Smaug may desolate, but Legolas steals
the show in a superb epic fantasy adventure
Ostensibly,
The Hobbit film series is about its
namesake character: Bilbo Baggins. The first film, An Unexpected Journey (2012), focuses on Bilbo, who
undertakes an expedition both physical and mental. However, in this second
installment, The Desolation of Smaug (2013),
returning director Peter Jackson (who also directed the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy) moves further back, assuming a
wider view on a group of unlikely and in some cases likely heroes. Those
coming to see Desolation aren’t just
coming to see Bilbo; they’re coming to see a collection of beloved characters. Moreover,
true to the contemporary western culture that spawned such blockbusters as The Avengers (2012), Desolation has minimized those pesky
internal struggles, and taken external challenges and battlefield bravura to
the next level.
Bilbo,
his dwarf companions, and Gandalf the Grey (wizard) continue their quest to the
Lonely Mountain on the once-thriving dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which the dragon
Smaug has desolated (hence the title). Dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield hopes to
gain passage to the mountain and use Bilbo’s thieving skills to seize the
Arkenstone. Then Oakenshield can assume kingship and the dwarves regain their home
from Smaug, who has shacked up in the mountain’s treasure trove.
The
action begins when Bilbo, the dwarves, and Gandalf arrive at Mirkwood, a forest
that poses threats both arachnid and elfin. The barbaric orcs are in pursuit of
the dwarves, and to top it off, Gandalf, without sufficient explanation, concludes
that he’ll be unable to accompany Bilbo and company through the forest.
The
group confronts a variety of adventures in the woods. A scene in which Bilbo
and the dwarves ride wine barrels down rapids stands as one of the most
compelling action sequences this reviewer has seen. Axes and arrows fly, orcs
fall, barrels bob and roll, and through it all skips, slides, spins, and hops
Legolas, the consummate elfin warrior. More on him later.
Another
highlight is Bilbo’s descent into the treasure trove. The smug Smaug’s resonant
voice (provided by Benedict Cumberbath) and the shlinking – yes, I made that up – sounds
as Bilbo climbs and slides down the vast swells of gold and jewels in pursuit
of the Arkenstone immerse the viewer in the action.
Meanwhile,
Gandalf’s side quest to discover more about the mysterious Necromancer seems a bit
forced in its attempt to neatly package The
Hobbit and LOTR stories.
Look Everyone: It’s the Inimitable Legolas
Some
of this reviewer’s favorite scenes from the LOTR
trilogy involve the battlefield acrobatics of Legolas. From a standing
position, he mounts a galloping horse. He single-handedly ascends a massive Oliphaunt, takes out all its passengers, kills the creature, and then slides
down its trunk for a picture-perfect landing. And the speed! The astounding speed!
The
blond elfin bowman and beloved member of the LOTR Fellowship of the Ring does not technically appear in Tolkien’s
novel The Hobbit. Therefore, Jackson
risks ostracizing Tolkien purists by sliding Legolas into Desolation.
The
risk pays off. From his smooth entrance in a Mirkwood fray to his orc slaughter
in Laketown, Legolas moves through this film like a whirlwind.
The
spell that Legolas casts over so many fans deserves further scrutiny. As the
SF/F community continues to endorse stories with “QUILTBAG” elements, Legolas,
with his Barbie doll locks and his impeccable shave, presents a somewhat
genderless counterpoint to the traditionally gruff male action hero exemplified
by Thorin Oakenshield. During their journey, the dwarves climb through toilets or
get fish dumped on them. That sort of filth seems below Legolas, to whom even a
tiny nosebleed seems amiss.
Legolas
never gets dirty, his speech never falters, and he rarely misses his mark. To
watch Legolas fight is comparable to watching a ballet set to technical death
metal music. His fighting ranges from displays of agility to the barbarity of
shooting arrows into orcs’ faces at point blank range.
Desolation also introduces
Tauriel, Legolas’s female counterpart. Though Tauriel’s lineage isn’t as royal
as Legolas’s, her battlefield skills are nearly as impressive. With Tauriel
comes the beginning of a love triangle between her, Legolas (who isn’t very
affectionate), and the dwarf Kili. When Kili is injured, Tauriel must make
choices between doing what “Mr. Perfect” requests (i.e., staying out of the
fight) or helping Kili.
Economics Carved in Arkenstone
Desolation also perpetuates
the age-old arguments about the influence, both good and bad, of wealth. The
character affected most deeply is Thorin Oakenshield. The Arkenstone that
Thorin seeks represents not only the resurrection of his people, but also the
potential to corrupt the would-be king. Remember that an obsession with wealth lead
to Thorin’s father’s downfall. So avarice is in the blood.
And
how does Thorin appeal to the people of Laketown to support his quest to defeat
Smaug and take back his home? Redemption? No. Safety? Wrong again. Glory? Courage?
No and no. Rather, the deep-voiced leader uses the almighty dollar! He promises
the humans a share in the gold within the mountain. Smart.
Certain
scenes could have been cut – the “skin changer” at whose residence the group
hides comes to mind – but on the whole, Desolation
stands as a highly recommended epic fantasy that equals in excellence the
film that precedes it. – Douglas J. Ogurek
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