1. Smaug
What an incredible creation. We all know how amazing the work Weta does is, but they really took it to another level with Smaug, and to say seeing him was like watching the book come to life is by no means an exaggeration.
Apart from what an amazing technical achievement his creation was, credit must go to Peter Jackson for putting together such an exciting and tense scene as Bilbo and Smaug exchanged verbal barbs deep within Erebor surrounded by gold. Throw in the fact that the dragon had the perfect voice courtesy of Martin Freeman’s Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch, and this is easily one of the best moments in the entire Middle-Earth franchise.
The Battle of the Five Armies will need to do a lot to top this, that’s for sure…
