The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies

G’day to you all. Tomorrow, if you didn’t know, is the opening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. I got an opportunity to enjoy an early release in IMAX 3D, and it surely was a sight to behold. Since I participated in the Hobbit Marathon (offered at AMC) there was a unique opportunity here to really watch the progression of not only the story, but the characters as well.

The action of this movie picks up right where it left off in The Desolation of Smaug. The Resolution of the Smaug arc was a bit anti-climatic, but it went exactly where it needed to go. It was a very intense sequence that places a lot of the main characters in a crucible resulting in dynamic character developments that force them in one direction or the other.

Bilbo Baggins

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins has certainly been a treat this entire adventure. He brings a certain air to the role that allows you to appreciate Bilbo for the character he is and eventually becomes in this film. There are moments where as the audience find yourself saying “Well… that’s exactly how I would react in this situation.” Freeman gives us a gateway into the film with his performance that anchors you in and is only augmented by the IMAX 3D experience. The thing I like about Freeman’s version of Bilbo is that he has these moments where he lingers for effect that really are just the lightest moments of the film. It’s like through the toil and struggle of the task at hand we can get a moment to take a break. I love that they do this in the film. No lines, just facial expressions and mannerisms that have an impact on the audience.

Bard the Bowman

Luke Evans is dynamite. I rarely get a chance to say things like this, but he’s a legit action star with some serious acting chops. Not a lot of actors in that area capable of pulling off scenes the way that he does. Haven’t seen performances like that from an action star since The Warrior. I’m sad to hear he pulled out of the new Crow remake, but I can’t blame him. You can only wait for so long for new work.

Character Chemistry

One of the aspects I favored the most about this film was the dynamic between characters. The pair dynamics were use very effectively to get message across. Bilbo and Thorin, if you’ve watched the other Hobbit films, have an interesting development as the story progresses. Bilbo reluctant to take the quest, and Thorin not believing in Bilbo’s dependability end up developing a powerful friendship by the end of the saga. It’s very reminiscent of Frodo and Sam from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Also take a look at Gandolf (Ian McKellen) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) there are some really tender moments there that are marked by tone and body language. It’s beautiful watching these actors convey such deep emotions of respect and admiration so subtly.

Watching Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel) and Aiden Turner (Kili) on-screen chemistry was so enjoyable. Being able to tell such a successful and beautiful love story in the midst of all the rising evil and turmoil that is taking place takes skill and this film does it effortlessly.

There is so much more that I could say about the actors of this film. I haven’t even mentioned Manu Bennet’s Azog which was the baddest of the bad in terms of villains; the booming entrance of Dain the Dwarf; Orlando Bloom reprising his role as Legolas; or Hugo Weaving’s Elrond. It’s pretty clear that the actors themselves all brought their best efforts to this film.

Illustrious Middle-Earth Landscapes

The visuals that this film showcases are absolutely stunning. I watched this film in IMAX 3D. All I can say is that it was like looking through a window there were moments I was flailing to avoid objects I thought were real (not my proudest moment). I believe this film was taped with a high refresh rate so you can see the detail in every object light reflected in every surface. It was truly an adventure from start to finish. The epic battle scene takes up most of the film and keeps your emotions running high from start to finish.

You definitely have to go see this movie the ticket is well worth it (especially in 3D). The movie opens tomorrow hope you plan on getting your ticket immediately.