Say what you will about Peter Jackson’s decision to take a 310-page book and turn it into a three-part, almost nine-hour excursion that’s being released over the course of three holiday movie seasons, but the fact remains, his gift for visual spectacle remains strong. That much is certain after watching the two-plus minute trailer for the upcoming second installment, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Familiar faces are abound as Middle Earth’s heroes, led by Bilbo Baggins, continue their quest for Smaug’s treasure.

The trailer gives the impression that the stakes have been raised as Jackson moves his retelling towards the climatic Battle of Five Armies, which will undoubtedly be making love to our eyes in December 2014. Until then, it looks like the battle with the dragon Smaug is taking center stage in the second installment, which promises all kinds of visual delight.

In true 21st century marketing efforts, Warner Brothers has been using The Hobbit’s Facebook fan page to spread the word of upcoming material. To prep the masses for today’s trailer, social media managers for Warner Brothers posted five new banner posters yesterday, effectively generating the buzz of anticipation. It helps that these multimedia creations are worth your time, especially if you’re a Tolkien fan.

Click to see the full size versions:

As you can see in the banners, the second installment of The Hobbit hits the theaters on December 13. Are you going to be there, or are you waiting until it is released for the home?

[Lead image courtesy of Warner Brothers]