"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" reviews are in

Furry-footed hero Bilbo Baggins is back for another adventure in"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug."

Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's acclaimed 1937 novel, the second installment in Peter Jackson's trilogy comes to theaters this weekend, picking up the story from the franchise's last film, "An Unexpected Journey."

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Stars chime in on Bilbo Baggins' perilous journey back to Middle Earth in "The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug"

Martin Freeman makes another turn as Baggins while Ian McKellan reprises his role of Gandalf. Orlando Bloom is also back as Legolas.

And there are some noteworthy additions to the cast. The filmmakers have created a new female character, Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), who develops a crush on the dwarf Kili (Aidan Turner). "The Fifth Estate" actor Benedict Cumberbatch provides the voice of the villainous dragon Smaug.

The critical consensus for the most part has been that this sequel takes a step in a better direction from "An Unexpected Journey":

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: "A year ago, Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' got the job done, but it was too bright and busy and noisy, with creatures that kept popping up as if out of a jack-in-the-box. 'The Desolation of Smaug' is a more grandly somber movie, and also a much better one, with forces of boldly intense and unified malevolence."

Richard Corliss, Time: "The first film in the trifecta, 'An Unexpected Journey,' was often content to duplicate the books characters and situations, like the Xerox of an illuminated medieval manuscript. In 'Smaug,' the characters step from the books pages and leap vividly out of the 3-D screen."

Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington Post: "The second part of Peter Jacksons 'The Hobbit' trilogy goes a long way - and at 2 1/2 hours, I do mean long - toward righting the wrongs of the first movie, which was even longer."

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"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" reviews are in