The Hobbit : The Desolation Of Smaug

Based on J R R Tolkienā€™s 1937 novel The Hobbit and serving as a prequel to the Lord Of The Rings trilogy (also based on his novel The Lord Of The Rings), The Hobbit : The Desolation Of Smaug is the second movie in the Hobbit trilogy set and hence continues almost directly where we left things in The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey. Joining Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage & Ian McKellan areĀ Evangeline Lilly,Ā Lee Pace,Ā Luke Evans,Ā  Orlando Bloom,Ā James Nesbitt, andĀ Ken Stott, and featuresĀ Stephen Fry,Ā  Sylvester McCoy, andĀ Manu Bennett and ofcourse Benedict Cumberbatch voiced the dragon Smaug.

The beginning of the movie we see a scene from a year before the start of the events where Gandalf meets Thorin Oakenfield in a bar and persuades him to reunited the dwarfs and suggests that he needs a stealthy burglar to steal the jewel back from Smaug.

  • The dwarfs, Gandalf and Bilbo are on the run from the Orcs and our Hobbit sees a large bear like creature also tracking them, which prompts Gandalf to usher the men into a house of Beorn the skin-changer and seek his help. Beorn is the bear but in human form is much kinder and provides them with ponies that they ride on and reach Mirkwood the next day. Gandalf sees Black speech graffiti on some ruins coinciding with a telepathic message fromĀ  GaladrielĀ  urging him to go to the High Fells, and abruptly leaves without explanation after warning them to remain on the path and wait for him before entering theĀ Lonely Mountain. The dwarfs lose their way in the forest and are caught by giant spiders who spin them in their webs and Bilbo uses the one ring to try and free them. He drops it and brutally attacks a spider that stands in his way. Azog is summoned toĀ Dol GuldurĀ and instructs his sonĀ BolgĀ to take over the hunt for Thorin.
  • Just as the dwarfs are about to be overwhelmed by the spiders, the Woodelves led by Tauriel & Legolas arrive and decimate the spiders but take the dwarfs prisoners. Bilbo sneaks in unseen as he uses the ring and hears the Elvinking Thandruil offer to help Thorin in his quest in exchange for a portion of the Erebor’s wealth. Thorin refuses and so the Elves keep the dwarfs imprisoned in the underground halls until he relents. Bilbo appears and arranges their escape in empty wine barrels that are sent downstream but they are ambushed by the Orcs and in the escape Kili is wounded. Thranduil seals off his kingdom when he learns that an evil entity has returned and is amassing great power in the south, but Tauriel disobeys him and leaves to assist the dwarves, followed by Legolas. Meanwhile Gandalf meets Radagast in the Nazgul tombs and finds them empty, perhaps serving the purposes of this evil entity.
  • The dwarfs and Bilbo meet a man named Bard who smuggles them into the lake town of Esgaroth, which is where the descendants of Dale now reside. When they are found, Thorin promises them much of the wealth for their help and they are given a fond farewell but the injured Kili is forced to stay behind, tended by Fili, Oin and Bofur. Bard is a direct descendant of Dale and possess the last black arrow capable of killing Smaug. Meanwhile Gandalf, having send Radagast to warn Galadriel, goes to Dol Guldur and find the Orcs waiting for him and is attacked by Azog. While fending the attacks he meets the force of the Necromancer and they both duel and Gandalf is captured. the Necromancer reveals itself to be the Dark LordĀ Sauron.
  • The Dwarfs have made their way to Lonely Mountain and on not finding Gandalf there, Thorin proceeds and with Bilbo’s help finds the doorway into the place. Bilbo is sent to find & steal the Arkenstone but he ends up awakening Smaug. Back in the laketown the Orcs attack Bard’s family who are treating Kili and Fili, Oin and Bofur. Legolas & Tauriel arrive and fend off the Orcs killing them one by one and Tauriel stays to tend to Kili; the two then acknowledge the bond that has developed between one another. Legolas goes after Bolg and although he kills the other Orcs he is unable to stop him from escaping. Inside the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo and the Dwarves, now being hunted by Smaug, trick the dragon into rekindling the forges, and attempt to kill him by drowning him in molten gold. However, Smaug emerges and stumbles out of the mountain, determined to destroy Lake-town and its people for aiding the Dwarves. He then takes to the air as Bilbo watches in horror at what they have unleashed.

Fantastic advenure-fantasy flick (as all the other movies in this universe has been so far) and thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable. On a budget of $225 million the movie had pulled in $944,303,709 at the box office. I need to get the books as well to enjoy this further. 8.5 outta 10!

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