THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES – The Review

And so another holiday tradition comes to a close. Thirteen years ago (naw, can’t be!), Peter Jackson delivered the first of a Christmas-time trilogy with the inaugural entry of the JRR Tolkien trilogy, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Two years later he closed it out with THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING, and after reaping a bounty of gold a few months later at Oscar time, he bid adieu to Middle Earth. But after a couple of features, the siren call of the wizards and elves drew him back for, not a sequel, but a prequel. The film rights to this earlier Tolkien work was finally untangled from a legal web , one tougher than those weaved by fearsome giant spiders. After the intended director moved on, Jackson was back on board, creating three new films from the singular novel. 2012 saw the release of THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY to great critical and box office acclaim. Now, the story ends with THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, a tale to wrap up all the adventures in a bright holiday bow. So is this the fantasy epic present that will please all the fans, or is it a lump of movie coal? Time to trim your furry feet and journey to the multiplex.

To quote the late, great William Conrad, breathless narrator of the exploits of our favorite moose and squirrel duo, “When we last left our heroes….”. Lessee, oh, Bilbo (Martin Freeman) had a long talk with the sinister gold-lovin’ dragon Smuag (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch). The beast promptly flew out of Erebor to attack the human occupants of nearby Lake-town. While the Master (Stephen Fry) and his underling Alfrid (Ryan Gage) attempt to escape in boats filled with treasures, the befriender of the dwarves, Bard AKA “the Bowman” (Luke Evans) desperately tries to reunite with his children after they were separated in the fiery chaos. But what of the great wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen ) who has been captured by the Necromancer (again voiced by BC) helped by Orc leader Azog (Manu Bennett) and his troop? Will someone come to his rescue? Back at the castle, the band of dwarves finally make their way in, and the leader Thorin (Richard Armitage) comes down with a serious case of gold fever. So much so that he ignores the demands of Thranduil (Lee Pace) for the return of a valuable Elfin artifact. As they squabble, Azog leads thousands of Orcs toward the castle just as hundreds of dwarves led by Thorin’s pal Dain (Billy Connolly) join the fray. Soon the title mentioned five armies are engaged in all out battle for possession of the riches of Erebor.

Once more Freeman makes a most compelling, reluctant hero, deftly balancing humor and gravitas. We’re aware of his destiny, but still fear for him. McKellen doesn’t have as much to do in this installment, but is still able to make his subplot full of chills and thrills. Evans is the film’s other great hero, who doesn’t flinch at the terrifying fire-snorting lizard. Later he becomes a dynamic leader to the survivors, aided (and sometimes hindered) by the very funny Gage as an eager opportunist. Armitage shows us the vulnerability of the dwarf commander as he slowly succumbs to the lure of filthy lucre. Happily the great Elf team of Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) have returned in all their arrow-shooting, sword slashing glory. Bloom seems to defy physics in pulse-pounding face offs against those nasty Orcs, as does the luminous Lilly, who’s hindered by a sluggish romantic subplot with the dreamiest dwarf Kili (Aidan Turner). As the tyke in me might say, “Enough with the mushy stuff!”. Luckily the always entertaining Connolly lightens up the often grim proceedings. And we get some very welcome returning characters (I won’t spoil the great delights) along the way.

Director Jackson once more confirms his status as a modern-day master of epic fantasy spectacles. Unlike several recent blockbusters (I’m looking at you EXODUS and DRACULA UNTOLD), he convoys the scope of battle without losing our focus on the major characters. There’s always a lot going on, but we can comprehend what matters. And a greater intensity exists this time, especially during a desperate duel between Legolas and a very big, determined Orc. It almost loses us, but the stand-off builds back up to leave viewers gasping for air. Speaking of big, one of the many visual highlights are the dozens of massive, lumbering, ogre-like giants that are alternately hilarious and scary as they smash into all obstacles, sort of nightmare versions of classic fairy tales. But no fairy tale dragon has the majestic menace of Smuag as  he leaves a fiery path of destruction in his wake. Howard Shore returns with another lush, pulse-pounding score. The New Zealand tourism folks will be delighted by the glorious location work (here come the vacationers). Although this trilogy doesn’t quite have the scope and emotional power of the first one, it’s still a rip-roarin’, grand ole’ time at the cinema.We’ll miss you, Middle Earth, but you’ll forever live on in our hearts (and BluRay players). Now to look forward to new worlds from those most wonderful wizards of Weta and their leader Mr. J.

4 Out of 5 Stars