Disc Reviews
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug Extended Edition Blu-ray Review
The second installment in the Hobbit trilogy gets the extended edition treatment here. The story takes our band of travelers to the home of a man-bear, into the dangerous and hypnotic Mirkwood forest, to the realm of elves once again and eventually to the doorstep of men. All along the way they are hunted by the inhabitants of each, not to mention that pack of Wargs and Orcs that have been following them from the start.
Martin Freeman excels as Bilbo Baggins, really getting into the darker side of the character as he, his friends and the ring in his pocket are threatened. The 13 dwarves that company him get a little bit extra time to register. The one main failing of the first installment was that even at almost three hours we barely get to know any of them. Here they do get a little bit more to do this time, and some of them get a few stand out moments that help – but even at the end of this film, there are still yet characters we really know that well at all. It’s still hard to look at and name them all if one is honest.
But the challenges along the way boost the action stakes and make this second film a much more enjoyable adventure with a lot more solid drama as well.
Orlando Bloom returns to the fold as Legolas (albeit a much more moody Legolas than the spritely fun version we are used to) as well as Evangeline Lilly’s Tauriel who to an extent aid the Dwarves on their way. Luke Evans also makes a welcome addition to the cast as human character Bard – although we suspect the script (prophesy and all) is kind of spoiling things a bit for what is to come in the third film. A quick trip to the editing room might have snipped that problem out easy enough.
The extended edition does delve deeper into character – especially with the likes of Laketown. But there are more obvious omissions brought back for this version with Gandalf on his quest as we find a completely excised character in Thorin’s father.
Of course as the title suggests we are at some point going to expect a bit of Dragon action. And oh boy does it come in the third act. Benedict Cumberbatch solidifies the vocal performance – but WETA have really gone all out to design and bring the creature to life.
The picture and sound quality are top notch. Yes again you have to switch between two discs for the 3D version. The 2D thankfully sits on the one disc.
That leaves the two bonus discs.
Disc 4 starts the main extras with the appendices Part 9 – Into the Wilderland: The chronicles of The Hobbit – part 2.
Starting comedically with Dwarves being barreled up with fish. Each segment of the 5 hour plus disc follows the likes of the Laketown set, cast and stunts, The Woodland Realm, Mirkwood, The lonely mountain, Smaug’s Den… and so on. The motion capture, the accidents and breakages along the way, the second unit wrapping their shoot, and let’s not forget the barrel ride!
Further detail is put onto the start and end of the film as well as new sequences which were filmed due to it becoming a three-parter. The last part takes a sneak peak at what is to come with some footage from the last film.
But of course it does not end there. A further 5 hours await on the final disc The Appendices Part 10 – The Jorney to Erebor .
There is a look in depth look at Smaug – and it is fascinating to see just how many designs they went through for the Dragon. The disc also covers other character designs, locations, conceptual art, and of course the music.
It’s all here! There is no slacking off it seems when delivering the special edition sets. Great box, great artwork, fantastic time consuming extras and a film that was very much a step up from the sluggish first part. There is much more to admire about the Desolation of Smaug.
Steven Hurst