The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Difference between revisions

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| [[Cate Blanchett]] || [[Galadriel]] ([[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (extended edition)|Extended Edition]] only)
| [[Cate Blanchett]] || [[Galadriel]]
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| [[Benedict Cumberbatch]] || [[Smaug]]<br/>The [[Sauron#Sauron's Return|Necromancer]]
| [[Benedict Cumberbatch]] || [[Smaug]]<br/>The [[Sauron#Sauron's Return|Necromancer]]

Revision as of 13:51, 2 May 2015

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is the second of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit. It was released on 13 December 2013 in North America. It was preceded by An Unexpected Journey in 2012 and will be followed by The Battle of the Five Armies in 2014.

Synopsis

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company continues East, encountering along the way the skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all — a creature more terrifying than any other; one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself — the Dragon Smaug.
Warner Bros.[5]

Plot

At the Prancing Pony Inn in Bree, Gandalf the Grey warns Thorin Oakenshield that someone is trying to have him killed. He persuades Thorin to obtain the Arkenstone to unite the Dwarves, and suggests that a stealthy burglar may be needed to steal the jewel back from Smaug.

Twelve months later, Thorin and his Company are being pursued by Azog and his Orc party down the Carrock following the events of the previous film. After Bilbo informs the group that a bear is also tracking them, Gandalf ushers them along to the home of a skin-changer. Upon their arrival, they are attacked by the same bear; Gandalf reveals that it is the home of Beorn and that he may be able to aid them in their journey. That night, Azog is summoned to Dol Guldur by the Necromancer, and instructs his son Bolg to take over the hunt for Thorin. The next day, Beorn loans his horses to the company so they can reach Mirkwood and hinder the pursuing Orcs. Upon arrival at the forest border, Gandalf discovers Black Speech graffiti imprinted on an old ruin, coinciding with a telepathic message from Galadriel imploring him to investigate the tombs of the Nazgûl (at an unnamed location). Without giving any reason for his sudden departure, Gandalf advises the Company to follow the Elven path though Mirkwood, and to wait for him before entering the Lonely Mountain. But upon losing their way in the forest, the Dwarves are captured by giant spiders. Bilbo, with the help of his new Ring, manages to free them from the webs and names his sword Sting. However, while fighting the attacking spiders, Bilbo drops the Ring, and he begins to learn of the corruption it has on him after brutally killing a crab-like spider to retrieve it.

The Dwarves are captured by the Wood-elves, including Legolas and Tauriel, a captain of the guard. They are to the Elven-king Thranduil's kingdom, and are locked up. During their captivity, a romantic subplot develops between Tauriel and Kíli. While the others are imprisoned, Thorin is given audience with Thranduil, but he refuses Thranduil's aid and is imprisoned as well. Under the cloak of the Ring, Bilbo helps the Dwarves to escape by using empty wine barrels, which are sent floating down the river. Along the way, they are ambushed by Bolg and his Orc party, while the Elves pursue the Dwarves to cease their escape. In the ensuing chaos, Kíli is wounded by a Morgul arrow. Legolas and Tauriel are forced to halt their pursuit of the Dwarves in order to end the Orc onslaught. One captive is imprisoned and questioned by Thranduil. When Thranduil learns that "The One" has returned, he decides to seal off his kingdom to protect it from the impending evil. However, Tauriel leaves to save Kíli, whom she learns has been poisoned by Bolg's arrow, and Legolas accompanies her.

Subsequently, the Company meets a man named Bard, and they bribe him to smuggle them into Lake-town, where the descendants of Dale made their home, and where the Master of the town rules with an iron fist. The group attempts to steal weapons before being captured and in the process learn that Bard is a descendant of Dale's ruler, Girion, who died attempting to kill Smaug with Black Arrows. After Thorin convinces the townfolk and Master that they will share the riches of the recaptured Mountain, the adventurers receive a grand send-off the next morning. The injured Kíli is ordered to stay behind until he gets his strength back; Óin, Fíli and Bofur also remain to tend him in Bard's house.

