
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth concludes in part three of his adaptation of The Hobbit. With Smaug the dragon terrorising the citizens of Lake-town and dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield under the thrall of cursed gold, Bilbo Baggins finds himself at the centre of a battle to decide the fate of Middle-earth.
Smaug’s airborne assault sends human survivors fleeing to the ruins of Dale, where they encounter Elvish troops amassing to take on Oakenshield and his dwarf comrades. As the forces of evil make their way to the field of battle an epic confrontation beckons, one that will set in motion the events of The Lord of the Rings.
- Director:
- Peter Jackson ('Lord of the Rings' trilogy, 'King Kong', 'Meet The Feebles')
- Writer:
- Fran WalshPhilippa BoyensGuillermo del ToroPeter Jackson
- Cast:
- Martin FreemanRichard ArmitageLuke EvansEvangeline LillyIan McKellenLee PaceBenedict CumberbatchCate BlanchettOrlando BloomManu BennettBilly ConnollyHugo WeavingChristopher LeeAidan TurnerJames Nesbitt

Reviews & comments

Flicks, Steve Newall
flicksOpening with a hiss and a roar, The Battle of the Five Armies wastes no time getting stuck into some serious dragon destruction. This spectacular and chilling sequence could serve as a climax to plenty of other films, but in commencing proceedings here there's something immediate and confronting about it. This drops the audience in at the deep end with no build up, let alone meandering prologue (unless you count the preceding pics).
"You Sit In These Vast Halls, With a Crown Upon Your Head"
I have only one criticism about this movie and that was the individual fights with the orcs on Ravenhill. I found this violent, the Azog and Thorin confrontation seem much tamer. Other than that, I enjoyed the movie. For me I found that keeping the music down to an acceptable level contributed to what was some brilliant dialog between the actors.(talking...
The End
This movie is amazing for the amount of detail in its sets and images.It is hard to take it all in as you look around the scenes that are presented.It is still top class movie making. Once Smaug is destroyed the only thing left is the battle of the five armies,and what a show this is.It is hard to tell who is fighting who and what for but there is enough...
An Unexpected Disappointment
Don't get me wrong, I love the LOTR trilogy and everything Middle Earth, these are my 'Star Wars' and I do quite literally have the T shirt. There was so much riding on the last journey into Middle Earth, this #onelasttime, but it didn't really live up to the hype. It might be high treason here in New Zealand to say this but honestly, sentimentality aside,...
Good but too long
I went to see this thinking not much would be had from it because the first two are not the best movies but they are nice to watch on a boring day. I think the first one is the best and then this one is second and the second one is the worst and most boring. I am wishing that they just made two films or even one and made the story shorter but it would be...
Average
After the disappointing and poorly paced first film the far better Desolation of Smaug gave me hope that the Hobbit moves would just get better and better with each episode but sadly this final episode isn't even as good as the first. Ironically it suffers most from the exact opposite affliction of Unexpected Journey - it feels rushed. There is plenty of...
The Hobbit end of the Trilogy (of 7 films)
The Hobbit - Battle of the Five Armies The final in the 7 series from Tolken, and wow, what a finish, great start BANG right into it, then hummed along at a even level all the way through. Some laughs but mostly a down hill spiral, obviously if you liked the books you have an idea of whats to come, yet it still better on the big screen. Don't watch it at...

Variety
pressIf none of the Hobbit films resonate with "Rings'" mythic grandeur, it’s hard not to marvel at Jackson’s facility with these characters and this world...

Total Film
pressEven at its most talky, it's compelling stuff, reaping the rewards of characters built-up over two-and-a-bit movies...

Time Out
pressJackson’s singular talent for massive-scale mayhem hasn’t deserted him, and the hour-long smackdown that crowns the film gives him ample opportunities to indulge it.

The Guardian
pressHaving set the tone so definitively at the outset, each film delivered exactly what it promised.

Hollywood Reporter
pressThe final stretch possesses a warm, amiable, sometimes rueful mood that proves ingratiating and manages to magnify the good and minimize the bad of the trilogy.

Empire Magazine
pressA fitting conclusion to Jackson’s prequel trilogy and a triumphant adieu to Middle-earth.

Flicks, Steve Newall
flicksOpening with a hiss and a roar, The Battle of the Five Armies wastes no time getting stuck into some serious dragon destruction. This spectacular and chilling sequence could serve as a climax to plenty of other films, but in commencing proceedings here there's something immediate and confronting about it. This drops the audience in at the deep end with no build up, let alone meandering prologue (unless you count the preceding pics).

Variety
pressIf none of the Hobbit films resonate with "Rings'" mythic grandeur, it’s hard not to marvel at Jackson’s facility with these characters and this world...

Total Film
pressEven at its most talky, it's compelling stuff, reaping the rewards of characters built-up over two-and-a-bit movies...

Time Out
pressJackson’s singular talent for massive-scale mayhem hasn’t deserted him, and the hour-long smackdown that crowns the film gives him ample opportunities to indulge it.

The Guardian
pressHaving set the tone so definitively at the outset, each film delivered exactly what it promised.

Hollywood Reporter
pressThe final stretch possesses a warm, amiable, sometimes rueful mood that proves ingratiating and manages to magnify the good and minimize the bad of the trilogy.

Empire Magazine
pressA fitting conclusion to Jackson’s prequel trilogy and a triumphant adieu to Middle-earth.
"You Sit In These Vast Halls, With a Crown Upon Your Head"
I have only one criticism about this movie and that was the individual fights with the orcs on Ravenhill. I found this violent, the Azog and Thorin confrontation seem much tamer. Other than that, I enjoyed the movie. For me I found that keeping the music down to an acceptable level contributed to what was some brilliant dialog between the...
The End
This movie is amazing for the amount of detail in its sets and images.It is hard to take it all in as you look around the scenes that are presented.It is still top class movie making. Once Smaug is destroyed the only thing left is the battle of the five armies,and what a show this is.It is hard to tell who is fighting who and what for but there is enough...
An Unexpected Disappointment
Don't get me wrong, I love the LOTR trilogy and everything Middle Earth, these are my 'Star Wars' and I do quite literally have the T shirt. There was so much riding on the last journey into Middle Earth, this #onelasttime, but it didn't really live up to the hype. It might be high treason here in New Zealand to say this but honestly, sentimentality...
Good but too long
I went to see this thinking not much would be had from it because the first two are not the best movies but they are nice to watch on a boring day. I think the first one is the best and then this one is second and the second one is the worst and most boring. I am wishing that they just made two films or even one and made the story shorter but it would be...
Average
After the disappointing and poorly paced first film the far better Desolation of Smaug gave me hope that the Hobbit moves would just get better and better with each episode but sadly this final episode isn't even as good as the first. Ironically it suffers most from the exact opposite affliction of Unexpected Journey - it feels rushed. There is plenty...
The Hobbit end of the Trilogy (of 7 films)
The Hobbit - Battle of the Five Armies The final in the 7 series from Tolken, and wow, what a finish, great start BANG right into it, then hummed along at a even level all the way through. Some laughs but mostly a down hill spiral, obviously if you liked the books you have an idea of whats to come, yet it still better on the big screen. Don't watch it at...
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