The first few reviews for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug are in (Picture: New Line Cinema)

The first reviews for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug have been unveiled – and they’re glowing.

The second film in director Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy has been described as a ‘spectacle’ with a ‘true cliffhanger’ at the end of it.

Empire, giving the fantasy epic five stars, said: ‘Middle-earth’s got its mojo back. A huge improvement on the previous instalment, this takes our adventurers into uncharted territory and delivers spectacle by the ton.’

Justin Chang from Variety said: ‘After a bumpy beginning with An Unexpected Journey, Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy finds its footing in this much more exciting and purposeful second chapter.’




‘The Desolation of Smaug reps a major improvement on its predecessor simply by virtue of picking up at a more eventful place in the narrative’ Chang continued.

‘As ever, in terms of logistical mastery and marshaling of resources in service of a grandly involving bigscreen entertainment, one couldn’t ask for a better ringmaster (so to speak) than Jackson.’

The Hollywood Reporter praised the visuals of the movie and the 48 frames-per-second speed at which it was shot – which sparked debate with the first film An Unexpected Journey.

Critic Todd McCarthy said: ‘The distractingly vivid images provided by the 48 frames-per-second in the first film appear to have been massaged properly this time and there is a notably lower-than-average reduction in image brightness when using the 3D glasses.’

Meanwhile TIME, declaring it one of their top ten films of the year, wrote: ‘In all, this is a splendid achievement, close to the grandeur of Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films.’

Bilbo and the gang are back in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Picture: New Line Cinema)

The Desolation of Smaug sees Martin Freeman’s Bilbo come face to face with the dragon Smaug, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Lee Pace, Luke Evans and Evangeline Lily also star.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is out December 13.