As the events of Thorin's Company occurs, Gandalf reaches the remote tomb of the Nazgûl and found that they have been revived. He is joined by Radagast the Brown, and it is revealed that the Necromancer cannot be a mere human, as the Nazgûl answer only to one master. Returning to Mirkwood, while sending Radagast to warn Galadriel of their discovery, Gandalf enters the Orc- and Warg-infested Dol Guldur, and is attacked by Azog. While attempting to escape, the Necromancer appears, and, following a duel between the two, Gandalf is captured. With his worst fears realized – that the Necromancer is indeed Sauron – Gandalf watches in horror as the Orc army marches toward the Lonely Mountain.

Once at the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo deciphers the map's cryptic clue and uses moonlight to find the hidden keyhole that opens the secret door into the mountain. Balin then explains Bilbo's real purpose and sends him down to the treasury to locate the Arkenstone. Unfortunately, Bilbo's searching quickly awakens Smaug, who initially finds the Hobbit amusing, but swiftly tires of him and intends to kill him. In Lake-town, Bard hears the rumbling caused by Smaug's awakening and attempts to affix the last Black Arrow to the town's launcher, but is arrested. Óin, Fíli, Bofur, and Bard's daughters, Sigrid and Tilda, are attacked by Bolg's hunting party before Legolas and Tauriel drive them off, with the latter remaining behind to tend to Kíli. Then, in a dream-like state after his medication, Kíli admits his love for Tauriel. After convincing Thorin that they must help Bilbo, the Dwarves enter the Mountain and find themselves and the Hobbit being hunted by Smaug. Tricking the fire-breathing Smaug into rekindling the forges, they attempt to kill the dragon by drowning him in a flood of molten gold. However, Smaug survives, and stumbles out of the mountain determined to make the people of Lake-town suffer for giving aid to the Dwarves, leaving Bilbo horrified at the turn of events.

Scenes

  1. The Quest for Erebor**
  2. Wilderland
  3. The Master Summons
  4. A Commander of Legions
  5. Queer Lodgings*
  6. Last of the Skin-changers
  7. Where the Shadows Lie*
  8. The Elven-gate**
  9. Mirkwood**
  10. Flies and Spiders
  11. The Woodland Realm
  12. The Elvenking
  13. King and Captain
  14. Feast of Starlight
  15. Barrels Out of Bond
  16. The High Fells
  17. Bard the Bowman
  18. The Nature of Evil
  19. Smuggled Cargo
  20. Lake-town
  21. The Master of Lake-town**
  22. The World of Men**
  23. The Home of Bard
  24. "It Is Our Fight"
  25. The Prophecy**
  26. A Warm Welcome**
  27. The Parting of the Company**
  28. The Lonely Mountain**
  29. A Spell of Concealment**
  30. The Hidden Door
  31. Son of Thrór*
  32. On the Doorstep
  33. Kingsfoil
  34. The Courage of Hobbits
  35. The Enemy Revealed**
  36. Inside Information
  37. The Black Arrow
  38. In the Dragon's Lair
  39. Under Arrest
  40. Bilbo the Burglar
  41. Smaug the Magnificent
  42. Orc Attack
  43. Confrontations
  44. Elvish Medicine
  45. Hunter and Hunted
  46. "She Walks in Starlight"
  47. A Desperate Plan
  48. Duel in Lake-town
  49. The Forges Relit
  50. Smaug the Golden
  51. Credits

* denotes a scene only available in the Extended Edition cut of the film.
** denotes a scene which includes extended content only available in the Extended Edition cut of the film.

