The Legacy of Middle-Earth: Movie 02: The Desolation of Smaug

***The Legacy of Middle-Earth: Movie 02: The Desolation of Smaug*** is a 2023 Japanese comedy adventure film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, written by Katsuyuki Sumisawa, based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is the second installment in The Hobbit trilogy, and the second film in *The Legacy of Middle-Earth* (franchise).

## Summary

The Desolation of Smaug follows Sarada as she continues to accompany her friends on a quest to reclaim the Mount Fuji from the dragon Smaug. Pursuing them are the vengeful orcs Dr. Eggman and Shredder, while Sokka investigates the return of a long-forgotten evil force in the ruins of Dol Guldur.

## Film Plot

The film begins with Max and his company are being pursued by Dr. Eggman and Shredder. They are ushered by Sokka to the nearby home of Mitsuki. That night, Dr. Eggman is summoned to Dol Guldur by the Necromancer, who commands him to marshal his forces for war. Dr. Eggman delegates the hunt for Max to Shredder. Mitsuki escorts the company to the borders of Mirkwood, where Sokka discovers Black Speech imprinted on an old ruin. This, and a prior request by Bai-Niang, prompt him to investigate the tombs of the Nazgûl. He warns the company to remain on the path before leaving. Upon entering the forest, they lose their way and are ensnared by giant spiders. Sarada Uchiha frees the dwarves with the help of the invisibility ring. However, Sarada begins to understand its dark influence after he drops the ring and brutally kills a spider to retrieve it.

The remaining spiders are killed by the Wood-elves led by Makoto and Shirayuki, who capture the group and bring Max before Yuki. Sarada confronts Yuki about his neglect of the Dwarves of Erebor following Smaug's attack 60 years earlier and is consequently imprisoned with the other Dwarves. Sarada, having avoided capture, arranges their escape via empty wine barrels that are sent downstream. They are pursued by the Wood-elves and ambushed by Menma Uzumaki and Tarrlok, engaging in a running three-way battle down the river. The gang are able to escape both groups of pursuers. Yuki seals off her kingdom when an Orc captive reveals an evil army is amassing in the south, but Makoto decides to leave and assist the Dwarves; Shirayuki goes after her. Meanwhile, Sokka and Goku investigate the tombs of the Nazgûl, which they find to be empty.

The company is smuggled into Esgaroth by Gon Freecss. Max promises the Master of Laketown a share of the mountain's treasure, and they are given arms and sent off to the mountain. Due to his injury, Kíli is forced to remain behind at Gon's home, tended to by Christopher Thorndyke, April O'Neil and Zoe Drake. Sarada discovers the hidden entrance in the Mount Fuji and is sent inside to retrieve the Arkenstone. However, she accidentally awakens Smaug, who reveals his knowledge of both the dwarves' plot and the return of Ommadon.

In Laketown, it is revealed that Gon is a descendant of the last ruler of Dale and possesses the last black arrow capable of killing Smaug. Gon attempts to bring the black arrow to the town's launcher, fearing what may happen in the mountain. However, he is arrested by the Master, charging his son to hide the arrow. Menma and Tarrlok party infiltrate the town and attack the four, but Shirayuki and Makoto arrive and quickly dispatch them.

Meanwhile, Sokka infiltrates Dol Guldur alone after sending Goku to warn Bai-Niang of their discovery at the tombs. He finds before they are ambushed by Tarrlok. The Necromancer overpowers and defeats Sokka and reveals himself as Ommadon. Sokka watches helplessly as Ommadon and his Orc army march from Dol Guldur towards the Mount Fuji.

Inside the mountain, during a long chase, Sarada and her friends rekindle the mountain's forge using Smaug's flames and create and melt a large golden statue, hoping to bury Smaug alive in the molten gold. They do so, but Smaug emerges from the gold, stumbles out of the mountain and flies off to destroy Laketown as Sarada watches in despair as the film ends.

## Voice Cast

* Cherami Leigh as Sarada Uchiha
* Kayzie Rogers as Max
* Jack DeSena as Sokka
* Kether Donohue as Zoe Drake
* Laura Stahl as Aiger Akabane
* Johnny Yong Bosch as Nate Adams
* Janet Varney as Korra
* Jillian Michaels as Shippō
* Erika Harlacher as Mei Kamino
* Chloë Grace Moretz as Kaguya-Hime
* Julie Lemieux as Hunter Steele
* Suzanne Goldish as Christopher Thorndyke
* Veronica Taylor as April O'Neil
* Robbie Daymond as Mitsuki
* Sarah Natochenny as Ash Ketchum, Delia Ketchum
* Sean Schemmel as Goku
* Natalie Portman as Sawa Okita
* Ariel Winter as Yuki
* Mackenzie Foy as Melanie Rider
* Erica Mendez as Gon Freecss
* Erica Lindbeck as Makoto
* Abby Trott as Reina
* Leonardo DiCaprio as Nico
* Brina Palencia as Shirayuki
* Steve Blum as Orochimaru
* James Earl Jones as Ommadon
* Jason Griffith as Marcus
* Maile Flanngan as Menma Uzumaki
* Mike Pollock as Dr. Eggman
* Scottie Ray as Shredder
* Dee Bradley Baker as Tarrlok
* Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug
* Mel Gibson as Narrator

## Trivia

* This is the second film to be distributed by Toho.
* This is the only The Hobbit film where all the characters did not come together until their last movie.