The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Review

I am a huge fan of Middle-earth. The films, the world, the characters have meant so much to me as I've grown older in life. I've been happy to walk alongside them for 5, and now 6 movies. I didn't fully realize until the credits started rolling on The Battle of the Five Armies that this is probably it. There's always a chance for more, I suppose, but I think it's fairly safe to assume this is the end. And, now that it's over, I am overcome with sadness. Not because the Hobbit films have been a disappointment to me. I know they have been to a lot of people, but not really to me.

Rather, I'm sad simply because I don't want it to be over. I want more adventures in Middle-earth, tales of wizards and hobbits and orcs and elves and dwarves. In the midst of my melancholy, there is also a sense of extreme satisfaction and relief. I'm so very happy with how this final installment turned out. With its mixed response, I was afraid I wouldn't be. However, once again, I must disagree with the critics and the disapproving Tolkien diehards. This is a truly beautiful send-off for Peter Jackson's Middle-earth franchise, and nothing anyone can say can dissuade me from my contentment.

I'm sure that those who don't count themselves as fans of Peter Jackson's fantasy epics would not enjoy this movie. But, then again, if they don't like the movies, it's their own fault for continually going to watch them. Fans of Middle-earth, however, will delight in the many successes that The Battle of the Five Armies is able to achieve. The wondrous visuals, the tension-filled drama, the thrilling and spectacular battle scenes, and of course, the intimate relationships of its characters.

This last installment in the Hobbit trilogy feels very much to me like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Throughout the film, there's a tremendous sense of finality to it all, like everything is building to a climax. And that pays off magnificently when that very thing happens. Deathly Hallows Part 2 is my favorite of the Harry Potter films because it really understood how to deal with the end of its story, and the story of its characters. It felt like a proper finale, with plenty of emotional depth to anchor the spectacle of a huge battle at Hogwarts. Similarly, The Battle of the Five Armies - as the title would suggest - involves one final epic battle. Also similarly, the film packs quite the emotional wallop to it all. And that's because it understands that character comes before action.

The characters in the movie are all so well-developed, and we've come to care for them so deeply, that everything that happens to them feels like a personal attack on us as the audience. I can't tell you how many times I was gripping my seat, literally on the edge of it, not being able to stand the thought of any of these characters getting hurt. And I've even read The Hobbit! Nonetheless, I could not bear to see anything happen to these beloved characters. And by the end, I had shed a tear or two.

The aforementioned battle scenes are truly fantastic. The scope of them all is quite grand, and the choreography is very well-done. It's also the first time in Jackson's Hobbit trilogy that we get some fight scenes that are of the style of those in Lord of the Rings; those kind of epic battles with huge armies fighting other huge armies. And it was a wonder to behold.

If I can say anything against The Battle of the Five Armies, it's that it sometimes feels a little rushed. That's kind of ironic, since most critics of the Hobbit films have cited them as bloated and boring. However, at less than 2 and a half hours, this is the shortest Middle-earth movie, and there are times when it feels like it should take its foot off the gas pedal for a little bit. This solidifies my belief that three movies was probably unnecessary for The Hobbit. I think that two evenly-paced epics would have sufficed for the adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel. The Battle of the Five Armies feels like an extended version of the last half of a film. And, as a result, there are times when it feels a little thin. These moments are brief and very few in number, though.

I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed at all by Peter Jackson's conclusion to his Hobbit trilogy. It's suitably epic and exciting throughout, strengthening its narrative with richly written characters and terrific climaxes to the storylines. Additionally, it ties in to the Lord of the Rings quite nicely, and didn't feel forced at all in that area. The Battle of the Five Armies is one last example from Middle-earth of effectively ambitious storytelling on a grand scale and epic filmmaking at its absolute finest. I feel the tears welling in my eyes as I say one last goodbye to the endlessly wonderful world of Peter Jackson's Middle-earth.

A