(A public service announcement before this review: when going to see this movie, bring a pillow for your rear. This one is long.)
Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) presses on in his journey with the Dwarves in "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug." After being enlisted by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) to accompany 13 dwarves in a quest to reclaim their mountain home Erebor from the dragon, Smaug, the last movie left the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, the victor in a game of riddles against the monster Gollum, stealing his magical, mysterious ring in the process. This sequel finds the group moving forward, fighting off creatures, adventuring through the Elf Kingdom, and confronting the monster who stole their home.
The movie hits the ground running. While the first "Hobbit" gathered complaints for taking too long to get started, the sequel has no problems pushing forward. It has more in common with the "Lord Of The Rings" films in its constant energy and movement. While newcomers to the franchise can get lost in this combination of length and high-energy, I feel this movie strikes a better balance. Its linear story helped me step back and map each part of the journey when I needed to refresh my understanding.
All our favorite characters are back and the film introduces some welcome new additions to the cast. Evangeline Lilly plays the Elf warrior Tauriel whose skills rival (and even surpass at times) Legolas (Orlando Bloom) from the "Lord Of The Rings" series. Tauriel is a seasoned, opinionated warrior with a level of curiosity and interest for the world outside her kingdom, cultivated here by one of the Dwarves, Kili (Aidan Turner). Another great addition is Bard (Luke Evans), a smuggler who helps sneak the Dwarves into Laketown, a village next to the mountain. I really can't place why I like him so much. This "rugged woodsman" archetype usually irritates me. However, where other portrayals make the character seem self-absorbed and incapable of any emotional interaction, Bard has something to lose and a lot to prove, his origins and actions giving an interesting counterbalance to the main story.
The introduction of new characters is good and all, but what of the characters we've come to know? This sequel develops the main leads well; I love following these characters and keeping track of their progression. Bilbo is more sure of himself, playing a bigger role in the group, using the Ring to his advantage in sneaking past enemies. His wit is set on high and I enjoy every second he's on screen. Thorin (Richard Armitage) simultaneously struggles and excels with the expectations that come with being the heir to the Dwarf throne. While he gets chances to show off diplomacy with the Elves and the citizens of Laketown, his noble quest and character gets placed to the test due to the legacy of his greed-driven grandfather. Legolas returns from "Lord Of The Rings" and it's interesting to see his development before that series begins. His skills still impress, taking out legions of enemies with the slightest effort, but it's good to see him in situations that don't make him just the perfect archer. He shows a romantic interest in Tauriel. He discusses the state of the homeland with his father, the King. Legolas harbors a racial distaste for the Dwarves, looking down on them like animals. Each aspect plays to different facets of his personality and fleshes out the character.
Well, it's time to address the elephant in the room. Actually he's bigger than that. After a couple trailers had people concerned, I'm happy to say: Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a tour-de-force. From his chilling introduction to his unrelenting rage, the dragon steals the show. Smaug blends menace and charm, reminding me, oddly enough, of Shere Khan from the Jungle Book. His presence is built up as high as the movie can, and Smaug, like the tiger, carries himself with a supernatural confidence in his power. He can't be reasoned with, but he takes amusement at anyone's attempts. As he professes his strength and destructive capabilities, I believe it, and am in genuine awe. Cumberbatch plays great villains, and in 2013, he not only gave us a great Khan in Star Trek, but a stellar villain in Smaug.
While Smaug on his own is a selling point, he's not all the film has going for it. The action, while keeping a livelier, less gritty tone, are a lot of fun. The choreography is fast-paced and fluid, the cinematography takes risks, and the payoffs are satisfying, even if they can be over-the-top. My favorite bit of action has to be the chase down the river. It's a pretty lengthy action scene, but builds up in just the right increments, throwing a variety of camera techniques and combat styles. I like the way the Dwarves fight alongside each other and use teamwork to take down their foes; I like Bilbo's use of stealth. The action is just a joy to watch.
The problems I have with "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is really one problem when you boil it down: some subplots are unsatisfactory. From this, I complain about the length of the movie, the padding of scenes, the confusion with some characters, the glossing over of others. If some of these subplots were to be removed or rewritten, we'd have an even tighter film. Instead, we have to muddle through Gandalf interacting with the Necromancer, mentioned in the last film. This spot feels cobbled together to create continuity between this series and the "Lord Of The Rings". While not horrible, it drags out the story, and would be better left alone. The other main offender is a "love triangle" between Legolas, Tauriel, and Kili. When watching this plot, it definitely didn't fit. It wasn't supposed to be here, and to my surprise (and slight joy), I found out it wasn't. Evangeline Lilly mentioned in an interview the filmmakers didn't want to include the love triangle, but had to do so at the studio's request. The subplot isn't so overblown; it's handled subtly, but it comforts me to know the filmmakers were working on a tighter film, and my blame shouldn't wholly be directed at them.
Overall, my problems are few and my praises many. This is a fantastic entry in the series, ramping up the action, the adventure, and the characters. When the movie ended at the screening I went to, the audience collectively went, "Awww!" They wanted more! After two hours and forty minutes, the movie had us so invested in this story and these characters, that we still wanted more. If a movie can do that, it's definitely doing something right. If you're a fan of the series, it's a must-see. Even if you're not a fan, watch the first movie if only to get context for this one. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is a great sequel and I'm ecstatic to see how the story will close out next year. Until then, thank you all very much for reading. I'm the Man Without A Plan, signing off.
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnaojlfdUbs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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