The_hobbit_desolation_of_smaug_ending -

: Some critics, such as those on Reddit's Movie Discussion , felt the cut-off point was arbitrary, arguing that Smaug’s death (which occurs in the first ten minutes of the next film) would have made for a more natural and satisfying conclusion to the second chapter.

The ending of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is widely regarded as one of modern cinema's most dramatic—and controversial—cliffhangers. It concludes with the dragon Smaug emerging from the Lonely Mountain, gold-plated and furious, as he flies toward the unsuspecting Lake-town. The Ending Sequence the_hobbit_desolation_of_smaug_ending

After a prolonged and inventive battle within the forges of Erebor—a sequence original to the film and not found in the book—Thorin and his company attempt to kill Smaug by drowning him in molten gold. They succeed in encasing him in a giant golden statue, but the dragon quickly sheds the cooling metal and bursts out. : Some critics, such as those on Reddit's

: The film cuts to black just as Smaug declares, "I am Fire! I am... Death!". Why It's a "Good Story" (and Critiques) The Ending Sequence After a prolonged and inventive

The ending effectively shifts the tone from a grand adventure to an impending tragedy, though fan reception is mixed:

: Despite narrative gripes, the visual of a gold-covered Smaug taking flight is cited as a stunning piece of animation by industry experts.

The story continues in The Battle of the Five Armies . Bard the Bowman must face the dragon. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug