[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Also came back from the advance screening

and I wouldn't even put the first film and this one in the same sentence. Especially preceded by "as much as". Let's get one thing straight: Unexpected Journey doesn't even touch this.

It's great, and... (hard to believe I'm going to say it..) I put this on the brink of LOTR Great.


(no spoilers, but general thoughts on why):

Spoiler!

There are three things that make it so: A great magnitude more emotional depth, real characters that you begin to yourself jump on board with and really care about their quest almost as if it were your own (not Quite to the level of LOTR), with greater sense of emotional struggle. A (largely) more cohesive and involving story that snowballs in momentum, that has completely discarded the plodding about the forest, and is now down to the meat and potatoes of the story. And most importantly, the greatest dragon ever to be put in cinema to date.

...Let that resonate... .. .. .

It borrows elements from the LOTR more heavily (which I for one love), but with the entrance of Smaug, completely forges its own identity.

Welcome improvements that also added enjoyment: Tauriel, who brings a romance element to the story (as well as a female one), who is extremely likeable compared to the other elves, as well as bringing orc-loads of kick-assery. The CGI-heavy scenes involving crazy action and dwarves bouncing about (yes there's a little more of that), are thoroughly entertaining this time, and don't just leave your scratching your head (though notably a bit beyond belief). CGI detail is slightly improved. The Orcs definitely have a better look to them.

It's been noted by some that the 48 fps format is also improved. Will be seeing for myself on Thursday.

Have to say though that if the third instalment continues in the direction this one was headed, then it may really, truly find itself on a Rings' level of Great.

There are wobbles here, but the film sheds itself almost entirely of leftover taste of its predecessor by the fiery conclusion. Peter Jackson has clearly regained his form here in a some big ways!

The Cumberdragon conjures up a delicious 9/10!


Oh, and Luke Evans was good.

Spoiler!

There is no doubt that the first film was a little more in line with the book. Because of this, you can a expect a number of people to be a little apprehensive at first with some of Jackson's creations in Desolation- such as Tauriel. Of course this isn't the only standard for judging the film, but it has to be expected with how classic the novel is. Personally, I think the new elements work and were necessary to expand the film into three parts. I liked the first film. I liked the second film. I will leave it to others to claim that the second installment is categorically superior to first.