{"id":3413,"date":"2014-12-15T16:50:02","date_gmt":"2014-12-15T16:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=3413"},"modified":"2014-12-15T16:58:26","modified_gmt":"2014-12-15T16:58:26","slug":"the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-3d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/action\/the-hobbit-the-battle-of-the-five-armies-3d\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies (3D) ****"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The-Hobbit-Battle-of-the-Five-Armies\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the end of an era \u2013 and an adventure for a Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (played by Martin Freeman \u2013\u00a0who has long dumped his The Office<\/em> persona) that started in 2012. What better way to conclude it than an almighty battle to define all battles. This episode is much like writer-director Peter Jackson\u2019s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King<\/em> (2003) in grandeur \u2013 a right royal punch-up that delivers what its title suggests. It starts and ends with iconic scenes, very different in temperament, but both equally memorable, picking up from last time when the fearsome dragon, Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), is about to attack the village at the foot of the hills holding the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.<\/p>\n

Fans will know what to expect next in this finale, that of the dwarves, men of the dale, elves, orcs and shape-shifters having it out near the Lonely Mountain. This film does not disappoint with the character tension gradually building up to that point, but serving bursts of indifference to get you in the mood as sides fall out \u2013 and even allies.<\/p>\n

Those not familiar with the novel but expecting more \u2018back story\u2019 after the last film, The Desolation of Smaug<\/em> (2013), seeing the dwarves finally making it home might be disappointed as any jubilant homecoming is a bit thin on the ground. It\u2019s not until gold-blinded legendary warrior and now appointed Dwarf King, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) charges out of his stronghold, Erebor to join his family member (hilariously voiced by Billy Connolly) that things get more interesting.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, Jackson has something for every fan of each faction to delight in, seeing their heroes in action as greed takes grip (very topical in today\u2019s consumer-led society) \u2013 or further evil unfolds in the orcs\u2019 case. Among the fighting though, Jackson almost \u2018pauses\u2019 the mayhem to deliver key relationship nuggets of J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s infamous story that help break up proceedings.<\/p>\n

The returning cast were never \u2018away\u2019 as such, having filmed their scenes concurrently, and all give splendid performances for the last time. Particularly praiseworthy is Luke Evans as Bard who gets an impressive opener. He then goes on to act as the definition of a mortal leader as the odds are against him and his townsfolk. Ian McKellen\u2019s Gandalf is like the ancient uncle that won\u2019t go away, more worse for wear, and seems to pop up and act in his own parallel universe (even in the midst of battle), once freed from captivity.<\/p>\n

Apart from an oddly \u2018animated\u2019 Orlando Bloom \u2013\u00a0like some creepy, plastic-skinned avatar \u2013 the effects are outstanding as Jackson reproduces his armies of hundreds, never failing on detail for the sake of the action. The most iconic action scene has the least number of players, that of the clash between Thorin and leader of the orcs, Azog (Manu Bennett), on the ice. It has a certain ballet-esque beauty to it, even with two ungraceful warriors involved. It\u2019s another emotional high point of the film, more subdued and sombre in delivery, considering the dispensing of evil thus begins.<\/p>\n

Jackson has done justice to Tolkien\u2019s novel\u2019s final saga, giving it more personality in the midst of war, and more action to feast on in a big-screen environment. Indeed, the 3D works to add depth to the battlefields, and particularly the impressive architecture and landscapes. At the end, we are reminded how it all started, as a sigh of acknowledgement accompanies a feeling of sadness that we have now witnessed all that Jackson\u2019s take on Tolkien has to offer.<\/p>\n

4\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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