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Friday, December 13, 2013

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Rated PG-13 / 2 hr 41 min / Adventure - Drama - Fantasy

What is it about? 

When we last left our heroes, they had just escaped the orcs that had them cornered at the top of a cliff.  Several falcons picked them up, and dropped them off what seemed like several miles away.  They are still on foot, and the orcs chasing them are riding the fast wargs of wherever they are supposed to be from.  Their quest is still to reach the lonely mountain.  Underneath is the dwarven homeland and an unimaginable treasure.  If they can get the Arkenstone then they can get the other dwarf clans to join them in the quest of killing Smaug and reclaiming the mountain.

You will like it if...

You liked the first Hobbit movie or the Lord of the Rings movies done by Peter Jackson.  It really is more of the same.  I would suggest seeing it in IMAX 3D if you are really into it.  The visuals are just amazing, and the CGI Smaug is one of the best looking dragons I've seen on screen.  Like the other movies that take place in Middle Earth, this one has a lot of the same shortcomings and strengths.  It is overly long, and at times the movie drags.  By splitting The Hobbit into three movies that are all pushing close to three hours they have been able to follow the book pretty closely.  The Hobbit movies thus far have quite a bit more humor in them.  The main gripe I have in this one are the chase scenes.  They seem to get more fantastical and rediculous as these movies continue.  The chase scene with the barrels in this movie is an example.  The escape from the goblin lair in the previous one is another.  In the end you aren't going to see these movies for realism.  What you end up with is a faithful translation of the book with beautiful visuals.

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