Voiced and motion-captured by Benedict Cumberbatch, Smaug is a CGI masterpiece. He is not merely a lizard; he is a sentient, narcissistic intellect. The ten-minute sequence between Bilbo and the dragon is a masterclass in suspense. Cumberbatch’s voice drips with predatory purrs and volcanic rage as Smaug toys with the invisible hobbit.
But the real showstopper is Thranduil, the Elvenking. Lee Pace delivers a performance of icy, ethereal cruelty. With his shifting eyes and majestic, elk-mounted entrance, Thranduil feels ancient, dangerous, and utterly unpredictable. His disdain for the dwarves is palpable, making the group’s barrel escape one of the most inventive action sequences in Jackson’s career. The film then descends into the human settlement of Lake-town, a decaying, wooden Venice-on-stilts that reeks of desperation. Here, we meet Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans), a grim-faced, debt-ridden father who will become the film’s reluctant hero. Evans brings a grounded, weary nobility to the role—a stark contrast to the grandiose Thorin. the hobbit the desolation of smaug 2013
The film’s controversial cliffhanger ending—the dwarves attempting to drown Smaug in molten gold—is pure pulp fantasy. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top, and utterly exhilarating. As Smaug spreads his wings and flies toward Lake-town, screaming for revenge, the screen cuts to black. You are left breathless, furious that you have to wait another year. The Desolation of Smaug is not a perfect film. Some pacing issues remain, and the love triangle (hinted at here) would become a problem in the final chapter. But judged on its own terms, it is blockbuster filmmaking at its most confident. Voiced and motion-captured by Benedict Cumberbatch, Smaug is