Last Night I Watched: ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’

Spoilers ahead

Until university, I had never watched the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy and now looking back at this, I honestly do not know why. My whole life this genre has always fascinated me. In novels and films alike, I adore the fantasy adventure genre, especially if it is saturated with vibrant mythological elements and creatures such as in Harry Potter. Anything that includes these fantastical elements gives me warm childhood nostalgia, reminding me of a time when nothing used to bother me and my mind was full of imagination and beasts from the folklores I used to read and watch about.

So last night, I watched the second of the Hobbit trilogy (the prequels to the Lord of the Rings movies) directed by Peter Jackson. Here we follow the rather grumpy Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, who is the protagonist of the film. In the first film of the trilogy, we see this hobbit being forced by the wizard Gandalf to accompany thirteen dwarves on their quest. Their goal: to win back their old homeland under ‘The Lonely Mountain’ and their large hoard of gold and jewels, stolen by the dragon Smaug. Every moment of the film they encounter different creatures such as trolls or goblins, and the fight scenes and action is endless. In the second film, they are captured by the beautiful wood-elves from the phantasmal forest and the viewer (if they have seen Lord of the Rings) is reunited with Legolas. They escape and get to ‘The Lonely Mountain’ where Bilbo’s job as the ‘master burglar’ is put to use as he attempts to steal the Arkenstone under the nose of the ferocious yet conceited dragon. Smaug reveals that he can see Bilbo even when he puts on the Ring and that he predicts that the Arkenstone will corrupt the king of the dwarves’ heart. Smaug knows that if the Arkenstone is given to Thorin, that he will be overcome by greed. The viewer is left with a sinking feeling at the end of the film as the dragon soars towards Laketown, full of innocent civilians.

The imaginary beasts burst to life and the fantastical worlds Jackson creates are wondrous. The battles are visceral and almost a frenzy yet there are some downfalls of the film.

The film is extremely enjoyable. The dwarves are hilarious and impulsive whilst Bilbo grows to become more courageous, delivering his witty lines that evokes a chuckle from the viewer. The first film in the Hobbit trilogy didn’t mesmerise the audiences as the Lord of the Rings trilogy did, however The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is quite a marvel. The imaginary beasts burst to life and the fantastical worlds Jackson creates are wondrous. The battles are visceral and almost a frenzy yet there are some downfalls of the film. The suspense sometimes doesn’t add up due to how lucky the dwarves and Bilbo seem to be from ever getting hurt by the overwhelming forces against them. In the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the suspense is built up masterfully and the fear seems more palpable. The characters also aren’t as developed in The Hobbit as in The Lord of the Rings. The dwarves are lovable yet we don’t get any of their backstory, apart from Thorin as he is the king. To have thirteen dwarves, and only one is given a full character seems silly. There is also less of a bond between the characters than in the Lord of the Rings however that being said, the relationship that blossoms between the dwarf Kili and the elf Tauriel is enchanting.

The charm of this film is truthfully that it is more whimsical and good-natured than the Lord of the Rings, yet the effort they put to make Smaug look majestic is epic.

The charm of this film is truthfully that it is more whimsical and good-natured than the Lord of the Rings, yet the effort they put to make Smaug look majestic is epic. The viewer can see him in all his glory and the movie makes him a wonderful spectacle. The dragon’s lair in Erebor is gorgeously illustrated by the filmmakers, a heaving and shifting land of golden coins. Throughout the film, you get the sense that you really are in a lost and magnificent world with Bilbo. Although the tension in the battles don’t seem tangible, the adventures are cheerfully exhilarating.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug might have faults that the eyes and mind of an adult can find, however you might find yourself getting a sense of that childlike joy and excitement, just like I did, when delving into this world of fantasy.