Director: Peter Jackson
Talent: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott
Release Date: In Theaters Now

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a meandering film about the first part of a fun book and a load of things from some other not-so-fun books. Its sequel, The Desolation of Smaug, is a compelling film about the latter half of a fun book: it’s a lean, mean orc-smashing machine. Smaug begins as Bilbo and company make for the Mirkwood, and here the film succeeds where its predecessor failed in showing us its characters rather than telling us about them (and their great-grandparents (and their dogs)). For example, we know that Bilbo is now braver because he stabs a giant spider in the eye: it’s not very refined, but it works a damn sight better than a filmed version of a reading from The Silmarillion.

Peter Jackson and his team clearly paid great attention to the ‘Time Flies When You’re Having Fun’ page in last year’s Idiom of the Day Calendar because, in spite of its hefty running time, The Desolation of Smaug goes by in a flash. Featuring white water rafting, abundant archery and a pretty awesome dragon, it’s a cartoon roller-coaster ride of a film that dismisses any lingering qualms about viability of a third installment in the franchise.

Words by Luke Maxwell