The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) is the darker, more action‑packed middle chapter of Bilbo Baggins’ quest to help Thorin Oakenshield reclaim Erebor. Picking up after the crossing of the Misty Mountains, the company presses on toward the Lonely Mountain while pursued by the relentless orc Azog. Without Gandalf for much of the journey, Bilbo and the thirteen dwarves must rely on wit, courage and one very peculiar ring as they face escalating dangers. Viewers will experience a string of high‑tension set pieces and mood shifts: a tense stay with the enigmatic skin‑changer Beorn, a foreboding march through the poisoned, shadowed paths of Mirkwood, harrowing battles with giant spiders and orcs, and capture-and-escape sequences that test loyalties and bravery. The film mixes quiet character moments (Bilbo’s growing resourcefulness and Thorin’s increasing obsession with his lost kingdom) with large-scale spectacle — elaborate creature effects, sweeping landscapes, and intense, fast‑paced combat. The centerpiece is the long‑anticipated encounter with Smaug, the cunning, monstrous dragon hoarding Erebor’s treasure — a scene that builds suspense, showcases elaborate visual effects and culminates in a devastating assault on the nearby human settlement of Lake‑town. Parallel to the dwarves’ quest, Gandalf pursues a darker mystery to the south, uncovering signs of a rising evil that deepen the film’s looming sense of dread. Overall, expect an adventurous, visually lavish ride that grows noticeably darker and more epic than its predecessor: tension and thrills, moments of humor and heart, and a mounting sense of fate that propels the characters toward an inevitable, dangerous confrontation.

Actors: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage

Director: Peter Jackson

Runtime: 161 min

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy

6.7 /10 66 /100 7.8 /10 7.0 /10