The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug - 5 Elements It Nailed (And 1 That Failed)

1. Ending On A Monumental Cliffhanger

Despite being likely to attract both controversy and praise, the ending to The Desolation Of Smaug is, by all accounts, the most rewarding aspect to the film and perhaps one the greatest decisions Peter Jackson has ever made. What makes this ending so rewarding is how it ends: just as it seems Thorin, Bilbo, and company have dispatched Smaug in a flood of molten gold, the nearly invincible wyrm breaks loose of both his golden prison and Erebor and makes for Esgaroth, living up to his promises towards Bilbo that he looks to make the citizens of Laketown suffer, declaring "I am fire....I am death." As Smaug flies into the distance to unleash hell, Bilbo is seen scurrying to the ruins of the Erebor's entrance, asking to himself, "What have we done?". Cut to credits and a black screen made all the blacker by the shock and awe of the spectacle we just witnessed. What better way to end a middle chapter than at that point? Peter Jackson and his production crew have usually run into trouble finding a stopping point for each film, even back when production on the Lord Of The Rings began. How do they divide three whole books into three whole films? How do you split key events up? Such is the case with The Hobbit, but with only one book that is barely over 315 pages being divided into three more films, the task of creating a gripping narrative that is both fresh and familiar was even more daunting, but both films so far have ended in exactly the right place. In this case, the ending gives Smaug more screen time in the third film, even if it is limited to the opening sequence. It also leaves us pondering a number of issues: what of Gandalf being trapped at Dol Guldur and the Orc armies heading for the Lonely Mountain? What of Legolas chasing after Bolg? What of Kili and Tauriel, even if it is a bit of a forced romance? Does Bilbo really possess the Arkenstone? There are so many plot points left unanswered, but that is exactly as it should be to build excitement for the final film. And now on to the one major issue that ruined The Desolation Of Smaug's perfect score...