The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Starting up with a flashback to events before the first film started in a sequel is hardly original, but as stated with the previous instalment, the guarantee of quality that Peter Jackson brought, is also a guarantee that it can never be different from LOTR. Jackson isn't trying particularly hard to put some distance between the trilogies either, reusing sets, scenes and all his thoughts.

Armitage is still excellent. Visibly going weary in his long quest. Making horrible mistakes in anger in desperate situations as he fails to learn from past mistakes. Jackson makes the most of this development, by establishing the character of Balin as the older, wiser and most weary of them all. A pint-sized Gandalf for when the grey wizard is off solving side-quests if you will.

The Elves don't really work as well this time around. The CGI and stunts are pushed just a little too far at times, and as the dwarves are low-tech fighters, the elvish fighting feels like they've been imported from that God-awful Ang Lee-film. Much of it is a awesome as ever, though. The Elves do play Kiri into a more interesting part, and his bratty charm and general insolence is most welcome. Worse though, it would appear that Lee Pace was obviously cast for a different role last time around, and is a rare total miss in this film. At times that also applies to Orlando Bloom. The worst though is Ryan Gage as Alfrid. A broke man's version of Grima Wormtongue that could have been written by Michael Bay.

All in all you could say that Jackson does well with establishing the characters from its predecessor, but his new characters let him somewhat down. Not surprisingly either, as many are not a product of Tolkien, but new script-writers. The casting that was so sublime in LOTR, also feels more hit and miss here, as does the balance of characters. The afore-mentioned Ryan Gage is a greedy, evil pussy. His boss, played by Stephen Fry, is also that. ¨This ruptures the balance a bit. And though the love between an elf and a dwarf is most predictable, it is wonderfully done, with good characters and actors, so it works nonetheless.

The visuals, sound, editing and production is still immense, particularly well illustrated by the barrel-escape. Ten points also for the ingenuity and engineering of the kingdom of Smaug, and all the production lines. Smaug is as good as CGI comes, with the breath of an old V8. A most impressive sound. And though it ends on a dark note, it is not as dark as the second instalment in trilogies often are, though our friends are largely dispersed and it suddenly does loom.

7/10