The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug
2013
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom Evangeline Lilly, Andy Serkis, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch
Rated: PG-13
Revenge? REVENGE? I will show you revenge!
~Smaug
Here's our final guest piece for this fantastic and flavorful little retrospective. It comes from Philip Vandy Price who you might remember I talked Robocop with on Out Now With Aaron & Abe. He's got a terrific little film review blog I enjoy following called Reviews From A Bed that you can check out HERE!
We knew at some point the fact a trilogy of movies, at three
hours a piece no less, drawn from a 300-page book and its appendices as well as
further Tolkien notes would begin to feel a bit drawn out and if anything best
exemplifies that fact it is the last half hour of The Desolation of Smaug. Each year we come to the fantasy world of
Middle Earth that director Peter Jackson has now made a cozy home of and each
year we hope for the best. While the need to stretch things across three films
for financial reasons is understood if not the Achilles heel of this particular
series, there still seems to always be something to help us really appreciate
the directors craft.
With The
Desolation of Smaug being the middle
chapter what we have is a series of obstacles to overcome that lead to others,
each one more dangerous than the next and likely concerning a more confusing
set of circumstances intended to up the tension. While middle chapters typicall
benefit from not having to introduce character or wrap everything up at the
end, much of what happens here feels as if we’re just wading in the water. There
does come into play somewhat of a love story between dwarf Kili (Aidan Turner)
and bad ass she-Elf Tauriel (Evangeline Lily), but even this feels more shoe-horned
in than anything as we are expected to base the eventual affection and devotion
off of one night of talking through a prison cell. This is not to discount any
of the actors putting forth their best effort, but the story with which they
are cooperating begins to feel more and more patched together as this film
progresses to the point it’s hard to become as invested in the journey and as a
result, the numerous characters. Though, while the inclusion of Bloom's Legolas
might ultimately be unnecessary it was good to see him back in action as the
grace and skill with which he takes out each enemy elevates any set piece he
chooses to be a part of and effectively relays to the audience how competent he
is when placed in high pressure situations that will no doubt come in hand
later.
Though much of what The
Desolation of Smaug represents is off-putting there is still a good portion
of things to enjoy here. Most of these have to deal with the large action
pieces that occur periodically throughout the film. If I'd forgotten at all the
skill it takes to bring these stories to the big screen I was quickly reminded
of what an investment this was as Jackson concocts some pretty great sequences
here that are thrilling to see unfold. The stand scene out being the one in
which the dwarfs, still led by Richard Armitage's Thorin Oakenshield, escape
the forest of Mirkwood where Lee Pace's King Thranduil and Orlando Bloom's
Legolas dwell, and make their way down the river each in an individual barrel.
As I sat watching the film, anticipating this scene I'd heard so much about, I
wondered how Jackson as a filmmaker might creatively make it stand out. In the
early stages I became concerned as nothing seemed overly-innovative and all too
dependent on the saturated CG-world. As the speed of the river quickened so did
my heart rate though as we were quickly reminded that the White Orc, Azog, and
his minions are still hot on the dwarfs trail. It is when these foes come into
play and the camera begins to move swiftly along with our heroes as they defend
themselves does not only the camera work become fun, but the playful mentality
of the characters in the scene that only elevates our involvement with the
adventure.
On the other hand, the final sequence including the titular
fire breather goes on much longer than it should no matter how menacing Benedict
Cumberbatch sounds. There are so many facets, so many different levels to the
space in which this final scene takes place that there is too much going on to even
be able to comprehend. Instead of focusing on one plan and one goal in order to
outsmart the dragon the characters are spread out and disconnected from their
objective leaving the payoff to be less effective and feel lacking in any kind
of weight or care.
Despite the fact Jackson has plenty of technical talent
behind the camera (Gollum doesn't appear in Smaug,
but Andy Serkis still served as second unit director) and acting talent in
front of the camera we never feel the essence of what this trilogy of films is
actually about and that is the development of Bilbo Baggins (a truly
under-appreciated Martin Freeman in this installment). While this isn't
necessarily set around the one ring to rule them all, it does take its title
from our big-footed burglar that finds the ring and allows its influence to
guide his life up through the Lord
of the Rings films. And while
I understand the major events of this trilogy are set around the quest to
reclaim the dwarfs homeland, the most critical piece would still seem to be
Bilbo's character development and sans for a few lines of dialogue between
Bilbo and Ian McKellen’s Gandalf early on, there isn't much to indicate where
Bilbo is at in his own personal journey.
In retrospect, The Desolation of Smaug will likely be
seen as a blip in the collective journeys of Peter Jackson to Middle Earth, but
those who do choose to re-visit these mammoth epics certainly have an affinity
for this world and these characters that likely endure the highlights of this
middle chapter for years to come. I’d like to think that given the passage of
time as we are all lent a little more perspective a greater appreciation might come
for this prequel trilogy. It would especially be interesting to see the three
films cut down into one, solid adaptation of the original source material sans
the appendices and with that how much of this film would make the cut. In
looking forward to the final installment of the trilogy I'm not
so much worried, but more concerned Jackson has fallen into a rut and is simply
running on fumes to finish it. I sincerely hope I’m wrong and hey, Two Towers was my least favorite of the previous
series with Return of the King being my favorite so who knows, maybe
we'll have something of a repeat.
NEXT TIME: Battle Of The Five Armies brings our little Hobbit trilogy to a close
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