Promising

Rating: Null/10 (26 December 2013)

The general consensus is that "The desolation of Smaug" has generally succeeded in avoiding the pitfall of "An unexpected journey": an excruciatingly slow pacing. Even when I was not particularly bothered by the somewhat languid pace of "Journey", I did find "Smaug" more entertaining, at least in the conventional perception of entertainment. With the groundwork nicely laid in the first movie, the sequel moves along in welcomed simplicity, tracing the quest (this, I coined) to recover treasures in The Lonely Mountain. Sprinkled liberally with first-rate CGI action, the adventure unfolds in three parts: (1) the journey continues (highlighted by a spider colony), (2) Mirkwood Forest and (3) The Lonely Mountain (including its satellite Lake-town and the mountain itself). There is also a spin off line when Gandalf detours by himself, meets Radagast ("The Brown") and together visit Dol Guldur where they make the devastating discovery that Sauron is abroad again.
Just as in the first movie, there are welcome links to LOTR, first through the two hauntingly beautiful Howard Shore creation of the themes for the Hobbits (soothing and heart-warming) and the Ring (mysterious and sinister). By far the most popular addition in this one is Orlando Bloom reprising Legolas – and they even have the name of Gimli thrown in for good measure (mentioned by his father). Of the new characters, Tauriel the lovely Elf (and Legolas's love interest) outshines all others. Portraying her is Evangeline Lilly whom you would not forget if you have seen her in "Real Steel" (2011) where she radiates heart-melting warmth whenever she is on the screen. Here, she and Bloom team up in some of the best Elven gymnastics scenes that you have ever witnessed. And then, during a healing scene speaking Elvin words of magic, you could almost believe that you are looking at Liv Tylor as Arwen.
Of the other newcomers, Luke Evan is the most prominent as the boatman who smuggles our protagonists (all 14 of them) to Lake-town, a man name Bard who is actually more than what meets the eye. Another veteran Stephen Fry (brother Mycroft to Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes) plays the politically shred mayor of the town. For another Sherlock association, lead actor Martin Freeman's partner in the B.B.C. TV serious of updated Sherlock Holmes, Benedict Cumberbatch provides the voice for the titular creature Smaug.
People who are dismayed at the cliffhanger hook at the end really have no cause to be. It is all but expected. The question is just that whether the conclusion "There and back again" in 2014 will satisfy. That, we can only wait to find out.