The Desolation of Smaug (2013). Fire balls.
Like the previous film I can't see the problems people have had with these films. Professional critics seem to tidally influenced. There is nothing wrong with this film or the previous one which isn't wrong with the last two Lord of the Rings films.
Tonally it suffers from the same problems as the previous film. Jackson wants to make a prequel series to his already existing adaptations. The backbone of the plot is a children's story so unless Jackson is brave enough to make significant changes (like killing dwarfs) there's a tonal mismatch. Violent aggressive Orcs (and Trolls in the previous film) are chopped to minced meat while only one of the party gets an injury which proves to be curable.
Smaug is sold as a potential weapon in the coming war and yet he can't land a successful hit a single dwarf or hobbit in this film.
In Star Wars we have a smaller troop of heroes so it's less noticeably implausible when only one of them is sort of killed, even so it hasn't gone unnoticed.
Grafted onto this backbone are supplementary materials that have the same dark tone as the Lord of the Rings books or are totally unique and designed to appeal to a general audience.
There is nothing wrong with this. The last two Lord of the Rings were similarly adjusted and were popular and critically well received, ergo my confusion RE the reception of these films.
For me Casino Royale (2006) is practically identical to Quantum of Solace and Skyfall and not that different from Die Another Day.
For me Star Trek (2009) is practically identical to Star Trek into Darkness and not that different from Star Trek : Nemesis or Enterprise.
For me Prometheus is almost exactly the same film as Alien Vs Predator (2004).
And yet critically and in terms of popular opinion the reaction is wildly different.
My only conclusion is that trends are not set by quality but by some market led opinion swing. I highly expect the Star Wars sequels will be as bad as ROTS but as popular as Skyfall, just because the markets have decided Star Wars is to rise again.
Watch this space.