Tags
bard, bilbo, dragon, dwarves, elf, fantasy, jackson, legolas, lord of the rings, middle earth, nomination, oscar, smaug, the hobbit, trilogy
When The Lord of the Rings was released in its three movie format, it was plainly obvious that there was more than enough material to get probably fours movies in. When it was announced that The Hobbit would be getting the same treatment and split into three movies, I was immediately sceptical. I read The Hobbit at home, and school and knew that stretching this children’s book into three 2 hour (plus) films was financial greed of the highest order and by doing this would detract from the story.
I was proved right when Legolas showed up, with some other bint elf, both of whom DO NOT appear in The Hobbit. Go figure… Tolkien must be spinning in his grave.
The film is the climax of our story of the 13 dwarves and a hobbit making their way to The Lonely Mountain to claim back their city and treasure that was stolen from by Smaug the dragon. Along the way, there have been goblins, corrupt men, and Gollumses, but finally they have made it to the door and just walk straight in when they learn that Smaug has been slain in Laketown by the magnificent Bard – played here by Luke Evans, who wouldn’t have been so out-of-place in The Lord of the Rings.
This movie is basically just a special effects money spinner that doesn’t make the book any more appealing to those who haven’t read it and the introduction of new characters – yes I forgot to mention Azog didn’t I? – in order to get a few more bums on seats and make some more bucks for director Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema.
I wasn’t hugely impressed in all honesty and it felt like it was a damp squib ending. However I did like the back story of Sauron’s return to Middle Earth, and although there is a little mention of it in the book, you don’t actually see anything happen, it was nice to see that part of the story brought to life in readiness for The Lord of the Rings. I am sure there are now those people who will watch all 6 films one after the other in some massive Middle Earth-fest and dress up and all that nonsense, but for me it will always be The Lord of the Rings films that i will re-watch. I am more than sure that I won’t ever watch The Hobbit trilogy again until my youngest son is a little older (he is still only 1).
This part of the trilogy has only been nominated for a solitary Oscar in the Sound Editing department and I doubt it will win that. I think all round film-goers and in particular the industry have been uninspired by Jackson’s work this time around and I would have preferred him to have left Middle Earth alone and get going on the next Tintin animation and the long rumored Dambusters reboot. We shall have to see if they now come into being in a year or two.
I give The Battle of the Five Armies a rather average and only say to see it just to say you’ve seen the whole story.
Trailer: