Fantasy at its finest

JRR Tolkien made a name for himself through his connected body of work “The Hobbit”, “Lord of The Rings (LoTR)” and “The Silmarrilion” about a fantasy world called Arda, and is largely credited with the resurgence of the high fantasy genre. Yet, to those who were not keen readers, it was the brilliance of director Peter Jackson's adaptation of the LoTR series on film that has created a massive cult following worldwide. After the colossal success of the LoTR trilogy, Jackson started working on its prequel, “The Hobbit”, and much to the delight of the fandom, decided to make another trilogy. The first film “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” released in 2012 to positive reviews and huge box office success. Releasing in December last year, the second chapter, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” was met with equal interest from viewers, if not from critics.
The film premiered in 3D on Thursday at the Star Cineplex -- the multiplex that has brought some of the latest and biggest blockbusters for film buffs of Dhaka.
Without giving away too many spoilers, the plot sees Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) in a quest with a group of dwarves, and hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) to recover the Arkenstone from the Lonely Mountain, where Smaug the Dragon (Benedict Cumberbatch) sleeps. They are on a tight schedule through a perilous path, and are without the help of wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) for most parts. Bilbo's One Ring (acquired in the first part of the film) does come in handy at times, and with help along the way, including from Beorn the skin-changer, the unexpected ones from the Elven kingdom from Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) -- the only character in the film added in the screenplay from outside the book -- and Bard (Luke Evans) from the lake-town of Esgaroth, they reach the Lonely Mountain, only to awaken the sleeping dragon Smaug. Gandalf, meanwhile, in on his own quest -- to investigate the tombs of the Nazgûl.
Spectacular landscapes and breathtaking visuals are a given in Peter Jackson's films, and this is no exception. The pictures are so vivid engaging, it's almost like the film is happening inside one's head; the boundaries of visualisation and imagination are blurred. The action sequences are fast and edge-of-the-seat, albeit a tad stretched at times, and special effects are off the charts. But with all that in the bag, it's the cast that makes it such a fantastic film. Ian McKellen is in his own brilliant zone throughout; Freeman's heroics are inspiring, as is Armitage's intensity. Luke Evans portrays a superb multi-layered character, and Evangeline Lilly adds to the depth of the story. Even Benedict Cumberbatch (who is merely a voice behind Smaug, and the necromancer) delivers the goods.
Being on 3D, “The Desolation of Smaug” is a strong recommendation for anyone who has the taste for good films. It's a tad on the longer side (161 minutes), but it is all -- including the cliff-hanger -- much worthwhile.