The Desolation of Smaug does not disappoint
595725
I really enjoyed the second addition to the hobbit tale. Peter Jackson does it again with a very exciting story line and breathtaking scenes. He also has a tiny cameo as always. I really liked Lee Pace's interpretation of Thranduil's character!
4559495
I am not one for fantasy books, but I somehow fell in love with the Lord of the Rings movies.  I put it off for a while, but a week ago I bit the bullet and started reading The Fellowship of the Ring.  Am I glad I did!
Many of you probably know the storyline, but for those of you whom don't, I will briefly put it out.  Frodo Baggins lives in the secluded Shire, far away from the real world of elves, men, dwarves, and other creatures.  As a hobbit, he lives without much interruption.  One day, he discovers his uncle left him a ring with evil powers.  His friend, Gandalf discovers this, and they decide they must get rid of it.  So Frodo travels with his friends Sam, Merry, and Pippin to Rivendale, to Elrond, a wise elf that will know what to do with it.  Along the way, they have many adventures, and almost loose their lives several times.  Once there, it is decided that there should be a group, or "fellowship", that will take the ring to Mount Doom, the only place it can be destroyed.  The group is made up of nine: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gimli the dwarf, Legolas the elf, Boromir the man, Aragorn the man and heir to Gondor, and Gandalf the wizard.  They soon realize the quest shan't be as easy as they thought, and the fellowship threatens to break.
Once again, I am glad I read this book!  Although I knew most of it, it was fun reading it and finding out the history of everything and the new scenes and characters.  The first thirty pages or so are hard to get through because it is basically a history of hobbits with a bunch of foreign names and places.  Once you get through that, it becomes of wonderful read.  Even though they say you should read the book before you watch the movie, I disagree.  There was so much description and complicated plots that you should know the story first.
3721643
It is well worthy of the Eddas it reminds me of. good epic storytelling with characters you actively look forward to running into from page to page. i would expect no less from this team of authors. i couldn't put it down. i couldn't bring it to work to read on lunch for fear of just...not coming back from lunch until the book was through. i would sing its praises high and low but i am not half the Skald the task calls for.

that being said, there are some who might be turned away from some uncomfortable sexual themes. the book is realistic in its brutality. but it doesn't, in my opinion, overdo the sexual aspects of the plot. it isn't explicit, but situationally speaking, it is sure to turn off a reader here and there. the book is rich in character development, and this is just another aspect of that.
2978643
If you're this far in the Trilogy it's unlikely you're going to give up if the third book gets a poor review. Fortunately, The Return of the King is as good as or better than its companion books.
The book opens (unlike the also excellent Peter Jackson movie) with Pippin and Gandalf riding to Minas Tirith, Aragorn & Co. In Rohan pondering their next move, and Sam trying to rescue Frodo from the orcs of Cirith Ungol - granted, you don't pick up this final thread until over halfway through the main text (a synchronized version of events appears in Appendix B). If your only interest is in seeing the Ring destroyed, skip directly to Chapter 3 of Book VI. If you can stand some "irrelevant information and/or dialogue," go ahead and read Book V and see if Gondor can be saved from Sauron's minions.
Don't stop reading at the end of the main text, though. The Appendices contain a wealth of information including the history, calendars, and languages of Middle-Earth. While not required reading, they really add to one's appreciation of Tolkien's masterpiece.
2278633
This book brings up shared feelings, fistly, it should be pretty obvious to anyone who read Lord of the Rings from Tolkien, that this book -like its two predecessors- is a blatant copy of it. Yet despite this, it is a good  series, and this is the most enjoyable of all three installments. It tells  the story nicely, and is always exciting. The story is divided in many  parts, which is a nice touch. Especially the last part of the book is very  well done. The last third of the book tells the story of how the victors  spend their lives after the evil is destroyed, and it is very nice indeed,  I read through it ravenously. Overall, a very good book, if you forget it  is a rehash of tolkien's work.
2863672
I have always loved any of Tolkien's works but I think the Hobbit really has a special place in my heart because of the childlike innocence that is not as present in the Lord of the Rings.

Much of the story is told rather light-heatedly and much the way a grandfather might regal a grandchild sitting on is knee with a story of a far away place and fantastic creatures. The plot and characters are not complicated in any way, and if you are looking for a novel that is dark, and grim, with complicated characters, than The Hobbit is really not for you.

