The third and final part of a one book story centres on a large scale battle, but can it sustain interest for two and a half hours?
The dastardly dragon Smaug has left The Lonely Mountain to terrorise nearby Laketown. In his wake, several armies convene to take control of the mountain and its gold reserves at any cost.
As suggested by its title, this third instalment is mostly one large battle scene, an unusual occurrence we’ve already witnessed in J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson’s previous work, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This is moulded impressively with various subplots including the Dwarf King’s sickness, Gandalf’s continued captivity by the evil Sauron and a love triangle. What’s more, the action mostly stays unique and engaging with army tactics and one-on-one fights never seeming repetitive. Having said that, extravagant displays of action can seem a little farcical, especially most of Legolas’ best moments where he comes across as a superhero more than any other character. A Legolas slow motion run off a bridge is a particularly awkward moment that seems so unreal it could be called unbelievable; a big statement to make about just one element of a fantasy film. However the action overall is superb and challenges any film this year for spectacular cinematic moments and an epic brooding atmosphere.
Thorin, the Dwarf King. is shown having a major setback from his righteous and humble standing in the previous two films. The gold in the mountain gives him Dragon Sickness, a mindset that pushes the preservation of gold before everything else. Richard Armitage’s portrayal of Thorin is spot on at instilling fear but never becomes overbearing for the audience, an aspect continued over from the light hearted appropriateness of the last two films jolly romp. Thorin’s darkness is also balanced well by Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman, who offers up a modest and down to earth viewpoint on the gold. Tolkien’s original significance of this issue isn’t lost on the viewer with Jackson making every point clear and distinct from start to finish.
For a large scale trilogy, Jackson ties up loose ends remarkably well, even when they aren’t necessarily included in the original Tolkien novel. Action is beautiful and captivating, characters are implemented well and The Hobbit finishes with a bang that will be remembered for years to come. The Battle of the Fives Armies is one to watch for an epic fight, but to truly understand storylines you’d better start from two films previous. Good luck!
Author: Matt, Cardiff store
