The film starts as the previous movie (The Desolaion Of Smaug) ended, with the fiery destruction of Lake Town. Smaug, having been awoken from his timely slumber in the Lonely Mountain flies out for vengeance against the dwarves who disturbed him and the humans who aided them in their rediscovery of Erebor. The visual effects are nothing short of stupendous, the inferno that thwarts Lake Town and Smaug himself show off Peter Jackson's brilliant decision to film the trilogy at 48 frames per second. Although I will take a second to question; why is Orlando Bloom's Legolas so heavely CGI-ed? The new look of Peter Jackson's movies is impressive, but maybe pulling back slightly from the airbrush would've helped the bond between the old and the new. Nevertheless, it's the story which drives this movie forward and onto the front end of an already adored saga.
The little burglar takes a backseat and becomes somewhat of a mediatior between the dwarves, the elves, the humans, and of course Gandalf (Ian McKellen). Without having too much screen time however, Martin Freeman still manages to conjure up a witty, adorable and admirable Bilbo Baggins in what is to be his final outing.
The focus of attention shifts then to Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), the King under the mountain, as he seeks to reclaim the dwarves homeland and the abounding gold that lies within. Bard the bowman (Luke Evans) steps forward as head of the humans as he attempts to bargain with the Thorin for a share of the treasure that lies within Erebor, hoping to aid the residents of Lake Town to rebuild their fallen home. Thorin though falls ill, plagued with dragon sickness he has desire for only one thing, the Arkenstone.
Multiple plot lines run simultaneously throughout the movie as we witness the Five Armies meet at the foot of the Lonely Mountain. The yearning love-story between elf warrior Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) and dwarf Kili (Aidan Turnger) continues as their respected allegiances cross paths. Orlando Bloom's Legolas returns, and after being included in the movies without any mention of him in the original book, doesn't seem out of place and adds an exciting element to what is already an action-packed adventure.
Having not actually read the book I cannot be too critical of Peter Jackson's devotion to the original storyline, although from what I've heard the movie includes many scenes which JRR Tolkien had never originally created. But instead of viewing this as a negative, I see these scenes as an expansion of the Middle-Earth universe. An immersive insight into the backstory of characters and a chance for viewers to enjoy their beloved Shire-folk just that little bit longer.
I went into this film with a mixed bag of emotions. Excitement for the impending return to a beloved story, and the disappointment of knowing that this would be our final adventure alongside Peter Jackson through Middle-Earth. But once again he does not fail to deliver. Epic battle scenes and a seeming-less flow through this final instalment leave you wanting to journey there and back again.
