"Thank goodness!" said Bilbo laughing, and handed him the tobacco-jar.

Rating: 7/10 (26 December 2014)

First off, I want to make it known that I am very, very, very lenient in writing this review. In fact, I'm not even writing this from a critical viewpoint, but from a fan of all things Tolkien. Since this would be the last time we're visiting Peter Jackson's Middle Earth, treat this as my farewell gift.
With that said, let's start with things that I won't talk about.
I won't talk about how the beginning sequence with Smaug clearly demonstrates the pacing problem in the Hobbit series, where whatever character and emotional development with Smaug and Bard failed to carry over from Desolation of Smaug to The Battle of the Five Armies. With all the heavy duty scenes that follows, you'll forget Smaug was even in the film when you leave the theater.
I won't talk about how plot points Peter Jackson introduced in the previous installments (for the sake of increasing runtime, no less) completely fizzled out, with Beorn, Radagast and the Arkenstone fiercely competing to have the least screen time.
I won't talk about how the forbidden love story between Kili and Tauriel, which was actually quite promising and brought a new perspective to Middle Earth, dropped the ball and could be summarized in The Battle Of the Five Armies as followed:
Fili: "I love you, Tauriel"
Tauriel: "I love you too, Fili, but I can't say that or be with you now because Legolas is looking at me."
Fili: "Oh well, I'll look back lovingly at you while I leave then"
(Fili dies.)
Tauriel: "Oh Fili, I really love you. I really do. Also, there was the part where I almost shot Thranduil because he said I didn't love you, but we're cool now."
(Side note: I'm not even joking here. Fili and Tauriel spoke with each other only in the beginning)
I wouldn't talk about Alfrid, Laketown's very own annoying Grima Wormtongue, who clearly overstayed his welcome with humour that ran dry the second time we saw him on screen. I was rooting for some orc to run him through with a sword. Honestly, this guy got more screen time than Radagast, Beorn, Elrond, Saruman and Galadriel combined. Even worse, Bard makes the same mistake as Aragorn in The Two Towers by letting this human slime live.
Now let's talk about the good stuff.
Peter Jackson began this film really strong. They finally showed us what it's like when Middle Earth's finest gets serious and head off into battle. Seeing Elrond wielding his huge sword and Saruman with his staff pulverize the wraiths in actual combat is easily one of the greatest sequences of the franchise. Even head honcho Galadriel herself finally does something badass by going apeshit and besting Sauron himself in magical combat. It's beautiful. That scene alone is enough to convince me to watch the movie again.
I also really enjoyed the way they portrayed Thorin's descent into madness and subsequent redemption. I like how they interwove scenes of his obsession with gold with the remaining bits and pieces of his humanity, namely his friendship and trust in Bilbo. This made his eventual return to glory believable. Of note, the acorn scene shared by Bilbo and Thorin is a touchingly simple scene that manages to tease viewers that at that point, maybe Thorin can get back to normal before ultimately pulling away. The sequence when Thorin drowns in the sea of gold also impressively done. It was surrealistic and brings a psychological thriller vibe to the arc, which makes sense because Thorin's conflict is all in his mind.
Last but not least, the battle scenes get an honorable mention. Yes, they did run overly long, but at least we finally see a battle in the Hobbit Trilogy, with dramatic moments like when the elves jumped over the dwarfs to engage in battle with the orcs and Thranduil and Dain having their respective badass moments. Yes, the fight scenes between Azog, Bolg, Thorin and Legolas did stretch the limits of my imagination, but it was nice to see Thorin finally get his hard earned revenge and Legolas run out of arrows. Yes, the battle did end quite hastily after Thorin died, but with Azog and Bolg dead, it was quite clear that the leaderless orc army would ultimately be defeated by the more experienced dwarf, elf and men alliance. Could the battle have been better? Sure. Is it good enough as it is? I'll let it slide.
Ultimately, this really is the last time we will ever step foot in Peter Jackson's Middle Earth. There is no waiting 30 years and filming an episode seven. The next time we visit Middle Earth, it would be in the hands of a new director, with a new vision, perspective and things to bring on the table. Some things will be done better than Jackson's, some no doubt worst. However from now until that time, we will be looking back at Jackson's films with a nostalgic tear in our eye, reminiscing all the amazing sights and scenes we will forever treasure.