Cast

See also:The Hobbit (film series)#Cast
Actor Role
Ian McKellen Gandalf
Martin Freeman Bilbo Baggins
Richard Armitage Thorin
Ken Stott Balin
Graham McTavish Dwalin
William Kircher Bifur
James Nesbitt Bofur
Stephen Hunter Bombur
Dean O'Gorman Fíli
Aidan Turner Kíli
John Callen Óin
Peter Hambleton Glóin
Jed Brophy Nori
Mark Hadlow Dori
Adam Brown Ori
Orlando Bloom Legolas
Evangeline Lilly Tauriel
Lee Pace Thranduil
Cate Blanchett Galadriel
Benedict Cumberbatch Smaug
The Necromancer
Mikael Persbrandt Beorn
Sylvester McCoy Radagast
Antony Sher Thráin (Extended Edition only)
Luke Evans Bard
Girion
Stephen Fry The Master of Lake-town
Ryan Gage Alfrid
John Bell Bain
Mary Nesbitt Tilda
Peggy Nesbitt Sigrid
Manu Bennett Azog
Lawrence Makoare Bolg
Ben Mitchell Narzug
Stephen Ure Fimbul
Craig Hall Galion
Robin Kerr Elros
Eli Kent Lethuin
Simon London Feren
Brian Sergent Spider
Peter Vere-Jones Spider
Mark Mitchinson Braga
Kelly Kilgour Soury
Sarah Peirse Hilda Bianca
Nick Blake Percy
Dallas Barnett "Bill Ferny, Sr."
Matt Smith "Squint"
Katie Jackson Betsy Butterbur
Richard Whiteside "Butterbur, Sr."
Greg Ellis Net mender
Ray Henwood Old fisherman
Tim Gordon Stallkeeper
Jabez Ollsen Fish Monger
Stephen Colbert Lake-town spy
Evelyn McGee-Colbert Lake-town spy
Peter Colbert Lake-town spy
John Colbert Lake-town spy
Frank Edwards Dock worker
Norman Kali Lake-town spy
Carter Nixon Lake-town spy
Zane Weiner Lake-town spy
Allan Smith Orc Underling

Deviations from the source material

The Hobbbit: The Desolation of Smaug covers the seventh through twelfth chapters of The Hobbit with a few elements added from the Appendices from The Lord of the Rings. While it generally follows the story, a number of liberties were still taken:

