The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Review

Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Release Date: 12 December 2013

After last year's highly enjoyable The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a lot of high anticipations are placed on the shoulders of its two following sequels. Now, having seen The Hobbit: TDoS, I can't help but to have even higher expectation of the third and final instalment!

After barely surviving the assault of the goblins and orcs, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the company of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) press on their journey to reclaim Erebor. Now that they finally have to confront the malevolent Smaug, the true terror begins.

Praise: Director Peter Jackson has again successfully craft a masterpiece of Tolkien entertainment. Fun, witty, thrilling and a well mixture of adrenaline and humour has put me on an exhilarating ride throughout the film, yearning for more and set me on the edge of my seat when the credit rolls, knowing I have to wait a whole year at least for the third film.

Its great magnitude of CGIs are well implemented, every pixel blend so perfectly to form and give depth to the Tolkien world we all love. The chemistry of the casts is splendid, every piece of dialogue exchanged between them is interesting to watch and listen to. Extra kudos to Evangeline Lily for her play as Tauriel, an original film character not found in the book and yet became a driving force to be reckon with in the film. The plot and narrative is at such great pace, nothing is hurried that it builds up all the necessary thrill towards the final instalment.

Complains: I was hoping for more Bilbo and Thorin relationship build-up. After the events of the first film, there is little shown on the improvement of their trust and friendship.

Rating: 8.7

Hit or Skip: Definitely a hit