The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.
Bilbo Baggins and his company of Dwarves continue their journey toward the Lonely Mountain, facing dangers such as giant spiders and the formidable Wood-elves. Their path eventually leads them to the human town of Lake-town, where they seek aid before confronting the fearsome dragon Smaug. The film culminates with the highly anticipated, and perilous, encounter with the treasure-hoarding beast.
The Desolation of Smaug received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its visual effects, action sequences, and performances, particularly Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Martin Freeman as Bilbo. However, some critics noted its pacing issues and deviation from the source material, feeling it expanded the narrative perhaps too thinly. Audiences generally enjoyed the film, appreciating its continuation of the epic fantasy world and the thrilling dragon encounter.
Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's impressive special effects, thrilling action, and the engaging performances of the cast. Many enjoyed the continuation of the adventure and the epic scale of the storytelling. Some viewers, however, found the movie to be a bit lengthy and felt it deviated significantly from the original novel's more intimate tone.
Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, and Best Sound Editing. It also received nominations for BAFTA Awards and Saturn Awards.
The dragon Smaug's voice and motion capture performance were provided by Benedict Cumberbatch, who famously recorded his lines while hanging upside down in a special harness to mimic the dragon's posture.
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