Great Visuals From Someone Who Wants To Move On

Rating: 9/10 (25 December 2014)

Though "The Return Of The King" was a fitting conclusion to an immensely satisfying trilogy, it left you wanting more (what with "The Hobbit" begging to be filmed). "The Battle Of The Five Armies" is also a fitting conclusion, though "The Hobbit" trilogy itself has not been nearly as memorable, and the director, the estimable Peter Jackson, seems more than ready to let go of his creation and move on to new challenges. Still, Jackson throws himself into the finale with a lot more energy than you would expect he could muster at this point and of the three "Hobbit" films, this one is the best. Although the emphasis on battle seems like filler, it's more interesting filler than the filler the two previous films reeked of--the plot is almost given short shrift in favor of the magnificently filmed action scenes. The "Hobbit" actors have overall left much less of an impression than the "Lord Of The Rings" performers (indeed, the film's best scene involves holdovers Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett and Ian McKellan as well as the image of Sauron) but here it makes it easier to give yourself up to the kinetic sensuality that the film is constantly pushing you towards; the battles fill you with more emotion than the narrative does. As good and as much fun as it is, though, it will eventually join the previous two films and fade in the collective memory--whereas its predecessors' place is assured.