8 Dec 2013

Critics find Hobbit film 'raucously entertaining'

8:51 am on 8 December 2013

The second Hobbit film has had positive reviews from critics overseas.

Sir Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug had its world premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday, and will open in New Zealand cinemas on Thursday.

The film continues the adventure of Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with Gandalf and 13 dwarves into the Kingdom of Erebor to fight with the dragon Smaug.

Movie magazine Empire has given it five stars, calling it raucously entertaining and a huge improvement on the first film.

And the Guardian's Peter Bradshaw is also a fan - giving the film four stars and saying it never sagged once in its mighty two hour 40 minutes running time.

The film has its Wellington charity gala premiere on Monday.