JASMINE's THOUGHTS on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Genre:

Action/Adventure, Fantasy

Theatrical Release:

December 13, 2013

Rating:

PG-13

Run Time:

161 minutes

Director:

Peter Jackson

Screenplay by:

Peter Jackson

Fran Walsh

Philippa Boyens

Guillermo Del Toro

Adapted from the novel by:

J.R.R. Tolkien

Cast:

Ian McKellan as Gandalf the Grey

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins

Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield

Aidan Turner as Kili

Dean O'Gorman as Fili

Manu Bennett as Azog

Orlando Bloom as Legolas

Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel

Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug

Lee Pace as Thranduil

Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman

Ken Stott as Balin

James Nesbitt as Bofur

John Bell as Bain

Jed Brophy as Nori

Adam Brown as Ori

John Callen as Oin

Mark Hadlow as Dori

Peter Hambleton as Gloin

Stephen Hunter as Bombur

William Kircher as Bifur

Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown

Graham McTavish as Dwalin

Mikael Persbrandt as Beorn

Lawrence Makoare as Bolg

Synopsis:

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before The Lord of the Rings, which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company continues East, encountering along the way the skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all--a creature more terrifying than any other, one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself--the Dragon Smaug.

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My Thoughts

This was a fun movie night for me and my family. Since the release of this film, we have been eager to watch it in the theater...and we finally did! And...we absolutely enjoyed it! Like with any adaptation from book to film, screenwriters are tasked to interpret the pages of the novel into a screenplay that will bring the heart of the story to life. I haven't read the novel, 

It definitely progressed since the first film. Luckily, I was able to watch the first film since HBO has been showing it for some time now...haha! The journey continues as Bilbo and the Dwarves make their way to the Lonely Mountain. But, of course, like in many travels, obstacles come around to delay their progress as we find out as they travel through the Mirkwood forest. Throughout the film, we find a few subplots, which I found were interconnected in one way or another. I know that part of the purpose of the film is to tie it in to The Lord of The Rings trilogy, but it seemed that the film strayed too often away from the main plot of the journey to the Lonely Mountain...Bilbo's adventure.

The cinematography was beautiful. The whole scenic journey gave viewers many magnificent views of the countryside of the film's location...absolutely breathtaking! The action scenes pretty cool and spectacular. I wasn't all too impressed with the whole frame rate concept of 48 frames per second. Those CG scenes and some action sequence just didn't work for me...it just didn't seem realistic. 

Love the cast! I enjoyed the humor-filled banter among the Dwarves. I am just happy that familiar names reprised their roles for these films! Although, again, this second installment was long...just like the first film. I had to watch the first one again to really enjoy the film. I may have to do that with this second film. I haven't read the book, so I really can't compare the film to the book. But, in regards to both films, I enjoyed it. I loved the "prologue" of the film in which Gandalf meets Thorin...it gave me that, "Ah ha...that explains it," feeling about the first film. However, the cliffhanger ending took me for a "loop!" I wasn't expecting the end of this second installment to literally have a "cliffhanger" ending...hahaha! We were like, "Say what!?! That's it!" 

In the end, I am somewhat divided about the film...I loved it, but, yet, I wasn't all too impressed with it. I did enjoy Peter Jackson's cameo appearance in the film...haha! I did like that continuity from the first film to the second...I thought it tied in together pretty well...considering all the other distractions of subplots.

My rating:

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TRAILER: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Synopsis

The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost dwarf kingdom of Erebor.

I thought The Hobbit was beautiful, the cinematography was amazing. But, I felt it was slow...I think I almost fell asleep in the theater! Yikes! However, I did enjoy the movie...the storytelling flowed from scene to scene, and the actors did an outstanding job in bringing these characters to life. I do so enjoy watching Sir Ian McKellan portray the wizard, Gandalf the Gray. It's funny...now that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure is on HBO and can be purchased on DVD/Blu-ray, I find myself watching it again...hahaha! Despite my first thought on it when I watched it in the theater, I am watching and enjoying the movie. Go figure...haha!

But, after watching the trailer for the second installment of The Hobbit movie, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, it looks like moviegoers, as well as myself, will be in for more adventure and action for this group of dwarves, a hobbit and a wizard as they continue on their quest to Erebor. Good thing the first film is showing on HBO, I will be ready to watch this second installment with having my memory refreshed with what happened in the first movie...haha!

