Smaug is HOT

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2014)

Benedict Cumberbatch and the WETA team did a truly AMAZING job on Smaug, the titular "sexy porn star" dragon.
This beautiful mythical creature is brought to life, with seamless motions and voice. Smaug is an aesthetically pleasing spectacle of burgeoning heat and primal, organic movement. The voice that has been touted as a "jaguar in a cello" has been unleashed with bite and fire.
It is definitely worth seeing this in IMAX 3D HFR. When Smaug raised his head, I reflexively reached out to pat him, it felt so real!
It is fascinating to see so much of the actor imbued into the creature. The long fingers in the talons, the biceps and sharp angle of the elbow in the wings, even the cheek bones and bushy eyebrows in the face! It was a brilliant idea to use the motion capture as well as the voice. The directors vision of the fire building in the belly of the beast was also brilliant, adding just the right finishing torch...ahem...touch. ;)
It is no wonder that Peter Jackson carefully saves this for the grand finale of this film. Which is not to say, the rest of the film doesn't have it's charm and merit.
The beginning leaps right into where the last one ended, picking up the storyline immediately and quickly bringing the audience up to speed, be it to refresh the memory or to invite new viewers. You know upfront, that Gandalf (Ian Mckellen), is rounding up the dwarfs and the hobbit, to go claim back the dwarven homeland.
The Hobbit, Bilbo (Martin Freeman), is as endearing and funny as ever. Tickling the audience with his antics and mannerisms, with flawless comedic timing through out the film. It is especially impressively flawless timing when he does finally encounter Smaug, because during the making of the film, they were never in the same room. However, you never get a sense of the flow of conversation between them breaking. In fact quite the contrary, you feel the a natural rhythm and chemistry between them as if Smaug is looming over Bilbo, and Bilbo is shivering in his foot fur at Smaug's feet!
Although purists may frown on the inclusion of the elven folk Tauriel (Evengeline Lilly) and Legolas (Orlando Bloom), (as they are not present in this book) I found their involvement in the plot to be interesting and supportive of the overall story arc.
It has been said Tauriel was written in, "to balance out the wang" in the film. It is pretty clear that there would have been a lack of female presence without her. I think, including her was a very good choice, and naturally provided the ensuing romantic storyline, that was quite beautifully unfurled. I also like that her story just hinted about the morals of the strong protecting the weak, but didn't get preachy at all.
The action sequences do go a bit over the top and get a bit ridiculous with the somersaults and spinning weapons, but it does invite you to laugh about it and get lost in the fantasy of it, after-all it is a fantasy movie.
I really enjoyed this movie, and I'm planning on seeing it in the cinema for a third time. (I usually do not see a movie more than once in the cinemas, but this one is so epically large, in so many ways, it is worth experiencing it on the big screen.)
As I mentioned at the beginning, I highly recommend seeing it on the IMAX big screen and in 3D, as this is conducive to the immersion of this rich fantasy world. However, the second time I watched it in 2D and it was still very entertaining, particularly when the BIG FIERY DRAGON BLAZES ONTO THE SCREEN. *FOOOOM!!!*
I really feel this is one of those movies that "if have to see only one this season" this is that movie. I hope you will see it, and enjoy it as much as I do.