The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Blu-ray + Downloadable Digital HD UltraViolet Code)

I have read the books, all of them, many, many times. Someone bought me the full set when I was a teenager in the late 80s or early 90s. I wore them out I read them so much. I have the illustrated hardback of The Hobbit. I have the original BBC radio theatrical version on CD from Great Britain. I have all the audio books. I won't go as far as to say I am a fan... but I am at least familiar with the writings.So, when I first started watching the Peter Jackson adaptation of the story, when The Hobbit first came out, I stopped within the first 45 minutes or so. The characters were all wrong. The story was all wrong. I have read and listened to so much of the story, this version was just wrong. I came back to it years later... now that I am teleworking, I can sit and watch a movie, pause it when I need to, and pick it up whenever. I entered the series, again, with a clear mind. I have the first of The Hobbit trilogy on DVD, so I watched it. I found it fascinating. It's not THE original story, but it is still pretty good. Yes, the dwarves are not who they are in the book, but whatever; the basic story is still there. I believe the film takes away from the imagination images created by the book, but one could say that about any book made into a movie. I really wish there was more ebelishement during interaction of Bilbo and Gullom as I believe this is a crucial part of the story; especially later in the the Lord of the Ring series. Okay... Second in the trilogy, nothing to really say other than what was the deal with the arrow in the knee?? I get the joke outside of the series, but it took way too much from the story later... Bard was not really focused on in the book... follows the book for the most part, but I really wish the dialog between Bilbo and Smaug was preserved... the film made Bilbo out as scared and cowering, but in the book he is more bold because of the Ring... even the animated original did this. Regardless, did not take away too much from the story. I do agree with a lot of folks that complain about the relationship between the dwarf and elf... no where in the book and has no place in the movie. Didn't add anything and took away from other points that could have been focused on. Moving into the third of the trilogy-- Seemed that Lake Town got way more attention than in the book, but whatever, have to fill time somehow. Not at all how in the book anything happens, but again, this is an adaptation and the scenes in the movie are certainly that. I wasn't necessary a fan of how the conflict happen. Seemed that major points were glossed over. The addition to the entire story of the Orc general took away from the focus on the Bilbo and the journey itself. Wasn't needed. Did not add anything but another antagonist to the story. Whatever.Overall-- I will always love this series. Yes, the Peter Jackson movies are what they are, but they hit the main points and don't stray too far from the original story. Great cinematics. Good characters. Will certainly watch again and probably buy the discs to finish off my collection.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies was claimed to be the defining chapter of Peter Jackson's Middle-Earth saga, and, in my opinion, it very well proves to be. It definitely caps off the Hobbit trilogy in a performance that exceeds expectations. The film is basically nonstop, intense action, with little time for a breather. The battle sequences push you to the edge of your seat and take your breath away, while the dramatic sequences are so well written, filmed, and acted, that it's not hard to imagine that these events really occurred! The Battle of the Five Armies might be the best of the Hobbit trilogy, though The Desolation of Smaug cuts it close.I'm not a purist by any form of the word, even though I am a HUGE fan of Tolkien's works. All of the changes made in this film (and changes continued from The Desolation of Smaug) didn't detract from the story even one bit. While the Hobbit book and the Hobbit movies are both not near as good as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, they are still some of the highest achievements in literature and filmmaking alike. The acting (notably Richard Armitage's stellar performance as the disillusioned King Thorin Oakenshield) is magnificent, the cinematography is powerful, the dialogue is moving, and the music by Howard Shore is amazing. Yet one of the best aspects of this film--and of all of Jackson's other Middle-Earth films--is the overall design and look of the movie. The battles are epic, made so by the skillful design of weapons, armor, etc., and the landscape chosen for the film almost tells a story in itself, whether harsh, beautiful, or mysterious. And, as always, the special effects are neither overdone nor cheesy.***Spoiler Alert***The Desolation of Smaug left us off with a cliffhanger, and the opening scene picks up right where it left off. When the dragon Smaug is killed by Bard, the people of Laketown are left with no home. Coming to the Mountain for shelter, they find that Thorin and his companions are still alive--yet unwilling to share their treasure. The Elves meet the men and women of Laketown in Dale, there to offer them their aid. Thranduil, the Elf-king, is wanting a part in the treasure, and is willing to fight the stubborn dwarves for it. And to add to the confusion, the orcs of Dol Guldur--led by Azog--are marching towards the Mountain in hopes of securing its strategic position for the Kingdom of Gundabad. This results in the climactic Battle of Five Armies with the dwarves, the elves, the people of Laketown, the orcs, and...not sure...in the book, the Wargs were the fifth army, yet there are no Wargs in this film. :( Anyway, these armies converge in a massive 45-minute battle which I am sure you will enjoy.The only scene I was disappointed with was the one where the White Council drives Sauron from Dol Guldur. Sure, the videogame-style Nazgul zipping among the stones was an eye-pleasing addition, but a little weird for me. And then the final showdown between the witch-like Galadriel and the not-creepy-enough Sauron was, to me, a little repulsive. Not horrible, though.***End of Spoilers***All in all, I feel that The Battle of the Five Armies was an awe-inspiring ending to the story of Middle-Earth, and I am disappointed that it really is the ending.Nevertheless, I do suppose that the Road goes on and on...