A Spectacular Battle

Rating: 7/10 (15 January 2015)

First of all, I would not recommend this film for anyone who has not seen any of the other films in this series (including the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy). Knowledge of the characters is critical to fully understand the action.
This film is a spectacle. When Peter Jackson decided to make "The Hobbit" a trilogy instead of a two-part story, it meant that this episode would be primarily a battle. So it is well named. And the battle provides what most viewers want to see in a battle--hordes of formidable warriors, with the ante constantly being upped.
I enjoyed "The Battle of the Five Armies" not only because the action is spectacular, but because the sets and scenery are creative and awesome. Also, the story of the battle is multi-layered, with a number of confrontations between foes.
Lastly, the CGI--which is responsible for most of what I have mentioned--is clean and convincing. I did not watch in 3-D or on the IMAX screen and they were not necessary for an entertaining experience.