Amazing imagery, heartfelt emotion for a satisfying, but slightly rushed finale

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2014)

The final installment of Peter Jackson's Hobbit Trilogy,The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies continues in the footsteps of previous installments, but makes a few mistakes on the way. The film succeeds as a finale in a trilogy, but falters slightly as a film on a whole. Some of Jackson's finest abilities as a director shine. The problems never cause enough damage to ruin the experience. The movie redeems itself by the end.
Thorin has regained his homeland and the surrounding people and elves want a share in the gold of Erebor. This idea drive the narrative for the first act of the film. I feel Jackson's storytelling ability works here. He sets up some very compelling character conflicts. The problem stands by the fact that most of the characters are not given enough time to complete their development. This become a problem when the battle begins.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies as the title suggest has a battle. The massive battle really creates the most extraordinary spectacle. Peter Jackson knows how to paint some beautiful imagery. However, the battle extends throughout almost two thirds of the film. This would not present too large of a problem, but in order for it to work the characters need to be strongly developed. One could create the most amazing action pieces ever made, but they will mean nothing unless the audience cares about the characters within the action. Not to say that this happens with all the characters, but after thirty minutes of action, one can start to forget a person's motives. The movie does make the assumption that the audience has viewed the previous installments.
In terms of character development, the major standout is Thorin. Richard Armitage gives a great performance and really sells his departure into madness. Thorin's character arc seems to be the only one fully utilized. Bilbo does carry much of the movie as well and Martin Freeman plays him tremendously well. Sadly, most of the other characters are never really fully realized. Some even become more of functional characters, like Gandalf, who merely gives out important expository information when needed. Jackson hit some of the emotional moments with great heart, however a certain relationship in the film seemed a little out of place and never really hit it's intended mark. Also, a few comic relief moments do not really fit. However, in the end it is Thorin and Bilbo's character relationship which carries the film.
Peter Jackson has taken a three hundred page book and successfully made three very entertaining films out of it. They may not be perfect films. Some characters never really reach full realization and some become merely functional. When all is said and done, however, Jackson has told a compelling story and created some wonderful imagery. The Hobbit films, though with their problems, have succeeded by the end.