Over in a Flash, with a very few noteworthy moments

Rating: Null/10 (17 December 2014)

I have been a loyal LOTR and Hobbit Fan. So when I heard Cinemark theatres is screening all three Hobbit movies in a one-day event marathon, I was the first one get the tickets. I made sure that I am seeing the movie in the f best suggested format: IMax like screen + HFR +3D
The marathon movie event, had brief introductions by Peter Jackson before each movie. Before the start of the third movie, he says ' this is best of the lot, and his favourite'. However, The best movie of the three was undoubtedly the second one. The third movie BOFTA has very little recall value.The director and team's exhaustion shows in this movie. They just want to get over with it. Feels rushed. There are two sequences where the whole movie team has put in their best
1. The first: The Dragon lake town devastation sequence is good. When you see the movie, please note the spectacular way the dragon flutters, dives, rises in superb acrobatics. His body language and tone adds much credence to why Smaug is a 'weapon so great in the wrong hands'. The sequence is 10% of the movie, and gets over fast. After a Super Charged adrenaline movie start, you are waiting something equally extra-ordinary to happen the whole time, but it never comes.
2. The second: The Azog and Thorin final sequence is nice and emotional. The fight choreography is consistent with a sense of revenge that both Azog and Thorin carry for each other.The whole sequence is a match between equals, one getting better of the other. Since they are equals in wit and muscle, in the end there are no winners
Now the problems:
1. Bilbo and Thorin's screenplay:Are they friends with each other? Yes. DO they respect each other. Yes. Do they shed a tear for each other. Yes. But does anyone of them trust each other? No. Bilbo would rather trust Thranduil and Bard to avert a crisis than confront Thorin and dwarfs. I think the director would have wanted to leave the audience with a tragic sense of haunting loss and friendship. He couldn't do so because of so many distractions along the way.
2. The Army: What are the five armies? Those who haven't read the book, here is a quiz, watch the movie and list down the five armies. Eagles, elves, Men, dwarfs and ? Yes, you guessed it right. It is (Orcs/Goblins/Wolves). They changed the title of the movie, but the armies's character, resolve, feature and strength is completely omitted. It just feels, like different sized men in varied costumes gathered to fight a war, sometimes with each other and sometimes with the ugliest looking guys. Nice jumps, and swings, and then a sudden pause for a conversation and hug amidst one of the greatest battle the middle earth has seen.
3. Appear and Disappear without any affect to the story or battle: Huge Earth digger worms, large bats, Giants, Elvish arrow snipers, Gundabad, reference to legolas's mother and that she loved him? Witch Kings fighting like Matrix reloaded twins (probably because Elrond was agent smith in those movies), Sauron flashing and burning, Saruman saying' Leave Sauron to me' . What happened between Sauron and Saruman that he turned evil. BTW why didn't the earth diggers dig directly under the lonely mountain?
4. The solution to all and every problem irrespective of time, place, circumstance, quantum is to summon the.................EAGLES!....yaaaay!....and they always arrive late to the scene. Because the righteous need to show of their skills and dramatics before they can be rescued. Why couldn't the bats be fiercer and smarter to give the eagles a tough fight? Could the orcs have a good catapult ot bring down the eagles. The destiny of middle earth would have been completely different without these silent giants. The Evil army always ignores to take care of its biggest adversary in size, stealth, speed and strength: The Eagles
5. Irregular Battle scenes: The battles starts, soldiers fight. Cut! next Bilbo is having a predicament about the ring. Cut next short scene, Thorin brother is talking to himself while fighting orcs. Cut next scene, even bilbo killed a giant ugly orc. Makes you wonder, orcs are kids in costumes. Cut Next scene. Tauriel is calling for Kili. cut next scene. Thorin is coming back to his senses. and Voila! Cut next scene. He is hugging his cousin in- mid battle. They are enjoying killing orcs. etc etc. Hey Jackson, please let me see some fight. You have giant worms, don't you? I don't want to be transfixed on Thorin's cousin's moustache.
6. Another flash quiz: What happens with all the gold? was it divided? lost? sealed? or do the Dwarfs keep it for themselves?
7. Lovely song at the end by Billy Boyd - a good way to end the series.
9. Alfrid gets long scenes and dialogues . His screen time is more than the worms, bats, giants, elvish army put together.
10. Gundabad was shown, and the audience saw its nice walls.
One must definitely see the end of the saga. However, if your theatre is charging you an extra for those premier shows, you could probably wait a week or two and then catch it.