There’s the middle child syndrome… and then there’s the “middle movie syndrome”, where the sequel, and in this case the central pin in a trilogy, lacks in plot advancement and character development. (Think The Matrix and the Star Wars prequel trilogy)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is the latest to fall prey to this painful affliction. While not a terrible film by any means, its crippling flaw lies in its inability to expound upon the extensive foundation laid out by its precursor, An Unexpected Journey, and contribute seamlessly to a cohesive and consistent chain.

Picking up where its predecessor left off, the intrepid party of 13 dwarves, Bilbo Baggins and wizard Gandalf continue on their journey to reclaim the lost kingdom of Erebor from the slumbering dragon Smaug (voiced by BBC sweetheart Benedict Cumberbatch).

Comprising of the titular Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), Gandalf (Ian Mckellen), noble dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and his dwarf posse of 12, the motley crew stumble through expansive woodlands and destitute lake towns, while fending off gargantuan spiders, hideous Orcs, feral beasts and calloused Wood Elves.

In its defense, Smaug is not without its redeeming qualities. To the uninitiated, this sequel revived the dying embers of The Hobbit overwrought with wearisome storyline and meandering dialogue brought about by An Unexpected Journey. With 3 excruciating hours of introduction and exposition (courtesy of its predecessor) out of the way, Smaug wastes no time in delivering intense action sequences and jaw-dropping landscapes.

Bilbo and company get no respite here, from being endangered by sapient arachnids one moment to getting imprisoned by the distrustful Wood Elves the next.

Several individuals, familiar and unfamiliar, are introduced through the course of their perils. Lord Of The Rings’ heartthrob Orlando Bloom returns with much anticipation as Legolas, the irresistible silver-haired Elven Prince.

While fans of this franchise cheer at familiar faces, this film also introduces a non-canonical character Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), the attractive Chief of the Guard who quickly starts a flirtatious interspecies relationship with Kili (Aidan Turner), 1 of the dwarves.

Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans) is also introduced smuggling the gang into Esgaroth, and while his participation is minimal in this film, those acquainted with J.R.R Tolkien’s literature will know that he’ll eventually be of great importance.

Director Peter Jackson choice of cinematographer is, faithfully, Andrew Lesnie. Lesnie’s attention to detail consistently shines through in his signature cinematography. Think swooping camera angles and panoramic perspectives, all which have augmented the visual indulgence magnificently in the course of the series.

Particularly memorable scenes include a continuous shot of Legolas negotiating through hordes of Orcs with liquid grace, the rich, autumn hues present in the scenery of Mirkwood and an exciting escape from the Wood Elves involving barrels of dwarves and fast-flowing rapids lined with bloodthirsty brutes.

In a testosterone-fuelled cast Tauriel becomes a welcome presence, and displays a more identifiable, humane side to her frigid kind. The film climaxes with Bilbo entering the Eredor treasury to find the fearsome creature amid a blanket of gold. Martin Freeman’s portrayal as the bumbling, dumbstruck Bilbo trying to appease Smaug with proclamations of admiration (“Truly, the tales and songs fall utterly short of your enormity, oh Smaug, the stupendous!”) is a delightful contrast to Benedict Cumberbatch’s sneering baritone replies (“Do you think flattery will keep you alive?”).

It’s a pity though, that for all its spectacular carnage,  picturesque landscapes and mountains of gold treasures, Smaug is penurious in plot and severely lacking in efficacious pacing. Audiences are thrown into scene after scene of over embellished skirmishes, resulting in an unrelenting whirlwind of combat that provides no breather.

The iconic Gandalf disappears for most of the film to battle malevolent forces only to resurface at the most inopportune of moments to interrupt the flow of the main plot whereas Bilbo fades into the background for the better part, and aside from hints of his descent into evil due to the Ring, Freeman’s character is primarily unexplored.

Ultimately, Smaug presents an overhaul in tempo and direction from its antecedent. Packed full of postcard-perfect sights, sword crossings and enough decapitations to last the entirety of the (soon-to-be) trilogy, Smaug is – bluntly put – all show but little substance. For the casual moviegoer, Jackson’s newest effort will serve well as mindless entertainment. But for devotees of Tolkien’s comprehensive legendarium and more zealous movie critics, The Desolation of Smaug, while an improvement over An Unexpected Journey, leaves too much on the shoulders of the final film (due 17th December 2014) to redeem the trilogy.

Rating: 3.2 out of 5
Release Date:  Dec 12, 2013
Runtime: 161 min
Language: English
Censorship: PG13
Genre:  Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Peter Jackson
Main Actors: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage