It is Monday evening and only two more work days until the beginning of a NICE, LONG 11 days off, which I am not gonna lie….I REALLY need! BUT, before we get to all the festivities and holiday spirit, there are still more reviews to write. And fortunately for my and you, readers, that is ALSO something I find to be full of fun and satisfaction! Therefore, I give you my review of the truly big event film of the 2014 Christmas season….”The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies”.
SEE THE TRAILER HERE
The final chapter in the second epic trilogy that has defined J.R.R. Tolkien’s wondrous Middle Earth saga, and brought to us by, for me, the undisputed master of presenting the realm in such vivid detail TWICE now, Peter Jackson, the story literally picks up where the last left off….with Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and the company of dwarves led by the heir to the Kingdom of Erebor, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) watching helplessly as the scourge unleashed at the end of the previous film, the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), wrecks havoc on the town of Lakeside. Even after the town’s sole protector, Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans) manages a miracle, the residents are scattered, broken, knowing only that they can find shelter in the ruins of the distant city outside Erebor, Dale. Meanwhile, Thorin’s behavior has become increasingly erratic, a sickness caused by only one thing…dragon’s gold. As Bilbo and the Dwarves struggle to maintain a sense of order with Thorin acting such, and Bilbo keeping an even greater secret from him, we are taken to another part of Middle Earth, the crumbled, dark ruins of Dol Guldur, home of the Necromancer (also voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who has previously captured and intends to end Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen). But a timely and intense intervention by Elf Queen Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Elrond (Hugo Weaving), and Saruman the White (Christopher Lee) puts this plan to a very potent end. Gandalf, knowing that an Orc army led by Azog the Defiler (Manu Bennett) is headed to Erebor, he rides to warn them. Meanwhile, Elf warrior Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and his close friend, Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), confirm the worst fears about the darkness coming. Back at Erebor, the King of the Elves, Thranduil (Lee Pace) has arrived at Dale with assistance for Bard and his people, but also with a secondary motive that threatens to send the Elves and Men against Thorin and his contingent. Attempts to talk peace and reconcile the promised share of the mountain’s treasure with the other two races fails, as Thorin’s actions and words continue to be poisoned. But as the appearance of Thorin’s cousin Dain (Billy Connolly) and HIS army causes tensions to boil over, the arrival of Azog’s army causes the revelations to be made, a King to rise, and a uniting of forces against the invaders, filled with great victory, deep loss, and bonds of friendship to be forged forever as a story comes full circle. More details would be…yes, you guessed it, SPOILERS…NOT happening here!
I know a lot of people actually seemed to NOT like the fact that Peter Jackson split this particular story into three parts, being there is only ONE book to take the material from. However, while there are many things added to the films that were not even IN the books, I personally LOVED this extended journey into the events that lead to “Lord Of The Rings”. This final installment had ALL the mixture of elements that I have LOVED about the films…drama, a little romance, humor, and PLENTY of awesome action! And just SEEING the vastness of Middle Earth visualized again in this manner is nothing short of awe-inspiring to me. The sheer, literal SIZE of Smaug, or Erebor inside its mountain halls, to the eerie ruins and evil occupants of Dol Guldur, to the monstrous Orc army and the vile nemesis of Thorin’s who bring it to his door. And everything is clear and majestic in the IMAX 3D format especially, which works SO well for a film like this. All the characters bring their own sense of being to the greater picture, and they all have moments to shine in SOME form. I found the sequence on Dol Guldur particularly potent, given the factors and players involved. But it’s all to completely immerse you as a viewer into their stories so much, that you gain that emotional connection to them, so that you feel what’s happening to them, at least for me that’s how it has been. And I was honestly very content with how it all ends, and moreso it left me wishing there was ANOTHER book that covered the periods in between this and the epic adventure that will follow many years later. Armitage and Freeman really come through in this, playing Thorin and Bilbo with such a genuineness that you almost think they’re REAL. And Lilly’s Tauriel was a fantastic addition to this story, and here we see her learn what it is to love in a deeper way than she has ever experienced. Bloom will ALWAYS be Legolas, and that says it all! Pace returns again as Thranduil and very much makes you believe in his kingliness as the Elven leader. Blanchett, Weaving, and Lee make the most of their appearance as well. And the rest of the cast is just as solid. So, a sweeping, heartfelt, intense adventure comes to an incredible end. For me, THIS is a prime example of what truly EPIC fantasy films should be like. Hard to say the last goodbye to a beloved world. And I thank Peter Jackson for making it a world worth remembering.
As always, this is all for YOUR consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
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