Gandalf: Ian McKellen
Thorin: Richard Armitage
Tauriel: Evangeline Lilly
Legolas: Orlando Bloom
Balin: Ken Scott
Fili: Dean O’Gorman
Bard/Girion: Luke Evans
Thranduil: Lee Pace
Master of Laketown: Stephen Fry
Radagast: Sylvester McCoy
Beorn: Mikael Persbrandt
Smaug/Necromancer (voices): Benedict Cumberbatch
New Line Cinema and
Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer present a film directed by Peter Jackson. Written by Fran
Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Based
on the novel “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien. Running time: 161 min. Rated PG-13
(for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening
images).
“No thank
you, O Smaug the Tremendous!" he replied. “I did not come for presents. I
only wished to have a look at you and see if you were truly as great as tales
say. I did not believe them.”
"Do you now?"
said the dragon somewhat flattered, even though he did not believe a word of
it.
"Truly songs and tales
fall utterly short of the reality, O Smaug the Chiefest and Greatest of
Calamities," replied Bilbo.
—J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit”
I reproduce this passage
from Tolkien’s seminal adventure in Middle Earth because much has been made
about this new film trilogy of “The Hobbit” containing material that wasn’t in
the original book. Bilbo’s handling of the dragon Smaug by appealing to his
vanity in some way makes me think of an allegory between these two characters
and the fans of Tolkien and Peter Jackson’s handling of Tolkien’s material. The
fans worship Tolkien as if he is the treasure squandered away in the Lonely
Mountain. Jackson is the current keeper of that treasure, and he’s pretty sure
he’s the King of the Mountain. The fans are left as the scared Hobbit, awed by,
but not knowing quite what to think of the overgrown mountain of abundance
Tolkien’s words have become under Jackson’s rule.
Personally, like any
Hobbit, I’m quite dazzled by the shininess of it all. But some feel it has
grown out of proportion and wish they could skip the parts with which they
aren’t familiar and just get their hands on that Arkenstone and the other
elements they remember from reading the book as kids.
Like I said, I really
don’t mind all the extra detailing Jackson has added to the story of “The
Hobbit” using various other materials written about Middle Earth by Tolkien. I
think it adds to the richness of the Middle Earth universe, which I find
unending pleasure to visit every year or so. For the first time, however, I
don’t feel like the new details or even the original details of “The Hobbit” story
carry much weight in this film adaptation.
“The Hobbit: The
Desolation of Smaug” is very much the middle segment of a story, and lacks a
beginning or ending. It often feels like a series of episodic adventures and
not part of a greater whole, which has been a great asset of Jackson’s previous
Tolkien adaptations. To be sure, it is a grand and exciting adventure that is
well executed by Jackson and his crew. It just doesn’t feel quite as important
as “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy or even “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”,
the first film in this trilogy.
It picks up right where
“An Unexpected Journey” leaves off after a brief epilogue depicting Gandalf and
Thorin’s original meeting. The band of dwarves—led by Thorin—one hobbit and
Gandalf quickly move to escape the orcs who are still chasing them after their
run in with the goblins in the mountain. They escape to the home of Beorn, the
bear man, who helps them with passage to Mirkwood Forest. Once there Gandalf
splits with the group to investigate the mounting rumors of a dark force known
as the Necromancer while the rest of the group journey’s through the diseased
forest.
Once in the forest they
are attacked by giant spiders, saved by elves, imprisoned by the elves, escape
in barrels on the river, and meet up with the barge merchant Bard, who takes
them to Laketown. From there they will find the secret door at the Lonely
Mountain and enter to reclaim the Dwarven throne of Erebor where Smaug sleeps
protecting the gold he’s stolen. As I said, this is all very episodic, with new
roles for some familiar faces. Radagast is back from the first film to help
Gandalf on his quest. Orlando Bloom reprises his role as Legolas from “The Lord
of the Rings” to add a shred of familiarity to the Wood Elves, who are not much
like the elves of Rivendell.
I’m sure these character
additions and splicings will bother some purists, but I feel they help root
this tale more firmly within the world previously created by Jackson in “The
Lord of the Rings”. For those unfamiliar with the story, they will be
completely unnoticeable as divergent from Tolkien’s vision. Many complain that
it draws the story out unnecessarily, but only if you are looking just for the
parts you know from the book. Taken within the context of this film, it all
moves at a surprisingly quick pace considering the 161-minute running time.
The film’s biggest problem
is that unlike any of the “Lord of the Rings” installments, there aren’t
multiple storylines to juggle, which is what is responsible for that episodic
feel here. I think the new elements to Gandalf’s storyline is an attempt to
create a juxtaposition plot to break up the action of the main storyline, but
there isn’t enough there to truly intercut on the same multiple storyline level
as the “Rings” trilogy.
The centerpiece of the
movie, however, is Smaug’s lair and Bilbo’s encounter with the beast. Jackson
realizes this scene with greater enormity than likely it has ever been
conceived. The riches and treasures go on farther than the eye can see. Smaug
himself, is enormous. It’s hard to believe that Bilbo would even contemplate
trying to flatter such a threat, which perhaps necessitated a little more
emphasis on Bilbo’s intelligence by the script. I believe Smaug is given much
more to say than he was in the book. Certainly he’s given more to do, as his
conversation with Bilbo leads into an extended action sequence within the mines
of the dwarven kingdom, until finally Smaug decides to take his anger out on
the people of Laketown.
Another disappointment is
the fact that no resolution to the problem of Smaug is reached within this
film. We’ll have to wait another year to see Smaug’s wrath and fate. But then,
I had been wondering how they were going to make an entire film—Jackson-sized
anyway—out of The Battle of the Five Armies. I guess finishing Smaug’s story
will add to the running time there.
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