The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2014  PG-13  FANTASY  2h 24min
CAST— Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom
MUSIC— Howard Shore  DIRECTOR— Peter Jackson  BASED ON— The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (novel), by J. R. R. Tolkien

     Another epic production featuring the characters and creatures of Middle-earth. Smaug, awakened by Bilbo Baggins (see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [2013]), is wreaking havoc on Lake-town, but Bard takes him out quickly enough. Now the focus shifts to the band of Dwarves, searching for the Arkenstone under the mad direction of treasure-crazed Thorin. Meanwhile, the people of Lake-town flock towards the mountain seeking shelter and their own share of the treasure, a means to rebuild their lives. Thorin views their presence as a threat, especially when an Elvish army shows up. Next the Orcs arrive, hoping to wipe everyone out, including the newly arrived Dwarf army. Battles are lost, battles are won, but then the Great Eagles deliver the final blow for the good guys. There’s a lot to see in this final installment of the Hobbit trilogy, but don’t expect to be blown away by intriguing dialogue or stunning effects; the CGI herein is stodgy and rather artificial despite what looks like a ton of money poured into them. Doesn’t really improve on the whole Middle-earth formula, but doesn’t harm it either. May be the best of the Hobbit films but pales in comparison to later (earlier?) Lord of the Rings films. Extended version also available.
OUR RATING— ***
PRECEDED BY— The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
FOLLOWED BY— The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)