The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug **½

Peter Jackson directed this Fantasy adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Evangeline Lilly, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Graham McTavish, Michael Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O'Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner. Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. Running time is two hours and forty-one minutes.

Continues the adventure of Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf  (McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Armitage), on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fire-breathing dragon, Smaug.

You'll have to be a real fan of these films to be satisfied with this offering. It goes without saying that it has a very good cast, fantastic production values and looks like millions and millions of dollars on the screen. But there's simply no reason for the excessive length and languid pacing which started me looking at my watch before the half-way point. There's plenty of action throughout but this is so long you become numb to it long before it's over. On the other hand, if you decide  to see this on your home TV, there's no way you'll come close to the experience you'll get in the theatre. I saw this in IMAX 3D, and while it was exceptional as usual, I don't think the 3D added that much to the proceedings. Or perhaps I was just too tired of the whole thing to care. If you're going to see it on a regular screen I'd skip the 3D and make sure you find a really, really comfortable seat! If you want to see this in the latest and greatest format, High Frame Rate 3D (48 fps instead of 24 fps) you'll need to see it at the Warren 13th. 

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen will add  to the impressiveness of the presentation. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.