The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - B+

Rated PG-13, 161 minutes

Impressive visuals the highlight the richly entertaining "Desolation of Smaug"

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins

Well, first things first. The second entry in the latest round of "The Lord of the Ring" films, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," is better than 2012's "The Hobbit." With a leaner narrative, more efficient pacing and more sublime visuals, "Smaug" has more to offer than the slow-moving "Hobbit." This film continues the adventure of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, battling a deadly, fire-breathing dragon named Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) in the process. Peter Jackson and company once more bring to life Tolkien's novel, and while the experience is usually a dense, lengthy one, "The Desolation of Smaug" underscores Jackson's expert ability to tell a story. Tolkien fans almost always get the most out of these films, and that is the case here, but "Smaug" is far more transparent and fun even for non-Tolkien fans (myself included, many of the characters names and locals are a blur), with a last act that is by far more rewarding than nearly any of the "LOTR" films. Unsurprisingly, the film is a first-rate technical achievement, featuring an Oscar-worthy score, photography and visuals, with the Orcs and the spiders the standouts of a film loaded with them; of course, the most sublime visual is the enormous, talking and fire-breathing dragon known as Smaug, who makes his long-awaited entrance nearly two-thirds of the way through. It helps that Smaug is voiced by a terrific character actor in Benedict Cumberbatch (seen as the villainous Khan in the latest "Star Trek" film), who memorably infuses Smaug with a silky yet baritone evil you won't easily forget. A nice addition to the cast is "Lost's" Evangeline Lilly, as the toughest female elf in Middle Earth, well-paired with returning cast members Orlando Bloom (as Legolas) and Ian McKellan's Gandalf, in a smaller role here. "Smaug" is a tad slow-going in the first act taking considerable time to get to the best parts of the film, but that last act won't disappoint, even with an ending that is a literal cliff-hanger as it flies off into the next and final chapter of this film series. "The Desolation of Smaug" is vastly entertaining, a great escape, and a must-see action fantasy film for "Lord of the Rings" fans and non-fans alike.

Wes's Grade: B+