The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2013 · Directed by Peter Jackson
Original language: English
- fantasy
- adventure
- action
The story
The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.
What it’s like
Sweeping New Zealand landscapes rendered in saturated, painterly color: mossy forests drowned in green-gold light, a lake town lit by lantern glow and a sunset that turns the water to molten copper, and the vast cavernous gold of a dragon's hoard glittering in firelight. The camera moves constantly, with long swooping aerial passes, fast tracking shots through the woods and kinetic, sometimes chaotic action staging, while the score's brass-and-choral swells lean heavily on heroic themes. Pacing is brisk and busy, with a long tense sequence in a spider-choked forest and a climactic, fire-streaked confrontation in a mountain hall. The mood blends adventure with a growing melancholy and an undertow of dread, and the tenderness between Bilbo and the dwarves gives it warmth. Intensity is moderate to high: frequent fantasy combat, creatures and stylized peril, with fights that include violence and some gore, though nothing sexual. It suits fans of big-screen fantasy who want spectacle, fellowship and a comfortable sense of epic scale.
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