The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, their homeland, from the dragon Smaug.The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, their homeland, from the dragon Smaug.The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, their homeland, from the dragon Smaug.
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 19 wins & 90 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe only time Legolas blinks is when he realizes he has been wounded and when Thranduil beheads the orc he is interrogating. This is in keeping with the character, as the only time Legolas blinks in The Lord of the Rings trilogy is when he is strongly surprised.
- GoofsThe movies previously retained the idea from the books that sunlight renders Orcs non-functional. Gandalf remarked in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) on how alarming it is that Saruman's breeding program has produced sun-resistant Orc soldiers. Yet in the barrel escape scene from Thranduil's caverns, the orcs are chasing the dwarfs down the River Running, and doing hard battle, in broad daylight without suffering any ill effects.
- Quotes
Balin: [sees a chamber full of dead dwarves, with their only means of escape blocked] The last of our kin. They must have come here hoping beyond hope. We could make for the mines. Might last a few days.
Thorin Oakenshield: No. I will not die like this, cowering, clawing for breath. We make for the forges.
Dwalin: He'll see us! Sure as death.
Thorin Oakenshield: Not if we split up.
Balin: Thorin, we'll never make it.
Thorin Oakenshield: Some of us might. Lead him to the forges. We kill the dragon. If this is to end in fire, then we will all burn together!
- Alternate versionsThe Extended Edition that was made for the home theater market adds 25 minutes of additional footage. These include the following new or extended scenes:
- At the Prancing Pony, Gandalf asks Thorin about his business in Bree. Thorin tells him that he is searching for Thrain, his father who was presumed dead after the Battle of Moria; Thrain has supposedly been seen again. Thorin also mentions that Thrain was wearing one of the seven Dwarf Lord rings when he disappeared.
- After having spent the night in Beorn's house, the Dwarves are discussing how they can get past Beorn unseen; however, Gandalf assures them they will need Beorn's help. Gandalf goes with Bilbo to carefully introduce the group to Beorn, and instructs the Dwarves come out of the house two at a time (except for Bombur who is instructed to come out alone) much to Beorn's unpleasant surprise.
- Upon leaving with Beorn's ponies, Beorn makes the group swear to free the horses before entering the forest. He then has a talk with Gandalf about Azog, the Necromancer at Dol Guldur, the tombs in the mountains (featuring a flashback with a voiceover by Galadriel) and a possible return of Sauron.
- Gandalf warns the Dwarves not to disturb the water in Mirkwood, use only bridges and be wary of illusions.
- The Dwarves find the bridge in Mirkwood destroyed, so they cross the river with the use of vines hanging above the water. Bombur falls in the water and is asleep, so the other Dwarves need to carry him. They see a white stag, which Thorin tries to shoot unsuccessfully. Bilbo states this will bring bad luck.
- The Master of Laketown and his aid Alfrid talk about Bard and their desire to get rid of his influence on the people of the town. As Alfrid serves the Master a plate of goat and ram's testicles to eat, they discuss a possibility to silence Bard.
- While being smuggled into Laketown, the Dwarves are discovered. They fight off the guards with the help of the townsfolk. Braga, the captain of the guards, enters, and Bard bribes him into leaving by offering him a fancy piece of underwear for his wife.
- The Master of Laketown and Alfrid are discussing an old prophecy that when the king of the mountain returns, the streets will run with gold.
- Alfrid asks whether Thorin can be trusted to keep his word, prompting Bilbo to vouch for him.
- The remaining Dwarves ask Alfrid to help the wounded Kili, but he coldly dismisses them.
- Balin describes how the desolation of Smaug was once a lush woodland.
- While at Dol Guldur, Gandalf is suddenly attacked by a Dwarf. After a brief scuffle, Gandalf recognizes his assailant as Thrain, and uses an enchantment to give him his memory back. Thrain mentions how he lost his finger and the Dwarf Lord ring during the Battle of Moria. He also warns Gandalf that no one should enter Erebor.
- Gandalf and Thrain are attacked by Azog at Dol Guldur. Azog's subtitle, "Run him down!" is changed to "Run them down!" in the Extended Edition. Gandalf fights him off and they run away, only to be caught by the Necromancer, who uses black smoke tendrils to grab and kill Thrain.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Extended Edition Scenes (2014)
- SoundtracksTrumpet Fanfare
Composed by David Donaldson, David Long, Steve Roche & Janet Roddick
The plot has more to it than one encounter after another and connecting it to the later films was a good move that made me feel there was more content here – although I think that was artificial, I will not deny that it worked. The action sequences retain the same problems as the first film, which is that nobody ever feels like they are in real danger no matter how long the fall, how low the odds or what is happening. The good thing is that because the film isn't one escape sequence after another, I didn't feel this so often – although it is undeniably still a problem in these films. The characters were a little better than before although perhaps I was just more interested in them. Smaug in particular is a great creation – visually and stylishly; just like the first film where my favorite parts were the still and tense sequences with Gollum, so too here the high point of the whole film is where Smaug is toying with his potential victims and it is such a shame that this was not done longer.
Visually the film remains a feast – although, befitting the time of year, it is a Christmas feast where everything is good but it is endless and eventually just feels indulgent and gluttonous. This remains the case because the film almost never feels like it was shot wholly on a location. I remember the LotR films impressing me with their natural beauty but here even a shot of people walking across a field seems to have been digitally enhanced and, as good as it looks, it does remove me from the film somewhat. Visual effects are impressive but it does really hurt to see Jackson leaning towards the George Lucas "if we can do it then we should do it" school of effects management. The cast do solid jobs – I liked Freeman and McKellan when they were allowed to be more than just special effects The dwarfs made more of an impression on me this time but the elves not so much – Bloom remains stiff while Lilly sports the only unconvincing effect in the film in the shape of her ears. Cumberbatch was strong as the voice of Smaug and I enjoyed Fry and McCoy in supporting roles (shame the latter missed out on more time due to his Doctor Who efforts during the 50th anniversary year!).
The Desolation of Smaug is a solid blockbuster; lots of action, a decent story and strong special effects – this is not the same as saying it is a great film though, but it does still entertain. The story remain distant due to the invincible characters and consequence free (but very seriously presented) action, which does prevent one being drawn into it. Of course I'll be there for the final film, but I really do hope than they focus on danger rather than spectacle and build the tension instead of just increasing the noise.
- bob the moo
- Dec 28, 2013
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $225,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $258,387,334
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $73,645,197
- Dec 15, 2013
- Gross worldwide
- $959,079,095
- Runtime2 hours 41 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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![Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Martin Freeman, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, and Luke Evans in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzU0NDY0NDEzNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTIxNDU1MDE@._V1_QL75_UY133_CR0,0,90,133_.jpg)