“What have we done” were the fateful last words breathed by a distressed Bilbo Baggins, and as the credits rolled, Smaug was making haste towards the defenseless Lake-Town – preparing to incinerate everything – after their attempt to kill Smaug failed. “Five Armies” begins – exactly where “Desolation of Smaug” ended. The movie kicks off with a spectacular set piece and thrusts the audience into quick submission. But rather than feeling like a beginning to this movie – it feels like an end to the last one, which sets an unearthly imbalance.

Nevertheless, the story aids favorably to the act of courage and defiance by the titular Bilbo Baggins. In retrospect, this film is actually a backdrop for Thorin Oakenshield and how the madness of “dragon sickness” slowly creeps over him, and the greed lusting over his heart. He eventually loses sight of what used to be noble and good. Thorin becomes obsessive about finding the lucrative “Arkenstone” which he subsides is somewhere in the Lonely Mountain. Thus causing the company of dwarves to barricade themselves inside. This of course inflicts much emotional depth to the outskirts of, the now decimated, Lake-Town and the elf army – whom feel they deserve a piece of the wealth in the mountain.

It has been a monumental effort to get here. Peter Jackson, turning J.R.R Tolkien’s beloved, and cherished books into feature length films (against the authors son’s best wishes – he truly never was a fan of the film series) started a whopping thirteen years ago with “Fellowship of the Ring” then started over again with “Unexpected Journey” and now it all ends here. This film succeeds on many fronts including the ability the end this trilogy on a high note, and connecting the original movies as well. This film serves as the biggest challenge yet, being the dividing factor, with how people will remember this series forever. I’d say astounding does not even begin to cover it.

Depending on your vast opinion in which the studio split a 200 page childrens fable into three, two and half hour plus escapades, ‘Five Armies’ never slips away from the source material (intentionally of course) and focuses on resolving the story with a subtle resolution. The battle itself is well worth the three year wait. Unlike the Harry Potter series, who built up this climatic tundra with Lord Voldemort, then ended with a poof, ‘Armies’ ends resoundingly. Although there may be some tears shed here and there – sometimes it’s the sacrifice we make for the love of the series.

Martin Freeman is back in his role of Bilbo, and unlike the first two – I saw some emotive content, and subtext hidden underneath his motives (for once!). Instead of being filled to the brim with riddles, and blinded by his own self pity. Freeman has given Bilbo the chance to shine his brightest, and be even more courageous, and finally..a hero worth rooting for. If only he was given a little more screen time.

Finally, the film’s climactic battle contains loads of CGI debauchery that can make for some sweet sequences, but sadly the shortcomings lie in the exposition. For starters, the film is called “Battle Of The Five Armies” and at first there appears to only be three armies. But, in sporting Jackson fashion, he whips a subplot (of sorts), and in the process adds much more content than what was in the book. Which is fine, but it makes it more confusing for lesser known die-hard fans (such as myself). Luckily, I was able to keep up..I feel as though, some may not be so fortunate.

However by the films ending –  I had weeped, moaned, and cringed in my seat more times than I could attribute. The film had a gaping wound over my head well over the entire two hour runtime. Seeing the film in IMAX 3D likely intensified this tension. While this may not be the best in the “Middle Earth saga,” I  was still swept in a whole other dimension for a good two and half hours, something that is a treat in movie theaters nowadays. Who knows what the future may hold – but maybe now we can all sleep peacefully, or..watch the original trilogy and have a better understanding altogether (which is something I have already begun doing).

B+

Directed By: Peter Jackson

Rated: PG13

Runtime: 144 mins

Release Date: December 17th 2014

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