Worst Middle-Earth Film- But Still Pretty Good

Rating: 7/10 (6 December 2016)

Minor Spoilers
The Battle of the Five Armies is the final chapter in The Hobbit trilogy. Packed with fighting, CGI, creatures, and set pieces, this film picks up right where the previous one left off, so don't go in expecting a bunch of exposition or recapping. This is the only Middle-Earth film that does not begin with a flashback, which I find quite interesting. However, it's made all the better for it, because, despite being the worst Middle-Earth film overall, the opening scene is one of the best scenes in the whole series, including the Lord of the Rings. These first 10-15 minutes are some of the most exciting moments I have ever spent at the cinema, and I was sad to see them end.
The film never again gets as good as this scene, but still remains a decently competent and enjoyable movie. Even though the eponymous mini-war takes up a very large portion of the movie, the filmmakers still find time for most of their characters, humor, and even some genuinely compelling and saddening moments. Richard Armitage gives a great performance as Thorin, and Peter Jackson shows us he still knows how to stage an epic battle-- even if it's not as good as the famous fights at Helm's Deep or the Black Gate. One could also certainly say that it succeeds at transforming a few pages of a children's book into an exciting cinematic experience.
As for negatives, there are definitely more here than in any of the other Middle-Earth films. As stated previously, the movie opens with its best scene, which may not be a wise choice. There are also many, many changes and additions to the book, some of which are fresh and interesting, and others that are not. The cheesy, creepy romance from the previous film is expanded upon; however, it is made no more intriguing or touching. There is also a brief scene which shows gigantic, terrifying Were-Worms burrowing through the ground, allowing the bad guys to get to the Mountain. These creatures promptly go away, leaving audiences to wonder how stupid Azog and friends (or the writers) were for not utilizing them more. The film also ends very quickly compared to The Return of the King, and leaves just a couple of loose ends (however, the extended edition ties up a couple of these).
The Battle of the Five Armies certainly isn't a masterpiece, but it is an important and entertaining chapter in the Middle-Earth cinematic universe. Fans of the book may find it bloated and changed almost beyond recognition at times, but it is still a fun, action- packed spectacle. I would definitely recommend checking out the extended edition, which ties up some loose ends, and adds more action, depth, and humor to the story.