  • Thorin's encounter with Gandalf at the Prancing Pony in which the Wizard urges him to take back Erebor was not a chance meeting as it was in Tolkien's writings, but rather orchestrated by Gandalf himself.
  • Since the film's antagonist Azog and the pursuit of the Orcs are invented for the film, in the books Gandalf doesn't show Thorin a message in Black Speech about a bounty on Thorin's head, and Gandalf doesn't meet strangers who mistook him for a "vagabond." The two strange peoples in the Inn are inspired by Bill Ferny and the Squint-eyed Southerner, who filled a similar role in The Fellowship of the Ring.
  • Thorin says: "I received word that my Father had been seen wandering the wilds near Dunland. I went looking, found no sign of him" and to Gandalf "My father came to see you before he went missing." There are no hints of this in the books. Gandalf didn't know Thráin until he finds him in Dol Guldur.
  • Gandalf urges Thorin to unite the armies of the Dwarves to retake Erebor, but in the books from the beginning he planned to retake the Mountain in secret.
  • In Tolkien's writings, there is no "oath" sworn by the seven Dwarf families to the one who wields the Arkenstone.
  • As told in The Quest of Erebor, the term "Burglar" or "Master Burglar" emerged by chance, but in the movie Gandalf meant to use it in the particular context in which Thorin and Company see Bilbo later on.
  • The meeting in Bree happened on 15 March T.A. 2941 and the Company comes to Beorn in late summer, but the film says that 12 months are in between the prologue and the Company's arrival at Beorn's.
  • The Dwarves see Beorn first in his bear form and flee from him into his house and barricade the front door. In the book, they come as several couples while Gandalf is telling Beorn their story (which doesn't occur until the next morning in the Extended Edition of the film).
  • In the book, Gandalf already knows that he must leave the Company to deal with the Necromancer, but in the film he doesn't decide to leave until noticing a banner with a red eye on a tree at the entrance of Mirkwood. He doesn't tell the Dwarves as to where he's leaving and why.
  • Bilbo wants to tell Gandalf of the One Ring. In the books, he has no such tendencies.
  • In the Extended Edition of the film, Beorn says there is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, and throughout the film Azog and his son Bolg's alliance with the Necromancer is shown. Azog doesn't appear anyway in the books at all after his death at the Battle of Azanulbizar, but his son also only appears at the end at the Battle of Five Armies, while Sauron has nothing to do with Thorin's Company and the Erebor quest at all (except for Gandalf's fear that Smaug could align with Sauron).
  • The corruption of the Ring concerning Bilbo is displayed clearer in the film; he is shown playing with it at night and very aggressevily killing a spider-like creature that stands between him and the Ring.
  • As often in the trilogy, it isn't made clear how long the journey lasts; in the book, the Company wanders through Mirkwood for almost one month, and they are almost starving -- but the Company's confusion in the forest is not so strong as is depicted in the film.
  • Instead of crossing Mirkwood's Enchanted River by boat, Bilbo and the Dwarves climb on vines that extend across the river, and there is no deer leaping over it (Thorin sees a stag after crossing and shoots an arrow at it, at which point it runs away). This scene is only seen in the Extended Edition of the film.
  • The Elves fight the spiders and capture the Dwarves afterward.
  • In the book, Thorin was captured separately before the rest of the Company and kept captive in his own room (where he was treated and fed well), though he wouldn't reveal his purpose for being in Mirkwood. The other Dwarves weren't told he was there. In the film they all get captured together after the Elves' fight with the spiders.
  • Thranduil guesses the purpose of the Company's mission was to retake Erebor, and tries to make a deal with Thorin. In the book, he is oblivious to this and only wants to know why they wandered through the Forest.
  • Thranduil at first allowed the other Dwarves to move about freely within his halls, but he finally locked them up, each to his own cell, because they were being obnoxious and insulting in the book. In the film, they are immediately locked up.
  • Neither Legolas nor Tauriel appear in the book. The latter character is a creation of the filmmakers.
  • There are no Elven-feasts and fires.
  • Bilbo hides the Dwarves in the barrels (with no tops) while the chief guard and Galion the butler were asleep, and he launches them into the river himself. In the book, the Elves themselves later pushed the barrels (which they thought were empty; they were also covered with lids) through the trapdoor and opened the portcullis at the water-gate to let the barrels into the river.
  • In the book, the portcullis was a grate lowered down across the opening (the water-gate) that let the stream from the cave flow out into the river. In the film, the portcullis was a side-swinging type, and it wouldn't have kept anybody inside the cave because it was outside on the river.
  • There is a pursuit by the Elves after the Dwarves' escape from the Elvenking's Halls (whereas the Elves did not yet know the Dwarves had escaped in the book), and the pack of Orcs who were pursuing the Company in the previous film catch up and attack as the barrels float down the river. The Elves then counterattack the Orcs.
  • Kíli is struck with a Morgul arrow by Bolg during the barrel escape when trying to open the water-gate, and it slowly saps his strength through the rest of the film. He is ultimately healed by Tauriel (who uses athelas to do so) in Lake-town, where his health had become critical. Throughout the film, an emotional relationship forms between both. No such incidents occur in Tolkien's works.
  • There is an interrogation of a captured Orc who reveals to Thranduil and Legolas that the their is a "shadow" and that his master "serves the One", making Thranduil decide to barricade his kingdom, against the will of Tauriel.
  • In the book, Raft-elves intercepted the barrels and loaded them into a raft they steered down the river to Long Lake where Men in boats pulled it to Lake-town with the undiscovered Dwarves still inside and Bilbo (still wearing his Ring) riding along. In the film, Bard is introduced in their place much earlier than in the book (where he does not appear before the attack of Smaug as one of the town's bowmen) and he is a bargeman and meets the Dwarves on the river, where Balin convinces him to smuggle the Company into Lake-town in the barrels, (where they are nearly discovered), then hide them in his house and to give them weapons. Bard suspects who Thorin might be, and confirms it after examining a wall hanging with Thorin's genealogy.
  • In addition to Bain, Bard has two other children: daughters Sigrid and Tilda. He is also revealed to be a widower. Though Bain does appear in the Appendices, he does not appear in The Hobbit.
  • The part of the Master of Lake-town is extended as well, displaying his corruption in a more detailed way. He has a majordomo in the film: Alfrid. Alfrid frequently informs the Master of various goings-on in the town, particularly the rumors of people plotting to possibly unseat him from his position of power - Bard (who is frequently spied on by the Master) in particular. In the book, the Master had various aides who were unnamed and only briefly mentioned.
  • The story concerning the Dwarvish wind-lance appears only in the film.
  • The discussion about Thorin's Company doesn't take place in a Great Hall but in front of one.
  • In the book, the poem concerning the return of the King under the Mountain has a positive connotation:

The streams shall run in gladness
The lakes shall shine and burn,
All sorrow fail and sadness
At the Mountain-king's return!

