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Ringer DCole4 from the TORn messageboards was fortunate enough to catch an advanced screening of The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n Ringer DCole4 from the TORn messageboards was fortunate enough to catch an advanced screening of The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n
He posted a bit of a spoilery summary-cum-review<\/a> that concentrates on the final third of the movie on the boards. <\/p>\n Here he expands on those remarks. Warning for battle spoilers<\/font>, especially on the second page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Like many fans I have been eagerly awaiting the third and final installment of ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy. Seeing that this was the presumed final foray into Middle Earth, I decided to avoid all promotional materials for the film. Having not seen any of the trailers or TV spots, I was unsure what to expect. <\/p>\n The decision to turn two films into three had had major consequences on The Desolation of Smaug, and I wasn’t sure what repercussions those additional shoot days would have on the storyline of Battle of the Five Armies.<\/p>\n I had the good fortune of once again being invited to an advanced screening of the film. <\/p>\n After a short wait in the rain, we packed into the theater. My wonderful girlfriend had already scoped out the best seats and we hunkered down for the film. As the lights dimmed and the film began, I felt a great smile form across my face. The film starts out with a bang and doesn’t ever slow down. There is much to enjoy in this film. The storytelling is fierce and focused. While I would have enjoyed a little more attention to the “other” dwarves (most of which don’t get a single line), it’s hard to fault the film when the tension is so well orchestrated. <\/p>\n I will avoid spelling out the many treasures of this portion of the movie, as they are best left to be discovered in the cinema. The first hour and a half truly sits well against the best of the Middle-earth films, lots of beautiful sets, lots of wonderful drama, and lots of character moments. It’s a tense and beautifully written build up to what is promised to be an epic battle.<\/p>\n One of the great pleasures was the handling of Legolas and Tauriel in this early portion of the film. I have absolutely no issues with Legolas being in The Hobbit, and I don’t have any issues with Tauriel falling for Kili. That said I was worried this would become an “Elf-centric” movie. Thankfully their scenes are handled tastefully after the destruction of Lake-town and lead to an exciting sidestep to Mt. Gundabad, a location surely only added after the split to three films. It’s a short but beautifully lit sequence that shows an interesting new locale in Middle-earth. <\/p>\n It also gives these two added Elves something to do that adds a layer of tension to the story and doesn’t take away from the focus of the main plot. That said, they make a very loud return into the plot, but more on that later.<\/p>\n Tensions rise and armies amass. Dain’s arrival is impressive but is a little trumped by the awkward realization that Billy Connolly has been entirely replaced by a CGI character. It is not entirely obvious at first, this portion of the film after all features a LOT of CGI, but it becomes apparent when you look at the characters eyes and cheeks in close-ups. I’m not sure why he has been entirely replaced; it seems like an odd move. <\/p>\n Perhaps it has to do with difficulties with the large costume or health restrictions. Awkwardness aside, it doesn’t detract entirely from enjoying the character, Billy Connolly after all is a bigger than life type of guy. Much more disappointing is that the character quickly seems to lose the filmmaker’s interest and disappears halfway through the battle, never to be seen again or provided with any form of resolution.<\/p>\n Which of course leads to the battle. It is big and appropriately epic. There is a surprising amount of “restraint” in this sequence. Minus a short sequence where Bard dispatches a troll whilst riding atop a small cart, there are very few PJ “gags.” There is the business of giant worms, akin to those from Dune, that tunnel out massive pathways for the orcs to sneak towards Dale, but their appearance is brief and they disappear back into the ground almost as soon as they arrive. <\/p>\n Otherwise, the action is brutal, lavish and focused. The sequences in Dale, set against the impressive set with numerous extras, is particularly reminiscent of the best action sequences in Lord of the Rings. Alfrid, who is written into a number of scenes throughout the film, becomes the comic relief of this portion of the film. I quite enjoyed his “save my own skin” antics, but some may be turned off by it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The filmmakers seem convinced that Legolas should be the star of this film. All good will I had immediately dried up the moment Legolas grabs onto the foot of a bat and fetches a ride up the mountain, in a sequence that seems straight out of King Kong. Rather than break down the entire sequence, I will say that the emotional impact of the events of Ravenhill is greatly diminished by the constant interference and intercutting with the action of Legolas and Tauriel. <\/p>\n Legolas dispatches Bolg in what must be the most over the top, gravity defying, absurdly overdone action sequence in any Middle Earth (or Peter Jackson) film yet. Apparently the laws of gravity hold no affect on the nimble feet of the Woodland prince. It’s the stuff of nightmares for anyone who has had issues with Legolas’ stunts in the previous films.<\/p>\n The finale of the battle leads to one cruel and unfortunate realization, that Beorn has been all but cut from the film. He arrives atop one of the eagles Radagast rides in on. His very brief 15-30 second cameo, involves him plunging to the ground, transforming into a bear mid-flight and dispatching a few orcs on the ground before disappearing from the film entirely much like Dain and Radagast. Equally disappointing is the focus on the elves post-battle. <\/p>\n We get one utterly absurd sequence in which Thranduil plays the role of Nick Fury and instructs Legolas to track down a young ranger in the north, known as “Strider.” It’s a bizarrely out of place scene that seems like a horrible misuse of valuable screen time. <\/p>\n Tauriel also gets a drawn out mourning sequence with Kili that seems like an overdone capper to what has been an underdeveloped and unconvincing love story. There are no funerals, no coronations, and hardly any goodbyes with our beloved dwarves. <\/p>\n It’s a bizarre end for the trilogy, and one that chooses to ignore the dwarves it was focused on. There is one short scene between Bilbo and the Company, but it is far too brief and is a lousy way to wrap up that storyline. The return journey is brief but pleasant, devoid of any stops.<\/p>\n My hope is that there is much to look forward to with the extended cut. I’m sure there is plenty more Beorn, Radagast and the Dwarves to look forward to, but it is unfortunate that one of the most pivotal sequences in the story, Ravenhill, is mishandled and overblown, feeling more like an extended sequence from a modern Die Hard film, than the emotional climax of a trilogy. <\/p>\n By the time Bilbo crawls to the side of Thorin, it is admittedly hard to feel too much pain, he’s whirled around and battled atop breaking ice sheets, perhaps it is time he says goodbye.<\/p>\n There is much to enjoy in this film, and much to cherish, the great misfortune is that it stumbles its way to the finish line. On a technical note, the CGI is in top form, displaying the best of Weta’s ability. Howard Shore also creates a rousing score that is unfortunately never given a chance to shine. Instead it’s often buried under sound effects. The battle, for the most part, is intense and the drama is well-executed. <\/p>\n It is just unfortunate that the third act fails to deliver on all the promise that preceded it. <\/p>\n
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This all leads to the big showdown in Ravenhill, where Azog has been commanding his armies. Thorin, Kili, Fili and Dwalin race up the mountain to hunt down the pale orc. It is around this time that Legolas and Tauriel pop back into the main storyline and regrettably steal center stage. My greatest fears for the film came true. Less would have been much more with these characters. Instead our two hero elves race to Ravenhill, perhaps wanting to make sure Thorin and Co. don’t get too much screen time. <\/p>\n![\"HBT3-fs-340936.DNG\"](\"http:\/\/www-images.theonering.org\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/HBT3-066396r-1024x681.jpg\")
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\nJoin us in Los Angeles in February at The One Last Party<\/h4>\n
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<\/a> We’re hosting a Party of Special Magnificence next February — a final toast to all SIX movies, both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy.<\/p>\n