The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

It is hard to imagine that Peter Jackson first brought Tolkien’s universe to life 13 years ago, as in many respects it still feels fresh and crisp; the fantastical characters seem believable and the world vast and populated. There is no doubt that Jackson is at home in Middle Earth, and we have all grown to love the world he weaves, from dank caves to breathtaking vistas…but like a pair of old shoes that fit just right, there’s no hiding the wear and tear that comes from overuse, and for the first time in his Middle Earth adventures, this film feels like a “middle” film, a stepping stone from the first Hobbit to the last.

Whereas the original trilogy had a wealth of content to draw inspiration from, to such an extent characters had to be omitted (not counting the DVD extras), The Hobbit trilogy is all coming from a single book, and not the world’s longest book by any stretch of the imagination. Amongst the padding, a masterstroke of Jackson’s was pumping up the role of Tauriel, as Evangeline Lilly not only does a great job, but adds a little feminine charm to the mainly male proceedings.

Cumberbatch kills as Smaug, who wades through his treasure with slithery ease, rolling out deep, dulcet tones that send a chill down your spine and slap a smile on your face. Freeman is the perfect Bilbo, as he was the perfect Arthur Dent, our everyday- man-turned-hero whimpering behind cover while building up the courage for true death-defying action. Richard Armitage has more room to make Thorin a true leader, but the other dwarves are all but interchangeable, so any danger they face won’t so much have you sitting on the edge of your seat in suspense, but scratching your head in confusion as you try and figure out who is actually in peril.