The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug Review

The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug Review 

2013-2014 

Cineplex Movies

Peter Jackson’s stunning directorial achievement in bringing J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” to life onscreen is not matched here, in the second installment of his three-part adaptation of Tolkien’s earlier fantasy novel. The story concerns a group of Middle-Earth dwarves who team up with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) on a quest to regain their mountain kingdom. The mountain is jealously guarded by a fire-breathing dragon (voiced by a preening Benedict Cumberbatch) and filled with riches (which the dwarves, of course, plan to share with the helpful surrounding communities). The tale has no emotional resonance, and the thinness of the plot (only five of the book’s chapters are adapted here) and the colorless depictions of the leading characters do it no favors. (Bilbo just seems to have come along for the ride.) The film is paced more swiftly than the previous installment and offers some exciting set pieces (a breakout from an elven prison is barrels of fun), but the adventure is heavily padded.

• Glad tidings, followers of the Peter Jackson film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories of Middle Earth. The second film in the trilogy of movies based on the 1937 fantasy novel, The Hobbit, is a big improvement from last year’s first entry,The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. With the introductions and bag-packing out of the way from the first film, the new movie jumps straight into the action and doesn’t relent until the cliffhanger ending almost three hours later. The ending was effective enough to leave the audience at an advance screening shouting a collective “Aww!” of disappointment as the credits began to roll. They’ll have to wait until Dec. 14, 2014 for the wrap-up. The most popular guess is that McKellen was talking about Richard Armitage, who's long been the subject of baseless gay rumors floating around the internet, but Armitage is only the most famous of 11 other dwarves who probably won't attract as much gossip attention. [Queerty, Bash.de]

• According to someone who hates fruits and vegetables, Katy Perry demanded a very specific, plant matter-heavy backstage menu for her New Year's Eve concert in Vegas. The nerve! [TMZ]
• The Monsties are pretty worried about sad Lady Gaga and her attempt to recreate Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Son." [Twitter, Little Monsters]
• Puddle of Mud singer Wes Scantlin started the new year off struggling with some good, old-fashioned credit card debt. [TMZ]
• Justin Bartha, who will probably never outpace his turn as Nicolas Cage's pet nerd in the National Treasure movies, got married. [E!]
• Alexa Vega, of Spy Kids fame, is also married now. [E!]
• Steven Seagal wants to be your governor, Arizona. [ABC 15]
• Jenny McCarthy is vehemently denying reports that her son doesn't actually have autism. [Us]
• Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, and George Clooney all hang out together, probably next to an artificial fire pit, over which they probably roast marshmallows for s'mores, which they wash down with giggles, friendship, and copious draughts of champagne. [E!]
• So, Idris Elba is aroused by his own bow-tied countenance? I buy that. [Twitter]

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