Slow-moving filler...

Rating: 4/10 (16 July 2014)

THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG boasts some of the most beautiful locations I've ever laid eyes on- and some truly unbelievable sets. Unfortunately, that's about all. This is clearly filler between parts Last and Next, and it's also the biggest information dump I think I've ever seen in my life. Characters are introduced one after another so fast that it's nigh impossible to keep track of who's who- and the inter-cutting between The Quest and The Rest does absolutely nothing to make matters clearer. In fact, this constant cutting back and forth effectively undermines any attempt(s) at building suspense; there is NONE whatsoever. And Bilbo's big confrontation with Smaug is milked for far, far more than its worth: by the time the movie abruptly ends, it's almost impossible to give a s--- one way or the other. At two and a half hours, THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG offers more Gab than anything else.