Movie of the Week: The Hobbit - Battle of the Five Armies

[jacey]

I've been looking forward to the new Hobbit movie ever since last Christmas, so H and I went today to see the 2D version. We both thoroughly enjoyed it but it seems to be fashionable to give it a bad review. I can understand why Tolkien purists hate this. There isn't really enough plot in The Hobbit to make into three mega-movies, but despite that this movie certainly doesn't drag. 

As usual for a Jackson/Tolkien movie, it's visually gorgeous. There was some good acting, particularly Martin Freeman, of course, though Richard Armitage, Luke Evans and Evangeline Lilly were all very watchable, as was Aidan Turner.

Yes the battle was long, but it wasn't all hack and slash. It was broken in manageable chunks as we hopped from one character to another.

I thought it wrapped it all up rather well. 

We might even go and see it again at the Imax in 3D where we can get far enough back from the screen not to go dizzy, but I certainly didn't miss 3D today.

Basically if you enjoyed the other two Hobbit movies this won't disappoint, though probably it's lighter than the others in terms of plot/content.

I was, however, working out how they managed to get to five armies. Elves, Dwarves men and orcs make four. There are two separate Orc armies and Radagast's creature army -  and that makes six, plus Thorin's small band if you want to count them separately.

One disappointment today (though not with this movie). Now that Orange has been absorbed into the EE mobile phone network, I suppose it was just a matter of time, but the Orange Wednesday two for one cinema ticket offer ends in February 2015. H and I have been taking advantage of the deal an average of 25 visits a year for the last three or four years, that's a saving of at least £450. It has kept me loyal to Orange even though Tesco's mobile phone charges are a cheaper, so we'll see if there's a new offer coming up. If not I may change my phone provider.

Comments

[seawasp]

Men, Elves, and Dwarves on one side, and in the original Wargs and Goblins as the other two. In this one, I'd make it Men, Elves, Dwarves, and TWO Orcish Armies, the first from the Misty Mountains and Dol Guldur and the second from Gundabad.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

A review I read today has men, elves, orcs, dwarves and creatures.

[calico-reaction.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed it as well. Light on plot, sure, and I think the series could've been two movies instead of three with some purposeful editing, but damn, it's a great film to look at, with all the great points you mention above. :) Thanks for bucking the trend of bad reviews!