The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is the third of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit. It premiered in London on 1 December 2014, and saw release in most of Europe on 10 December and North America on 17 December. It was preceded by An Unexpected Journey in 2012 and The Desolation of Smaug in 2013.
Synopsis
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comesThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.
Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit toward a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain.
As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.
Plot
Bilbo and the Dwarves watch from the Lonely Mountain as the Dragon Smaug destroys Lake-town. Bard breaks out of prison and kills Smaug with the Black Arrow, whose falling body crushes the fleeing Master of Lake-town in his boat. Bard, chosen as the new leader, and the Lake-town people seek refuge in the ruins of Dale. Tauriel travels to investigate Mount Gundabad with Legolas. Upon arriving at Erebor, Fíli, Kíli, Bofur, and Óin are informed by Bilbo that Thorin has been inflicted with Smaug's "dragon sickness" as he searched for the Arkenstone. It is revealed that Bilbo actually stole the Arkenstone from Smaug, but knows it should be hidden from Thorin, who orders the entrance of the Lonely Mountain be sealed off.
Meanwhile, Galadriel, Elrond, and Saruman arrive at Dol Guldur and free Gandalf and engage the Nine while Radagast arrives and escorts Gandalf away. When Sauron confronts the group, Galadriel uses Eärendil's light to banish Sauron and the Nazgûl from the fortress. Saruman tells Elrond to take the exhausted Galadriel to safety while he deals with Sauron. Gandalf leaves Radagast for Erebor to warn of the Orc army approaching the Mountain. Azog, marching on Erebor with his vast Orc army, sends Bolg to Gundabad to summon their other army. Legolas and Tauriel witness the march of Bolg's army, bolstered by Goblins and giant bats.
While Bard and the Lake-town survivors shelter in Dale, Thranduil and his Elf army arrives with supplies and aid, and forms an alliance with Bard, wishing to claim a necklace of white gems from the Mountain. Bard attempts to negotiate and reason with Thorin to avoid war, who refuses to cooperate, much to the Company's dismay. After Gandalf arrives at Dale, Bilbo sneaks out of Erebor to hand the Arkenstone over to Thranduil and Bard. The next day, Bard and Thranduil's armies gather at the gates of Erebor, offering to trade the Arkenstone for gold. Thorin learns of Bilbo's deception and almost kills him, before Gandalf forces Thorin to release Bilbo. Meanwhile, Thorin's cousin Dáin Ironfoot arrives with a Dwarf army and prepares to attack the Elves and Men before Azog's army arrive. With the Orcs outnumbering Dáin's army, Thranduil's and Bard's forces, along with Gandalf and Bilbo, join the battle.
Inside Erebor, Thorin, refusing to fight, suffers a hallucination before regaining his sanity and leading his Company into battle. While the other Dwarves of the Company aid Dáin's forces, Thorin rides toward Ravenhill with Dwalin, Fíli, and Kíli to kill Azog and force the Orc army to retreat. Meanwhile, Tauriel leaves with Legolas to warn the Dwarves of Bolg's approaching army, with Bilbo following them using the One Ring. However, Bilbo is knocked unconscious after warning the Dwarves. Azog battles Thorin after killing Fíli, while Kíli dies protecting Tauriel from Bolg. After Legolas kills Bolg, the Great Eagles arrive with Radagast and Beorn, and the Orc armies are quickly overcome.
Bilbo regains consciousness and finds that Thorin has killed Azog but has been fatally wounded in the process. Thorin makes peace with Bilbo and succumbs to his injuries. On Thranduil's suggestion, Legolas leaves to meet with a young Dúnedain ranger going by the name Strider. Tauriel mourns Kili, and Thranduil accepts their love. Bilbo bids farewell to the remaining Dwarves and journeys home to the Shire with Gandalf. As the two part, Gandalf admits his knowledge of Bilbo's ring and cautions him against using it. Bilbo returns to Bag End to find his belongings being auctioned off, who was presumed dead, and proves his identity. Sixty years later, the day of his farewell party, Bilbo receives a visit from Gandalf and runs out to greet him.
Cast
- See also:The Hobbit (film series)#Cast
Gallery
| Pictures from The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies | |||||||||
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Trailers
See also
External links
- TheHobbit.com (official website)
- TheHobbitBlog.com (official blog)
- Peter Jackson's Facebook page
Reviews
- movie review: The Battle of Between Four and Seven Armies by David Bratman
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies by Michael D.C. Drout
- The Third Hobbit Movie: Battle of the Five Armies by John D. Rateliff
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Titles and Release Dates Announced" dated 31 May 2011, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
- ↑ "Andy Serkis to serve as Second Unit Director" dated 8 April 2011, The Hobbit Blog (accessed 21 December 2011)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit" dated 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 21 December 2011)
