The Desolation of Smaug was NOT a desolation of story content! There is a PLACE for the Poetic License of Directors!
First, I must admit that I went to the theatre to see this film first. I am a committed fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" books, including "The Hobbit", as well as Peter Jackson's film renditions. Granted, the film does not exactly match the content of the books... but then, films never do! Aside from the enormous amount of detail in each book that would be nearly impossible to include in a film, the fact is - people have come to expect "creative license" by film makers. They wouldn't know how to behave if any film maker kept true to the written word. (I suspect there would be even more complaining about how "lousy" the film is, if any film actually adhered to the written word of the novel it represents.) All that aside, this was a great film! I mean, depicting a living, breathing, big as a mountain dragon in film, and giving him a personality - that is a FEAT! And Smaug has personality! TONS of personality! Gandalf is, of course, always fun to watch, and I was surprised by the presentation of Thorin Oakenshield as he fundamentally IS in the book! Thorin Oakenshield did, indeed, become obsessed over the gold in his grandfather's vaults, and the Arkenstone had one HECK of a magical effect on his mind. It drove him mad - but that detail is not as glaringly obvious in the book, as it is on screen. I thought that was particularly well done. Yes, yes, I know, Jackson exercised poetic license, projecting a female high elf into the story... a love interest for Legolas Greenleaf, and a serious concern for his father. While that was NOT in the book, I thought it made great cinema, and a believable twist to the story. In truth of fact, Legolas never married - he palled up with Gimli, Gloan's son, and lived his life in Middle Earth to the end as a lonely elf - I think he loved the High King more than life itself. He sailed oversea to the Undying Lands with Gimli at the end of the age, which was deeply sad (for me) - but who can truly be sad forever is the Undying Lands! That's Heaven - surely he would have found many friends there (and perhaps even love at last). I thought Bilbo was fabulous... very believable, definitely wonderfully portrayed, and the entire film was fabulous. Elrond's "Last Homely House" in Rivendell was so wonderful, I wanted to move right in. Great movie! Loved it totally. (Another great twist was the flirtation between the Tauriel (the High Elf maiden bowman) and Ki'li the young Dwarf. Whodathunkit on THAT one! Several surprises and twists in the story of The Hobbit, giving it a fresh breath of air, I think - made it a most entertaining film! I loved it! Read more