Check out this adventurous 3-minute sneak peek trailer that was recently released for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug!

And, here's a recent video 12 from Peter Jackson's Production Diary...


Watch all of Peter Jackson's "Production Diary" videos at:
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Trailers & Clips

Also, follow the blog at: The Hobbit blog

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug character posters were also released!

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman)

Gandalf (Ian McKellan)

Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage)

Legolas (Orlando Bloom)

Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly)

Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans)

Thranduil (Lee Pace)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hit theaters December 13, 2013

Oh yeah! I am excited! I am definitely looking forward to watching this!

What say you awesome nerds! 

Sound off in the comments below!

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Official Teaser Trailer [HD]

Beyond darkness, beyond desolation, lies the greatest danger of all...

The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventures of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

Teaser poster

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hit theaters December 13, 2013!!

Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly)

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman)

Gandalf (Ian McKellan)

Legolas (Orlando Bloom)

https://www.facebook.com/TheHobbitMovie

http://www.thehobbit.com/

My Thoughts:

Yes, our first look at what is to come in this second installment of Bilbo Baggin's adventures with the dwarves!  This teaser trailer is amazing! I am so excited! I just love it when actors reprise their roles in films. I don't know. It just doesn't seem right, to me, when another actor takes on a role that another has already established. But then, that's just my opinion.  For instance, Orlando Bloom reprises his role as Legolas (from The Lord of the Rings trilogy) in this film.  It's all connected, so it would be odd to have someone else be the character of Legolas when fans everywhere knows Orlando Bloom as Legolas.  Not just him either, there's Ian McKellan as Gandalf.  Now, really, can we see anyone else be Gandalf after watching Ian Mckellan be Gandalf after four films, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. 

Oh yeah!!! This winter season will also be all about the movies...not just summer...hahaha!!! Watch out!!! Love it!

'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' Teaser Poster is Out!

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug teaser poster

... there's Benedict Cumberbatch as a big, bad, dwarf-hating dragon.

The Motion-capture character himself doesn't actually appear on this new poster for the second film in Peter Jackson's Hobbit series, which trades goofy dwarf portraits for something moodier. Look at the entrance to the Lonely Mountain in the center of the image, though, and you'll spy a veil of mist coverin a tantalizing golden gleam, which could represent either the treasures within the mountain or Smaug's fire breath. Good luck, little Bilbo (Martin Freeman) -- you're gonna need it.

(source:  EW Inside Movies) 

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will premiere December 13, 2013. Peter Jackson's final Hobbit film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again is scheduled to be released one year later on December 17, 2014.

Last week, Entertainment Weekly released a first look at Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel, an elf warrior.  This is what Lilly had to say about her character, Tauriel, "She's slightly reckless and totally ruthless and doesn't hesitate to kill."  However, Tauriel does not even exist in the original novel, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Check out the full article at:  Entertainment Weekly

Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) (photo credit: James Fisher/EW)

The new teaser trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will be revealed this Tuesday, June 11th, at 10AM (PST)/1PM (EST).

My Thoughts:

Well, we all know that making a film adaptation of any novel is a challenge.  It is known that many parts of a book will either be in the film or cut out.  And, for the most part, the film adaptation will add or substract to the film. With such a large amount of fans of the author and/or the books, there will be those who absolutely hate it or absolutely love it.  We just have to remember that it is only a film adaptation, it's not the book.  I have seen my fair share of film adaptations of my favorite books, and some were terrible and some actually was well done.  Everyone will have a say about any film adaptation of their favorite books.  We just have to remember that these films cannot put "everything" in the film.  I think as long as the book was read and researched before writing the screenplay, then the film itself would stay true to the essence of the story, and/or the vision of the author.  

I also like that many directors, screenwriters and/or casts are actually in contact with the authors during filming.  Not all, but so far, there have been a few that have actually had the author's involvement during filming.  I think that's great to have authors on set.

  

To name a few authors involved, on any level, during filming, Stephenie Meyer with The Host, Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia with Beautiful Creatures, Cassandra Clare with The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.