Good news for Hobbit fans: Middle title of Middle-earth trilogy is here
Fans of the Hobbit books and films will be able to buy a dragon.
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” ($28.99, DVD; $35.99, Blu-ray/DVD combo; $44.99, 3-D Blu-ray Disc), the second title in the “Hobbit” trilogy based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson, delivers the highly anticipated arrival of the deadly creature Smaug.
In the story, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) embarks on a journey with 12 courageous dwarfs in a dangerous quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
Along the way, the Middle-earth characters face giant spiders and other dangers, the most terrifying of which is the winged-dragon Smaug.
“The Desolation of Smaug” is the Hobbit trilogy’s middle title of the films. The PG-13 picture comes after “An Unexpected Journey,” which grossed $1 billion, and before “There and Back Again,” which arrives on screens Dec. 17. (“Smaug,” by the way, enjoyed a huge global theatrical gross of $949 million, according to Box Office Mojo.)
In an interview with the website Movie Fanatic, Jackson noted “The “Hobbit” fans are extremely knowledgeable about “The Desolation of Smaug” before they see it.
“The good thing with the middle film (in the trilogy) is that you don’t have to set things up,” the director said. “You can just drop into the story assuming that no one is going to see this film that didn’t see the first one.”
Jackson said he experienced no trouble establishing the groove of “Smaug.”
“It was interesting to get completely into the narrative of the story, because as a filmmaker, I was getting swept along with the characters day to day,” he told the website. “So the filmmaker is on the same journey as the dwarfs to some degree over that period of time.”
And for fanatics of “The Lord of the Rings” franchise, “The Desolation of Smaug” is available in a special edition ($105.45 at Amazon) with custom book ends.
New arrivals
These titles either are or will soon be available. For prices and other information, go to www.amazon.com or www.moviesunlimited.com.
“August: Osage County,” with Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in a screen adaptation of the R-rated, Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a dysfunctional family.
“Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses,” with Danny Trejo and Danny Glover in an R-rated action film about two vigilantes seeking street justice for the murder of a young boxer.
“Bang, Bang, You’re Dead!,” with Tony Randall and Senta Berger in an unrated spoof (1966) about a spy and a CIA operative dealing in secret documents that could cause a shift in an important United Nations vote.
“Broadway Danny Rose,” with Woody Allen in a PG-rated comedy (1984) about a meek talent agent mistaken for the suitor of a mobster’s girlfriend.
“Grudge Match,” with Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro in a PG-13 comedy about two aging boxers who decide to get in the ring for a bout that never happened three decades ago.
“Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation,” with James Stewart and Maureen O’Hara in an unrated comedy (1962) about a man who wants a quiet beach holiday and then discovers his wife has invited their entire family to join them.
“Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” with Andrew Jacobs in an R-rated chiller about a man who discovers the death of his neighbor has permitted a demonic entity to go free.
“Sabrina,” with Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden in an unrated romantic comedy (1954) about two very different brothers — one a worker, the other a playboy — who fall for the same attractive young woman.
“Used Cars,” with Kurt Russell and Jack Warden in an R-rated comedy (1980) about a fast-talking salesman who must cover up a death to save the car-lot property from going into the hands of a underhanded rival.