a suitable finale

Rating: Null/10 (12 May 2019)

The stage has been set for an all-out war as the dragon Smaug emerges from Lonely Mountain and directs his wrath toward Laketown. As Bard and the town's inhabitants do what they can to survive, the intrepid Thorin begins to succumb to the temptation of Erebor's vast treasure. While wizard Gandalf attempts to warn everyone of an impending threat, resourceful Bilbo takes great risks to try and prevent an even greater conflict. With some powerful action scenes and close calls it opens with a bang, then lags a bit as it gets caught up with its numerous characters and myriad of subplots. Fortunately it all builds to a grand and rousing spectacle that is sure to serve as a fitting payoff for fans of the series. With a much shorter running time than its predecessors, it's able to maintain a genuine feeling of excitement without becoming interminable. ***