The Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug

[missgotty]

I liked this film better than the last as the storyline didn't feel as 'stretched out' like before. It was a tad bit long but I probably noticed more because I was tired and kept noticing that the lights were still on during the showing at the O2. The little romance throughout the film was quite cute and there was more action which was good to see. Overall I liked it but I'm hoping the next one will be even better.

[RAZORBACK]

Saw this earlier today and really enjoyed it, it felt like there was less filler this time around so because of that I marginally preferred this to the first film.

It's by no means perfect but overall it still deserves to get a solid 8/10 from me...

[nogoodnames]

Barrel scene brilliance! The parts they added or adapted worked really well I think. Preferred to the first film as well, 8/10.

[funthing29]

A Peter Jackson film from Tolkien’s mythology will always be a sight to behold but this IMO is the weakest out of the 5 films so far. It is not a bad film per se it just feels like filler between the opener and closer of The Hobbit story.

It was patchy overall with too many (unnecessary) subplots and the story lacked fluidity. Bilbo was almost relegated to the background and had little in the way of characterisation. While I did enjoy the barrel fight scenes and the sequence with Smaug at the end unfortunately the film as a whole felt like a succession of set pieces.

Visually impressive but overly long and uneven. 6.5/10.

I watched the extended version of An Unexpected Journey over the weekend and that has lent me new appreciation of Desolation of Smaug. The first film sets up the story well but spends far too much time doing so and not much really happens (even more noticeable in the 3+ hour version) compared to this film where it seems much faster paced with non-stop action. DoS is by no means perfect - it is dragged down by too many sub plots and some of them ridiculous (an elf/dwarf romance – seriously?!) but on reflection I may have been slightly too critical. I am going to rewatch DoS in a few weeks and I suspect I will raise my score at that time.

[raj101]

This movie feels like a reaction to the first movie's criticisms. The first third/half flies past like a John Woo movie with accompanying embarrassing stunts, and though a few dodgy CGI sequences didn't go unnoticed, generally I appreciated the overdue 'rollercoaster ride' even if it was a bit bare of script. The final third of the movie ups the SFX ante by bringing on the scenes you've waited for these last 2 years, plus more (and I do mean MORE Battle Royales!). Smaug freaking rocks in IMAX, though the allusions to 'Weapons of Mass Destruction' are so outdated that they almost feel fresh. Theres a natural feeling that the 2 movies so far are made as a two parter or even one huge 6 hour movie (dread!) rather than a trilogy since this movie reflects/reverses the events of the first one... making it feel like its building towards a natural ending this time. But of course its not the end, theres one more movie to come and another 12 month wait....

Finally, we see here a greater adherence to the books plot this time round, even including 'A chance meeting in Middle earth', all very welcome appendix scenes.


one thing I didn't get is how Smaug [spoiler]appears to be aware that Sauron is back, seeing as he doesn't get out much[/spoiler]

[raj101]

[(an elf/dwarf romance – seriously?!)

lol what aspect of this bothers you most? I think Gimlet had the hots for Galadriel last time round.

[tilly]

Finally saw this yesterday and really enjoyed it.

It had me at the edge of my seat a few times and I'm really keen on seeing the final film next year to see how it ends.

8/10

[BoydJW]

Enjoyed it more than the first one but still caught myself checking my watch a couple of times. I felt like some of the comedic action scenes, whilst funny, pulled me out of that sense of total absorption you get when lost in a great film.

[kfac]

Hobbit 2 looks even better than Hobbit 1.Cant wait to see it.
Hobbit movies and christmas its all tooooo exciting.

[caitlinmorton]

Wow.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kmallikarjuna/t ... was-stephe