For an epic like Peter Jackson’s film trilogy of The Hobbit, whose source material has a major and rabid fanbase, there’s going to be a lot of dissection of the adaptations (that’s why it helps to watch the filmmaker’s 30 hours of Blu-ray bonus features). The folks over at the Tolkien fan site The One Ring have brought attention to a list, created by fan Gary Appenzeller, of the differences and similarities between The Hobbit book and its 3-film adaptation. The list, which includes instances from the first two films of the planned trilogy, is quite lengthy and even notes some of the very minor details.

Below are six items from the list that pertain to The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug, which was released in theaters on December 13, 2013.

Stephen Colbert went on Late Show With David Letterman earlier this month where he talked excitedly about his cameo in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug. The Colbert Report host, who’s a noted fan of the works of Hobbit author J.R.R. Tolkien, mentioned that his spot in the film was during a scene in Lake Town and that his wife and sons also appear.

I’ve seen the film a few times since its release two weeks ago and I didn’t spot Colbert in it, but now his cameo has finally been revealed. Check it out here below.

On this week’s show: Google previously bought seven robotics companies, and this week it buys the Big Dog (literally), Sprint guns for T-Mobile, Instagram wants a piece of Snapchat‘s action, Twitter changes blocking–then changes their mind, are the NSA‘s actions unconstitutional?

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If you were in New York attending one of the midnight screenings of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug recently, you may have had quite the guest show up: Sir Ian McKellen himself.

McKellen, who plays Gandalf in all of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies, showed up before the screening to say a few words to the understandably excited crowd.

You can see a video of McKellen’s arrival and short speech below.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Director: Peter Jackson
Writers: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Orlando Bloom, Luke Evans
Warner Bros. Pictures
Rated PG-13 | 161 Minutes
Release Date: December 13, 2013

Director Peter Jackson returns to J.R.R. Tokien“˜s Middle-Earth with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the second entry in a new series of films that serve as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), along with Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), and his twelve companions, continue on their quest: to reach the Lonely Mountain and reclaim the kingdom of Ererbor (and its golden treasure) from the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch), the “Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities.”

Bilbo and his companions venture into the black forest of Mirkwood, where they are attacked by giant spiders and captured by Wood-elves. Enter Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) in a storyline created by Jackson to expand The Hobbit narrative and give the story a female character, which it desperately needs.