"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is the second installment of a three-part film fantasy adventure series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel The Hobbit. We now see the hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) continue his travels with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a group of thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield into the Kingdom of Erebor to challenge the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) and reclaim their homeland.

"There and Back Again" is set to round out this trilogy next year, with the three films telling a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Starring Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly and James Nesbitt, with other notable cast in smaller roles such as Stephen Fry, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Billy Connolly and Elijah Wood. The film continues to use the high projection frame rate of 48 frames per second which was adopted in the previous films to great effect.

In this installment, we find the group leaving Carrock where the first film ends, and travelling to the forest outskirts of Mirkwood at which point Gandalf leaves the group to meet with the White Council. The group is then challenged by the "skin-changer" Beorn, attacked by giant spiders and all but Bilbo are captured by Wood-elves.

Challenged at almost every turn, the group eventually make their way to Lonely Mountain, where they discover a hidden door, then stumble upon the dragon Smaug. Smaug is one of the last great dragons of Middle-earth. The winged fire-breathing character rose to prominence by capturing the home of the Dwarves, Lonely Mountain also known as Erebor more than 200 years prior.  Already centuries old, Smaug was enormously wealthy because when he invaded the mountain, he claimed the Dwarves valuable treasure.

The fight is on for their homeland, and their survival.

If you are a fan of this series, "The Desolation of Smaug" is unlikely to disappoint.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is in cinemas nationally Boxing Day, 26^th December.