Jackson does it again

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2014)

Yes, "The Hobbit" is a short novel, but Jackson is not a man who makes small movies; luckily for us, he can take an idea and with the help of his wife and the best available team, he allows to see worlds that dazzle and inspire us. Yes, coming up with three films from such a short narrative is a daunting experience, but after a shaky start, he managed to expand the story into a wondrous set of films. His latest is probably as good as any of the original LOTR trilogy.
In the latest entry, Smaug is disposed of pretty quickly, and this is a bit disappointing at first because he's after all one of the coolest creations in any movie. Yes this dragon is both hot and cool, and having Cumberbatch voice him is just a joy. Don't worry because what follows is more of the spectacle and drama we expect from Jackson. He has plenty of substance in here, and it is as usual dazzling and magical.
The elves shine, and having Blanchett make an appearance is a stroke of genius. She's embodies the glamor and magic that is at the heart of these films. In this one, she makes quite an entrance, topping anything her character did before. Gandalf, is of course, the soul of the films, connecting most of the worlds and clarifying their ideas once in a while. He's also good at surviving and helping out those in need.
Two actors stand out in this story, Armitage who becomes a more complete character, as he must overcome his sudden descent into the world of greed and power. His scenes where he is fighting madness are some of the best acting of the year, and he has great chemistry with the other actor who has managed to keep this story going, Martin Freeman. Freeman keeps improving with time, as he finds himself in the middle of the political and action nightmare, somehow getting his hands on really important objects, which will either help or destroy those who might get their hands on them.
Of course, like the title indicates, the film is mostly about action, and in all the madness that leads and results from these events, there must be a solid foundation for all of these to have any meaning. There's loyalty, the fight for control, power, greed, animosities going back hundreds of years, fantasy and plenty of magic, and it is all there in glorious 3D, with the best of any production teams designing armors, props, worlds that originated in Tokien's imagination. There are all kinds of emotions with love affairs that might be doomed from the start, family dramas, friends who find themselves at odds, brotherly love, family love, all that will together result in one of the epic events of the year.
I'm noticing the film is not getting much love from critics, and it's not fair because it's one of the biggest achievements of the year, where equal care has gone into working on its heart, its philosophy, and of course, everything else that one can expect in an action movie. Last but not least, its heart beats strong with the support of a superb, brand new score by Shore, and a fantastic tune, sung in the credits by Billy Boyd. Overall, one of the best and most unforgettable films of this and any year.