Desolation of Smaug - Mixed feelings for mixed fans.

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2013)

First, lets start off by saying that I view this movie as an improvement of the last one. And even though they were quite different, some things were similar to the first one, especially Smaug heightening the movie to a new level, much of what Gollum did in the first one. Desolation of the Smaug is an action packed movie, which offers much for those who seek impressive CGI packed with extensive combat scenes, and the movie continues to extend the tradition of keeping people alive in unrealistic occurrences.
In comparison with 2D, 3D and 3D HFR, this movie is made to be watched in 3D HFR and certainly feels that way – 2D lacks that certain something and simple 3D makes certain scenes... clunky... and certainly weaker than they actually are to be seen in 3D HFR. HFR is the future, if not now then in years time it will start to take ground. Hobbit was the one to give it a go and get some slack for it, but first comers always do. I am sure that HFR's time is to come and I enjoyed the movie best in 3D HFR in comparison to 2D and 3D.
There are flaws with this movie, especially for hard-core Tolkien fans, who would like to see the book repeated and heightened by the new storyline and characters rather than somewhat abolished by ridiculously high amount of combat scenes. Jackson has indeed gone too far with the plot deviations from Tolkien's original piece(s) but we all know that the purpose of this is to provide 3 movies and you can't really make 3 movies out of "the Hobbit" without adding stuff to it. And Jackson and team decided to provide some more middle-Earth and its modified history to the viewers and compiled together a storyline that's not entirely Tolkienish.
Desolation of the Smaug provides however and excellent roller-coaster ride in comparison with the first film. The first film was a bit of a disappointment, hence at first impressions it was easier to improve with this one. And improve they did. What made it more of a better deal was perhaps the fact the new sub-stories were to be told and could entwined into an entity which elevated the tensions higher than they actually were.
Truth be told: Smaug was pretty much the only reason I went to see the movie and I was not disappointed, not one bit. Scenes with Smaug are truly excellent with spot on acting from both Freeman and the CGI that's voiced by Sherlock. Smaug definitely highs-up the ranking of the movie, and perhaps even more than Gollum did in the first one. The movie ended on a cliffhanger and Smaug's last sentence was a perfect one to describe the movie as a whole: I am Fire! I am........ DEATHH."
PS! Since I can't give 7 and a half, I round my rating up to 8.