Top Ten: Things I Liked About the 2nd Hobbit Movie

I spent last week ranting about what didn’t work for me in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. And while it is still probably my least favorite of all the movies in this current franchise, there was definitely things I loved about it. So to balance out my rantings from last week, here are some of the things I loved.

Top Ten Things I Liked About The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

1. Kili Hurt/Comfort- I thought I’d just get this out of the way first. I love hurt/comfort. And Kili’s injury and recovery was fantastic to see here. I loved every second of it, from him stoically trying to go on to Fili arguing on his behalf to Tauriel’s elven healing.
2. Mirkwood- I’ve written so many stories set in Mirkwood that it was great seeing this imagining of Legolas’ home and Thranduil’s palace. I soaked up all the little details like Thranduil’s hot tub 😉
3. The Naming of Sting- This moment could have been cheesy, but it was wonderful. I loved Bilbo kicking some spider butt and naming his sword for us
4. Ed’s Song- It doesn’t really fit with the other end songs in this franchise, so the first time I heard it I almost didn’t believe it. But I love Ed Sheeran’s sound and it actually fits the tone of this movie perfectly. I’ve probably listened to it hundreds of times, but I still teared up hearing it for the first time in the theaters. I love the emotions it evokes.
   
5. Peter still hanging out in Bree- Peter Jackson’s cameo in Bree from the first Lord of the Rings movie revisited was a treat; it’s also amusingly timeless that he’s still hanging around there in the past.
6. Tauriel- I know she is polarizing in the fandom, but I side with those who love her. I definitely didn’t expect to. In fact, before seeing the movie I thought she was an unnecessary Hollywood construct. Okay, maybe she still is. But she’s also wonderful and deep and was pretty much the only part of the movie that allowed for any character growth at all. I loved every second of her screen time.
7. Dwarf drama- Fili, Kili, and Thorin’s conversation was great. I loved the loyalty, the obsession, the implications, the hints, etc.
8. Elf/Dwarfness- I do not need romance in my Hollywood films (believe me, my slash-loving brain will fill in any behind the scenes romance I need). So I didn’t need Tauriel for that. But I LOVED Tauriel for that in this movie. Her two scenes with Kili completely rock my world. As a Legolas/Gimli slasher, I love these elf/dwarf hints. Their personalities are fantastic, the discussions of starlight are beautiful and magical, and her choosing to stay and save him instead of going with her kin was touching.
9. Legolas speaks with Gloin- I don’t think I will ever get tired of watching this little bit of the scene where Legolas meets Gloin and sees Gimli’s photo; his reaction and attitude are priceless. Really, I adore Legolas, so I was happy for every second for screen time he got. But this moment was especially special.
10. Bilbo & Smaug’s Conversation- Okay, so, it was a special treat to have Benedict and Martin sharing a non-Sherlock scene… but this was especially wonderful. Yes, the resulting chase went on a little too long for my liking, but I did still love every second of their dialogue.