PRE-TRIP
From the looks of things, DESOLATION OF SMAUG is less like a
road movie and more of an action-adventure, more TWO TOWERS than FELLOWSHIP. Legolas
(ORLANDO BLOOM) makes a welcoming return that will surely melt the hearts of
many, LOST’s alumna EVANGELINE LILLY looks beautiful as a hunter Elf and, let’s
be honest here, like me you just can’t wait to see Smaug (voiced by the mighty
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH) on the big-screen.
One ticket to Middle-earth, please.
9 out of 10
POST-TRIP
Picking up where AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY left off, the film sees
Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (MARTIN FREEMAN) and the thirteen Dwarves continue to their
homeland, now taken over by a fearsome gold-hungry dragon. Meanwhile, Gandalf
(SIR IAN MCKELLEN) has discovered the presence of a new threat to Middle-Earth:
a wizard specializes in dark magic that soon enough will have a tower with a
fiery eye.
Films with long shooting schedules have a beautiful
advantage called consistency. All the great elements from the first film are carried
over. There’s the acting to begin with: MARTIN FREEMAN shows he is Bilbo
Baggins with naivety and hopeless optimism, RICHARD ARMITAGE remains powerful and commanding as Thorin Oakenshield
– the last Dwarf with “the right to rule” and SIR IAN MCKELLEN is right at home
being the wise grey wizard. Damn good casting. ORLANDO BLOOM remains one-note
as Legolas but the eye-candy and badassery will, once again, be good
distractions from the fact. HOWARD SHORE’s score is as triumphant as ever, yet
I would like to hear more choir songs since they were highlights of the RINGS
series.
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| Bilbo Baggins (MARTIN FREEMAN) |
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| Gandalf the Grey (SIR IAN MCKELLAN) |
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| Legolas (ORLANDO BLOOM) |
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| Thorin Oakenshield (RICHARD ARMITAGE) |
Then there’s the photography by ANDREW LESNIE (who did a great job on RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES) and visual effects from WETA DIGITAL (KING KONG - another Jackson's piece), which I will leave these
pictures to do the talking:
What about the new things then? LEE PACE is amazing as the cold
and brooding Elvenking Thranduil – a really underrated actor that deserves more
attention after his touching performance in THE FALL. Plus a head of hair that Thor
will envy. Although an original character penned by the screenwriters,
EVANGELINE LILLY plays her role with enough energy and grace as Tauriel that I
think J.R.R. TOLKIEN will approve. Think a mix of Galadriel (played by the
beautiful CATE BLANCHETT – she has a cameo here) and shieldmaiden Éowyn (MIRANDA OTTO) in the LORD OF
THE RINGS’ series. As Bard the Bowman, LUKE EVANS again (!) plays it safe with roles that only require him to be intense. At least there’s a sense of humanity to be
found here, unlike his stoic turns in THE RAVEN and FURIOUS 6.
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| Elvenking Thranduil (LEE PACE) |
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| Tauriel (EVANGELINE LILLY) |
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| Bard the Bowman (LUKE EVANS) |
The dragon Smaug (BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH) is beautifully
rendered, highly intimidating and narcissistic too. Voiced and motion-captured
by one of the top actors of today’s cinema, you will definitely be in awe and
in fear when he emerges from his sleep. Also a little bit chuckling here and there whenever he is pleased with himself, hearing praises from his prey.
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| Under all that gold... |
Speaking of which, that and the barrel escape are the film’s
biggest set-pieces and they are highly pleasing and engaging. PETER JACKSON by
now should prove to you that he is capable of delivering really complex, extended action sequences
– both a curse and blessing. All the light and sound showcases are
nice but in turn you can lose track of the setting and note the oddities. While
the effects are wonderful and photo-realistic at times, just for a few scenes
you may see that they are poorly implemented, either floaty-looking or moving
at an odd frame rate*. Forgivable? I’m in the middle ground as although I’m
aware of the film’s effects-heavy nature, CGI in 2013 should’ve worked out these
minor wrinkles.
DESOLATION OF SMAUG is a Dwarves-driven movie, as opposed to
Bilbo-and-Gandalf as seen in AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY. Bilbo is on the sidelines for the
majority of the running time, with the Dwarves receiving main focus and interaction.
By the middle of the film, the story diverges into two paths – one for the
Dwarves and one for Gandalf. While the latter benefits the most from the split because
connection to the RINGS series is reinforced, every time the film cuts away
from the Dwarves this plotline feels like an afterthought since it’s so...
different. Most of these moments occur in the second act and as a result the
film drags a bit here before picking up to the fantastic climax. A true ‘damned
if you cut and damned if you don’t' scenario.
And of course, that cliffhanger ending.
Like every other ‘bridging’ entry in a trilogy, this will no
doubt piss you off. Bring some chocolate when the credit comes, you’ll thank me
afterwards.
In the end, DESOLATION OF SMAUG is 161 minutes of wonder and
captivation that easily apes the first with some plot issues and the “yes, I’m
testing your patience” ending before the finish line.
8.5 out of 10
MOMENTS THAT LINGER
- The barrel escape sequence. Much fun. Such entertainment J
- Smaug (duh!)
- Gandalf gets to witness the Necromancer’s final form.
* If you have
TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, check the scene when Optimus Prime stands up in
the bunker when FRANCES MCDORMAND’s character is questioning him.
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