THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
A fifth trip to J.R.R. Tolkien’s magic realm with the Oscar-winning team of director Peter Jackson & his screenplay collaborators Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens (this time with a boost from Special Effects master Guillermo del Toro).
I actually liked this outing more than most others because it is more “intimate”–mostly just a little band of little guys (Dwarves & Hobbits) without back-up from massive CG armies. Is this why my hubby Rich liked it less?
Anyway, I do agree with Rich that the format is growing stale at this point, especially without “Gollum” (played by the multifaceted Andy Serkis) on screen to add his creepy yet poignant presence. Smaug the Dragon has a great & mournful voice (courtesy of actor Benedict Cumberbatch) but it’s a bit hard to root for him, right? And frankly tossing in a stray female presence (Evangeline Lilly as an Elf named “Tauriel” who wields a mean bow) does nothing for me… & even less for Rich! (JLH: 3/5)
Click HERE for our FF2 Haiku for Part Two = The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. And click HERE for our FF2 Haiku for Part One = The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The trilogy will end next year (2014) with Part Three = The Hobbit: There & Back Again.
Top Photo: Bilbo Baggins aka “The Hobbit” (Martin Freeman) enters Smaug’s lair. Bottom Photo: Smaug gets pissed & flies off to wreak destruction. Photo Credits: Steve Unwin
