Trailer Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is shaping up nicely and it looks very interesting, a new trailer for the film has recently appeared online which contains plenty of action and drama. The trailer also shows some well known characters like Legolas (played again by Orlando Bloom) but also some new faces such as Bard the Bowman played by Luke Evans.

Gandalf and Bilbo help the Dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield attempt to take back their kingdom known as Erabor. Unfortunately the huge dragon Smaug has started squatting in their home and is unwilling to leave, the cheeky sod isn’t even paying rent either to make matters worse. Bilbo and his friends must find a way to evict the dragon without getting roasted in the process. Along the way to Earbor they are joined by Legolas and his friend Tauriel played by Evangeline Lilly from Lost. They also clash with Bard the Bowman when they pass through the city of Dale, Bard warns them not to awaken the dragon as he fears it will only lead to chaos and destruction.

Peter Jackson seems keen to flesh out some of the smaller details in the story, characters like Legolas and Bard the Bowman seem to have bigger roles in the film than they did in the book.  This helps explain how Jackson is able to stretch a 350 page book into an epic movie trilogy, it’s a nice approach for fans of the book and the films as they get to learn more about Middle Earth. Hopefully, the Hobbit series won’t have too much unnecessary padding though which would fill out the trilogy but could also weaken it.

The trailer contains some previously seen footage but also some new scenes, Smaug is not shown but the viewer does get to hear him speak, Benedict Cumberbatch provides the voice acting for the dragon and he sounds cool, his acting makes Smaug sound like a calm and confident enemy who is fully aware of his own power. Gandalf also hints at the return of an old enemy which will be a surprise for those unfamiliar with the book, this revelation will be an important plot development in the series. The trailer contains a couple of hints about the identity of this old foe and eagle-eyed viewers may figure it out. Bilbo’s ownership of the Great Ring is also shown and this will no doubt also be explored in further detail in the feature film. This second trailer is much better than the first, it gives viewers the basic plot details and also gives plenty of hints about the other events that will transpire in the movie.

Fans can check out the trailer here and watch the film when it is released on December 13th.