From Page to Screen: The Hobbit - The Battle of the Five Armies

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES

Adapted from The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (George Allen & Unwin, 1937)

DECEMBER 2014

MARTIN FREEMAN ~ Bilbo Baggins

IAN McKELLEN ~ Gandalf the Grey

RICHARD ARMITAGE ~ Thorin

AIDAN TURNER ~ Kili

LUKE EVANS ~ Bard

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH ~ Smaug

ORLANDO BLOOM ~ Legolas

EVANGELINE LILY ~ Tauriel

Trailer

Does it hold up?

Of course it did!

With the end the credits rolling on The Desolation of Smaug just as Smaug fled the Lonely Mountain ready to wreak havoc in Lake-town, the final instalment was bound the start with a bang. It didn’t take long for the first battle of the film to wow me with the sheer wonder of the graphics, effects and general look of the series. 

 

But it was the emotional punch in the gut that had the biggest impact. I didn’t find that there was enough character in the novel to even get to know Bilbo and the gang, let along get attached, but I fell in love with them over the film series. I even cried three times! So much emotion! And this was in a film that included a battle scene so epic that it spanned at least an hour of the entire film; it was impressive that it still allowed me to connect with the characters thoroughly.

The Battle of the Five Armies is an epic, emotional ending to a story about friendship, loyalty, honour and home that will be as well-loved as the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Rating: 9/10

Book or film?

As with all of this series of films, the films win for me. As I’ve said before, The Hobbit in novel form lacked the depth and development of character and theme that the film captures beautifully. I don’t think I’ll ever read the book again but I’ll watch these films over and over again.

Sophie