There is not much more that I can say that other 5 star reviewers haven't said. I do have the Kindle version and there are no formatting problems and the illustrations are clear and very pleasant. I've had trouble with older books that are later added to the Kindle, but I had none with this version of the Hobbit. A great and fun read.
755857
Having read The Hobbit back in the late sixties I was a bit short memory wise when I watched the movie.  There appeared to be new material introduced for the movie.  Maybe taken from background stories of the Second Age in "The Silmarillion" or "Unfinished Tales."  However, the storyline all fit nicely in the telling.  The acting was superb as usual in Peter Jackson movies.  I really can't imagine anyone else bringing the Tolkien books to film than Peter Jackson.  Well, I can, but I'll stick with Jackson.  Martin Freeman was without a doubt the standout actor in the film.  Of course as Bilbo, he had a large share of the picture to carry.  Richard Armitage was so, so, at least in my view, as Thorin Oakenshield, who also had a large share of the picture to carry. Visually the movie was excellent.  Loved the Dragon, Smaug who's voice was that of Benedict Cumberbatch.
4272673
I was eagerly anticipating Winterbirth's US release after hearing good things from British and Canadian friends.  The book was garnering comparisons to GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire and other fantasy series featuring a gritty, real world.  The comparisons to Martin are justified.  Both works feature a fantasy world that you can actually believe in with cut-throat politics, high mortality rates, magic that is both rare and undefined, and a tone that is dark and serious.

Brian Ruckley tells a great story.  The first few chapters introduce us to the major characters and give us a flavor for the world.  But we're quickly swept up in a fast-paced action packed story that does not give you a chance to catch your breath.  He is able to worldbuild without use of the dreaded info-dump.  Exposition is gently weaved into the story and dialogue.  We are giving tantalizing hints that there is much more to uncover about the Godless World (so named because all the gods up and left) in future works.  Characters grow and act in believable and consistent ways throughout the story.

My one small, nit-picky complaint is that the novel ends somewhat abruptly.  This first book goes a long in setting up future installments and the ending point is a logical one, but most of the plot lines are left unresolved.  That being said, I am look forward to future Godless World novels and thoroughly enjoyed the reading of this one.  If you like your fantasy to be epic, to be realistic, to be intricately plotted then give Brian Ruckley and Winterbirth a chance - you will not be disappointed.
1379687
As always, I read the book first in order to understant the plot of the movie.  After viewing the special features disc, I eagerly await the next installment of the movie, The Hobbit:  The Demise of Smaug.  The movie is very faithful to the book, which is a rarity in this day and age.
2126306
It's been decades since I read The Hobbit last and, with the movie coming out soon, I thought it would be a great idea to pick it up and read it again.  Additionally my five year old son had been begging me to read it with him and wanted to know all about Smaug.

Do I seriously need to do a recap here? I will just for the sake of completeness.  Bilbo is visited by Gandalf and a number of dwarfs who want him to be their burglar on a journey to steal the dwarves' gold back from Smaug.  Bilbo very reluctantly agrees to go on a journey that has him confronting trolls, elves, goblins, and eventually the dragon itself.

Is there anyone out there who hasn't read this?  If not please go read it.  This is where fantasy got its roots from and is a must read for any fantasy fan.  This book has it all; humor, adventure, friendship, magic, danger.  You name it.  This is how I first met elves and goblins and other fantastical creatures.

I was amazed rereading this at how much humor is in this story and just at how well the story is put together.  The imagery is excellent and the story completely engaging.  My five year old begged to read this book every night until we were through; the picture books were never picked up until we had finished this book.  My son was desperate to meet Smaug and find out what happened to him.  When we finished he wanted to start reading it again.

I am also amazed at how well this story withstands the test of time.  Yeah, it gets a bit wordy at parts and yes, there are some turns of phrase that are pretty outdated.  But that is part of its charm.  It was so much fun to see my five year old enraptured by the same story my dad read to me when I was young.  Seriously this book shaped my taste in reading forever.

This edition of the book is lovely, I got it as a gift from my parents, and there are many lovely and exquisitely detailed drawings throughout.  They are every few pages and were really something to look forward to as we read the story.

Overall still an absolutely wonderful read.  This is a book that stands the test of time and is enchanting for all ages.  This is where fantasy starts and it was wonderful to see my son enjoy it as much as I did when my dad read it to me.  Hopefully one day my son will read it to his kids too!  Highly recommended for everyone.
1080193
I get the impression that a lot of reviewers are jaded or jealous.  This movie is a very good fantasy.  Epic in scale.  Visuals that leave you in awe.  A moving soundtrack.  Acting of the highest order.  You really could not ask for a better quality fantasy movie.  We have been spoiled a bit by Jackson's previous films, a few of which are better than this one.  But this film, on its own merit, is a classic worth owning.

It follows the book well, but it also improves upon the book a thousand fold.

Weak Spots:

1) CGI that is too fake at times (e.g. Thorin's cousin Dain on his boar)
2) Gandalf is useless in this film.  How about some magic?
3) Bilbo does a few key things, but largely he is not the protagonist, which causes the movie to lose a lot of its heart.
4) You will hate a few of the dwarves you have come to love in the last two movies.
5) The evil army brings a few gargantuan beings to the party, but fails to use them.  Not the trolls.
6) The stupid eagles come to save the day--a deus ex machina which the book uses as well.
7) War without blood.  How stupid is that?  Heads get chopped off, people get slashed, creatures fall great distances, etc. but no blood!?!  Big mistake.  Big turn-off.  Just because it is labelled "fantasy" does not mean it does not need to be realistic!

