An outstanding piece of fantasy fun

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2013)

***CAUTION: MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD***
Anyone who felt An Unexpected Journey was too long and bloated will be happy to know that The Desolation of Smaug is the complete opposite. Unfolding on screen at a breakneck speed is an adventure filled to the brim with vile Orcs, nasty spiders, hostile Elves, and one very large, angry dragon. It's darker and moodier than its predecessor and carries a very different tone. Rather than focusing on the titular Hobbit and his wild adventures away from the Shire, the film keeps its focus on Thorin and the Dwarfs and their epic quest to take back Erebor from Smaug the Dragon.
Just like the four previous entries in the Middle Earth Saga, Smaug is a visual treat. The special effects are incredibly detailed and the set designs are exquisite. The film also brings us to several places never before seen on screen before. Mirkwood is a spooky, thorny, head-trip of a forest with several very dangerous threats held within, including, but not limited to, monsters of the arachnid variety and a very sassy Elvish king. It's very classic fantasy that recalls similar forests seen in the animated masterpieces Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Alice in Wonderland. On the flip side, Lake-Town is a very different sort of Middle Earth location. While the kingdoms of Rohan and Gondor recall the medieval European cities of old, Lake-Town resembles a colonial London on the water with a heaping pile of bonnets, petticoats, brandy, and British politics. We also get to see more in- depth looks at the vast, mighty halls of Erebor, and the dangerous, murky Dol Guldur.
The trilogy staples continue to give amazing acting performances. Ian McKellen is always incredible as Gandalf, but its Martin Freeman as Bilbo and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield that really start to bring their characters to life and take them both down darker paths. Several new characters also pop up in this installment. Although his appearance is brief, the half-man/half bear Beorn (played by Mikael Persbrandt) is a fun element, while Stephen Fry's interpretation of the Master of Lake-town is both disgusting and hilarious. Thranduil, King of the Wood Elves (played by Lee Pace) is delightfully vain, while new creation Tauriel (played by Evangeline Lilly) brings a much-needed sense of exuberance and powerful femininity to the film. Bard (played by Luke Evans) is a dynamic character with a lot of emotional depth and personality. I really appreciated his appearance and Evans' faithful adaptation of the character. Familiar faces also pop up throughout the film; Sylvester McCoy as the whimsical Radagast, Manu Bennett as the fearsome Azog, and Orlando Bloom as the beloved Legolas.
But the true star of this film is the electrifying Benedict Cumberbatch as both Smaug and the Necromancer. Though brief, the Necromancer's reveal as Sauron is incredibly intense and terrifying. Benedict's deep voice dipped in the black speech of Mordor is effectively creepy. However, nothing is more fearsome and awe-inspiring than the dragon himself: Smaug the terrible. An incredible special effects achievement, Smaug's enormous size and scalding fire breathing is a sight to behold; he is truly the most menacing and cunning villain ever seen in the Middle Earth films. Benedict's gravelly bass brings Smaug's conniving and highly intelligent character to life. I am convinced no one else could have brought such an incredible Smaug to life on screen as Peter Jackson, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the WETA Workshop have. He is truly the greatest cinematic dragon of all time.
As far as storyline goes, this film, much like The Two Towers is choppier and less linear than its predecessor. Instead of focusing on a single quest, the film splits up into two, then later three very distinct story lines. This is actually better for the story as it quickens the pace and ups the stakes. Some could complain that film suffers from being a "middle chapter" film; many things are going on at once and the film does end in a jaw-dropping cliffhanger. However, I've never been one to view the Middle Earth films as single films and prefer to watch them as one epic journey, and the ending just makes me all the more excited for There and Back Again in 2014.
Overall, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is one of the best films of the year and another incredible installment in Peter Jackson's legendary Middle Earth franchise.