In the movie, it is recited by Bard with a negative meaning:

And the bells shall ring in gladness
At the Mountain King's return,
But all shall fade in sadness,
And the lake will shine and burn.

  • Due to his worsening condition, Thorin refuses to let Kíli go up to the Mountain with the rest of the Company. Fíli and Óin opt to stay behind to look after him. Additionally, Bofur gets left behind after oversleeping. All thirteen Dwarves went up to the Mountain in the book.
  • The High Fells of Rhudaur, as well as the tombs of the Nazgûl, their rising, and Gandalf and Radagast's examining of the tombs are all invented for the film.
  • The events of The Hobbit take place T.A. 2941, but in the books Gandalf's second investigation of Dol Guldur happens T.A. 2850.
  • In the Extended Edition of the film, Gandalf encounters a gaunt, bewildered Thráin while investigating Dol Guldur after discovering the open tombs of the Nine. He somewhat heals the Dwarf's insanity, and Thráin helps guide him through the fortress, also revealing that his father's ring had been entrusted to him and had ultimately been cut from his finger and taken from him by Azog during the Battle of Azanulbizar (in the books, the Ring is not taken before Thráins capture in Dol Guldur). Thráin is ultimately swallowed up by the Necromancer just before the it reveals itself to Gandalf to be the Dark Lord Sauron. Gandalf calls the Dwarf his "old friend," whereas in the books he doesn't know him and doesn't realize his identity until months after the meeting. Thráin does not give Thrór's Map and Erebor's Back Door key to Gandalf in the film (apparently having done so in the films' timeline on a previous, unseen occasion).
  • In the books, there is no mention of a combat between Sauron and Gandalf and he isn't taken prisoner as depicted in the movie.
  • In the book, the last rays of the setting sun on Durin's Day reveal the keyhole to the secret door into the Lonely Mountain, as predicted by the runes on the Thrór's Map. In the film, the light of the moon reveals the keyhole after the sun has set; the Dwarves having tried to smash it, started to go back after losing hope.
  • Bard is imprisoned toward the end of the film, purely because the Master sees him as a threat.
  • Bolg's Orc pack arrives in Lake-town to ambush the remaining Dwarves, but are foiled by the arrival of Legolas and Tauriel. They retreat once they realize Thorin has already reached the Mountain.
  • Bilbo has only one audience with Smaug, and does not take a gold cup from him. He also takes his Ring off not long after the Dragon detects his presence.
  • Smaug seems fully aware of Thorin and Company's presence, as well as Sauron's impending attack on the Dwarves (since, as Thráin revealed to Gandalf, the Dragon is in league with Sauron).
  • The climax of the film is an involved battle between Thorin's Dwarves and Smaug inside of the Lonely Mountain, in which they ultimately try (unsuccessfully) to drown the beast in molten gold after re-lighting the forges. In the book, the Dwarves never see the Dragon at all; by the time they head downstairs to the Dragon's lair, Smaug is long gone (in fact, although they don't know it at that point, he's already dead).
  • At the battle, more places of Erebor are shown than are mentioned in the books, such as the forge hall, the "Gallery of Kings," and a chamber with the corpses of those who could not escape during the Sack of Erebor.
  • Bilbo leaves the Mountain watching Smaug fly toward Lake-Town.

Gallery

See also: Category:Images from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Pictures from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Bilbo fights the spiders of Mirkwood  
Bilbo and Sting  
Bilbo in the Lonely Mountain  
Dale in ruins  
Bilbo and the butterflies in the canopy of Mirkwood  

Trailers

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See also

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Titles and Release Dates Announced" dated 31 May 2011, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
  2. "Andy Serkis to serve as Second Unit Director" dated 8 April 2011, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit" dated 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
  4. "The Hobbit Trilogy titles and release dates" dated 2 September 2012, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 2 September 2012)
  5. "Warner Bros. full synopsis for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug provides some plot hints?" dated 17 October 2013, TheOneRing.net (accessed 17 October 2013)

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