Bilbo (Martin Freeman) who managed to crawl into my brain, and portray the character EXACTLY to my imagination, with even more humour and emotion. The dwarf gang still kills it in this film, all with their funny moments and heroics. Orlando Bloom's Legolas returns as a heartthrob, only with more ommmph in his character, due to his slightly more tender age and untested nature, his return is rightly justified by the presence of his father in the movie, so the haters have one argument terminated. The imagined Lady-elf Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) surprisingly filled a gap in Tolkien's gender diversity and introduced raw tenderness and romance in a package of knives and explosive ass-kicking when time requires it, its a risky move, but all done in good reason and to give the movie more heart and a heroine character that Arwen and Eowyn delivered in The Lord of the Rings. This movie cast radiates a certain originality that only Middle Earth can provide us, which is only fitting for a marvelled novel. Radagast? I'll say at least he acts like a more normal wizard in this movie, helping Gandalf on his side-quest, which actually feeds more directly to the entire Middle Earth history, no spoiling here. :)
Locations? The beauty and natural majesty of New Zealand is not overstated or exaggerated in the first movie. 'An Unexpected Journey's goal to return you to Middle Earth in the smoothest method paid off with vistas and real-life landscapes of that tiny country in the South. The second movie? S**t's getting serious here, and locations reflected that, and the underbelly, or the less inviting parts of the Middle Earth begins to show. Let's start with Mirkwood...One of the creepiest scenes you will ever see, and spiders...yes giant spiders in perfect CGI magic from the wizs and witches of Weta Workshop, Elves's domain? Remember the wood-elves are less friendly than Rivendell and their area of the woods reflect that. Laketown is another cinematic achievement with immersive environments that makes you forget its all a set-piece location (yes, no off- putting 100% CGI here! large sets are built for Laketown), the Bard's lack of characterisation in the novel is expanded welcomingly in the movie, which showed him a bad-ass archer with skills rivalling the elves , while also a family man with kids. Once again, I applaud Jackson's team for creating a cast of multi-dimensional characters with layers to unravel and explore.
Finally, for those who groan that the dragon was 'shown' in the trailer...you ain't seen nothing yet, because I know as a fact that a nose, an eye and a growl is not everything that a dragon can bring to the table. And Smaug? He's HUGE! He's a perfect villain with a wit and a voice to match. Cumberbatch's voice radiates terror and almost a sense of torment on whoever hears the dragon speak, the whole cinema shakes, with a tiny squeak from me in response. I can tell you now that the ending WILL leave you yearning for more.
Yet, out of ALL this, the One Ring still shows itself, almost as an afterthought, but that's the point isn't it? Its symbol as desire for power over others is never truly shown in everyone, but it exists in everyone, once again the movie explores that through Bilbo.
On the whole, a viewing spectacle that delivers enjoyment for the entire three hours. Those expecting an echo of the critics' complaints for its length of runtime will be disappointed, I feel that a movie this long is long enough to truly immerse you into its story, and this movie did it perfectly and with an ending that still leaves you wanting more, the typical 90 minute quick-dose of cheesy action from Hollywood is no longer adequate, and it's time the word 'patience' is used. How does anyone expect character development, drama, action and emotional ride in 90 minutes?