as he soars towards the unsuspecting town, leaving Bilbo and the others in horror at what they have unleashed. Harry, Ron, and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts. Bard manages to sneak the company into Lake-town by smuggling them in fishing barrels, although he is nearly caught by Alfrid, the Master's second-in-command, who is suspicious of Bard as he is not licensed to bring in shipments of fish from Mirkwood. In the book, the portcullis was a grate lowered down across the opening (the water-gate) that let the stream from the cave flow out into the river. Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2015. He was, however, very critical of the film's padding of a "slender novel", but concluded: "I'd endure another slog through Middle-Earth just to spend more time with Smaug". It’s a sight to behold, and you won’t be sorry you did. Bilbo enters the abandoned dwarven kingdom and reaches the famed treasure hoard, a vast ocean of gold and jewels. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. While this series remains more tween-friendly than the more violent Lord of the Rings, there are still a few jump-worthy and frightening scenes, mostly dealing with the orcs, the dragon Smaug, and that most evil of beings, Sauron. [52] However, before the film's theatrical release, E! In the movies, Peter Jackson greatly changed the story line concerning Azog, having him survive the Battle of Azanulbizar, losing his arm to Thorin instead of his head to Dáin, and thus living to become one of the three main antagonists in the series (the other two are Sauron and Smaug). After an intense standoff, Gandalf is eventually overwhelmed by the Necromancer, who appears wreathed in flames, disintegrating Gandalf's staff and telepathically pinning him to a wall. After shifting from bear to man, Beorn meets the Company one by one outside his house. Bilbo is shocked and refuses to give Thorin a straight answer, but their standoff is interrupted by the appearance of Smaug at the other end of the chamber. This definitely deserves big comments! Additional themes include curiosity, teamwork, and perseverance. Suddenly, the enchantment dissipates and Gandalf is caught off guard by Azog, who reveals that Dol Guldur is in fact a secret staging ground for a massive orc army. The star rating reflects overall quality. The dwarves battle toward the Lonely Mountain. He excitedly calls down his discovery to his companions, but mysteriously receives no reply. Stone Street Studios, Stone Street, Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand. Bilbo must use his stolen ring to be invisible and help the dwarves. The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug. Join now. [36] Calculating in all expenses, Deadline Hollywood estimated that the film made a profit of $134.1 million. Bilbo cries out in protest, claiming the people of Lake-town are innocent. They then evade the dragon as he attempts to kill them and are eventually split up in the chaos, with Thorin commanding them all to make a run for the Gallery of Kings. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2020, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2018. It also has over 9 hours of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, detailing the monumental task of bringing the incredible world of Middle Earth to the screen. He felt it was "a little less long and a little less boring" than the first installment, and offered praise for the depiction of Smaug, saying "as a digital creation, Smaug is a bloody wonder of slithering fright."