The Second installment of Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” is a sweeping adventure film set in the fictional world of Middle-earth. Directed by Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, the movie tells the story of Bilbo Baggins and his company of dwarves as they journey into the lonely mountain to reclaim its treasure. Along the way, they are met by various enemies to stop them from reaching the Erabor and finding the Arkenstone. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug features an all-star cast including Lan McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, and Ken Stott.
After one extraordinarily successful film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, it was no surprise that they would get both gross over $700 million worldwide. However, some may be surprised to learn that “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” made more money than its predecessor.
According to boxofficeMojo.com, the film grossed $258.4 million in North America and $700.6 million in other countries, for a total of $959 million worldwide. This means that even though there were only 12 days of release in North America and 29 total days released globally (compared to 181 for an unexpected Journey), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug managed to bring in more money overall.
It is the fourth-highest-grossing 2013 film, grossing $209 million worldwide on its opening weekend. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was praised by many for its beautiful visual effects and intense action sequence, making it one of the most popular films.
Facts About “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”
11. Bombur Doesn’t Speak in This Movie
Bombur, one of the Dwarves from the Hobbit trilogies, doesn’t speak in this movie. His role is limited to helping the Thorin group and company along their journey. This makes for a much different Bombur from the one we saw in the previous film. In that film, Bombur was a dwarf who spoke and had a sizeable role. He was one of the best fighters and helped Gandalf’s staff. In this movie, he’s mostly just there for comic relief and to provide comic relief with his fantastic acting.
10. John Bell Grew Six Inches Fastly
John Bell, who played the role of Bain (Bard’s son) in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” grew six inches between the time principal photography was completed and pickup shooting began.
9. Orlando Bloom Performs All his Stunts
Orlando Bloom (Legolas) performed all of his stunts in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” film. This allowed him to create a more personal connection with the character and helped to make the movie more authentic. He also relied on Sword and Bow training for some of his fighting scenes, which allowed him to achieve a level of realism without computer-generated imagery (CGI).
8. Orlando Bloom is Two Years Older Than Lee Pace
Orlando and Lee’s pace play fantastic father and son roles in the movie. Orlando Bloom is two years older than Lee Pace, who plays his father’s role, King Thranduil, in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” film.
7. Lan McKellen Needs to Spend Several Hours in a Box
Sir Lan McKellen has to spend several hours in the box, with nothing but a microphone and pictures of the Dwarves for the company while filming “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” After that, the production team wants to edit the character of Gandalf to make him taller than Dwarves. During these several hours in a box, Lan McKellen feels upset, and he says, “he is not an actor to do this”
Also read: “Titanic” 11 Facts You Find Interesting About The Movie
6. Richard Armitage (Thorin) Hate His Overcoat
Richard Armitage was not a fan of the overcoat he was given to wear when he started traveling with the company of Dwarves from lake town to Erebor. The garment was made of thick, heavy fabric, making him feel uncomfortable. Armitage thought it looked ridiculous and felt like an unnecessary piece of clothing.
5. The Romance Between Kili and Tauriel
In 2010, when the Hobbit was still in its early stages, the romance between Kili and Tauriel was already planned. Although their romantic storyline doesn’t come until “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Peter Jackson also claimed that the chemistry between Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel) and Aidan Turner (Kili) is genuine.
4. Arkenstone Was Just a Family Heirloom in Novel
With The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug released in theaters, many fans wonder what the Arkenstone is and why it is so important to the Dwarves. In the novel, it was just a family heirloom. However, in the movie, it is represented as a symbol of Dwarf kingship. So, what’s the real story behind this magical jewel?
The Arkenstone is first mentioned in the first installment of the movie, and Thorin’s grandfather found it. But when the dragon attacks the Kingdom, the stone is buried in the gold. And basically, the real story behind the Arkenstone is from the novel.
3. The Meaning of Tauriel’s Name
Tauriel was created to play Elf Tauriel’s role in Hobbit, and her name means “Daughter of the forest” in Sindarin. Elf expert Evangeline Lilly was chosen first to play her role in the film adaptations of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”
2. The Voice Effect of Smaug’s First Roar is so Hard
According to the news, at a midnight screening in Sao Paulo, Brazil, one of the cinema’s speakers was broken when Smaug roar the first time in the movie.
1. James Nesbitt Daughters Play Bard Daughters’ Role
The daughters of James Nesbitt (Bofur) portray the characters of Sigrid and Tilda in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” Peggy Nesbitt, the younger daughter of Bofur actor James Nesbitt, Plays Sigrid, while Marry Nisbett portrays Tilda. According to IMDb, “both actresses bring a level of intelligence and poise to their roles that belie their young ages.” These talented young actresses have given life to two memorable characters that fans will remember for many years.
Final Words
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was released in December 2013, and it was a fantastic movie. The action, visual effects, and storyline were excellent. I would recommend this movie.