Strong Points:

1) The action scenes, ESPECIALLY in the last third of the film, are amazing.  Expendables: Middle Earth
2) The characters we do root for are excellent--Tauriel, Legolas, Bard.
3) The slimy assistant to the former Lord is quite funny and unpredictable.
4) Some great characters die.  Gives the movie its proper tension and suspense.
5) The orc army is a frightening force of monstrous beings put to good use.  Inventive siege engines and a motley crew of scary warriors who act more intelligently than you'd expect.
6) Interesting camera angles and beautiful settings abound in this movie.

Top notch effects, a lot of action, and beautiful visuals make this a keeper.  What it lacks in story it makes up for in pure fantasy goodness.
2764089
I am 54 years old and have been a Tolkien fan for 38 years, waiting for a movie version of The Lord of the Rings for almost as long. A Tolkien purist would be disappointed with certain omissions/changes, but Peter Jackson has done such a remarkable job of remaining true to the story and presenting an action-packed representation of it that one must forgive those omissions/changes. This is a remarkable movie that keeps the viewer constantly involved. The characters are well-portrayed, particularly Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Gandalf (Ian McKlellan). I will buy the DVD immediately upon its release, can hardly wait until December of this year, and feel that December of 2003 is an eternity away.
3806699
I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the Samuel Johnson novels, so I grabbed this one once I realized it was out.  And loved it.  Same goofy, Terry-Pratchett-esque sense of humor, same characters, and a satisfying ending.  I'm kind of sad that the story is done, but also happy that I got to read the ending.  At least I didn't have to wait 20 years like I did for the Wheel of Time series.
534442
The 2nd Hobbit Movie (The Desolation of Smaug) was much better than the first! If you have a 3D tv, the 3D version of this movie is a must see!  Smaug is arguably one of the best CGI effects to date.
3285994
This volume of "The Mighty Thor" by Walter Simonson continues the epic story from the last and concludes the Surtur Saga in a spectacular fashion.  The action is thick and fast and epic (with language to match - some don't like it but I find the embellished prose and dialogue to be appropriate and delightful), and you will thrill to the giant battles between the forces of Asgard (which include familiar allies such as The Avengers and The Fantastic Four) and the fire demons - as well as wonder why *this* hasn't been adapted as a Thor movie yet.  There are great small moments too, though, not to be overshadowed by the grandiose.  You will laugh and cry and *feel* along with the characters - Balder in particular, who undergoes a journey of self-discovery to become The Brave once again.  This volume wraps things up pretty nicely (although there are some unresolved items) so you won't be left hanging *too* much in anticipation of the next book.

The only thing I don't like is about this book is that - as a compilation of issue comics - earlier events are constantly referenced by referring to previous issues, to benefit those who did not buy the previous issue or forgot about it.  It would have been nice to edit these out for this book seeing as how the reader can now read the whole story like a novel - we can do without the constant references to what has come before.  Oh well.  A minor quibble.

This new printing is basically for those who could not buy the now out of print Simonson&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Thor-Omnibus/dp/0785146334/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Thor Omnibus</a>&nbsp;back in 2011 or who want to get the story in smaller chunks (that omnibus was a monster!).  It uses the same new re-coloring as the omnibus, which is alright (I prefer the original coloring although in the end it's really apples and oranges... the original is more bold and expressionistic while the redo is more realistic and chromatic).  Print quality is good, although some of the pages take the artwork too close to the spine and make the text difficult to read.  The paper isn't glossy but it is good quality.  There is a brief art section and cover gallery included at the end of the book.  Overall this is a nicely done paperback.  And it's even printed in the USA!

So verily, support thy American jobs and purchaseth this epic tome of "The Mighty Thor"!  Thou shalt not regret it.
2880711
I just loved the Hobbit series, even more than The Lord of the Rings trilogy, although it's close.  The Hobbit:An Unexpected Journey is the first in the 3-part story that leads up to the 3-part Lord of the Rings chronologically, and since they came out backwards it is hard to grasp the sequence of events on first viewing unless you are really paying attention or maybe read the books, but this does not get in the way of enjoying each and every one of them as a stand-alone film, full of great special effects, interesting characters and story, and nicely plotted.  For relatively long films, I have to admit that I never got bored if the action slowed down like is so often the case with many films, especially longer ones.  I have viewed all the films about 3 times, and each time I see something new, which is always a compliment to say for any film.
4709580
This movie doesn't stray too far from the formula that made the Lord of the Rings franchise so popular. It IS a bit more fanciful and tongue-in-cheek than LOTR, having stripped away some of the grime, grit, and dark-corners, but that doesn't ruin the rich feel or lively characters most fans would expect.

There were quite a few liberties taken with the storyline when compared with the original book. I assume this was to flesh out the story, removing some large gaps of [yawn] boring character development, but I can't help feeling that this was also a financial decision, driven by the need to make a not-so-long book into a three part cash cow.

All in all, this was a lovely romp allowing us to once again glimpse into J. R. R. Tolkien's long forgotten realm of Middle Earth.

P.S. Keep an eye our for the release of the followup film "The Desolation of Smaug" in December of 2013.