Film review: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies A grand conclusion

MANILA, Philippines - Director Peter Jackson is the true star of the last installment of The Hobbit film franchise, The Battle of the Five Armies. And I’m not merely talking about the cameos he’s notoriously known for, a la Alfred Hitchcock.

Staying true to his cinematic vision, the New Zealand native has done wonders in bringing the published works of J.R.R. Tolkien, from the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) to The Hobbit, to almost always engaging cinematic life. And if New Zealand tourism ever needed a marketing miracle man, it would seem Sir Peter Jackson has ably stepped forward and filled the shoes by insisting on filming both the LOTR and Hobbit trilogies on Kiwi soil — and go to YouTube and watch the delightful Middle-Earth air safety film of Air New Zealand, and be truly surprised by two individuals who are in it.

Working with an ensemble cast, it’s great to see how these stars place their trust in Jackson and go along for the extended ride, giving us impeccable continuity. As the title of the concluding chapter infers, the film is all about war and the oftentimes hazy resolution it brings. More than any other installment of the franchise, the film centers on the culture of warfare, the preparations that go in, the strategies considered, the execution, troop formations and all its details, as well as the aftermath we’re left with.

Immersion into this culture and the actual battles is what Jackson gives us in the film — the glory, the savagery, the terror and mayhem. You’ll love how the different factions are invested with rivalries and doubts, plus given distinct locations as battlefields — from a melting ice bed to a collapsing bridge, and so on. This is Jackson at his best, imbuing each skirmish, each battle, with its own individual stamp, thus engaging us, the audience.

In terms of character development, however, it is only dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) who displays any kind of arc with his emotions. Fueled by greed upon realizing the gold found in Smaug’s lair is now unprotected, he descends into a personal darkness; and catches himself in the nick of time in order to help alter the outcome of the war against the Orc forces of evil.

As Bilbo Baggins, the title character, Martin Freeman is joined by the bulk of the main characters as pawns and stepping stones to the inevitable confrontation that makes for the climax of the film. As for the film’s emotional center, that would rest in Gandalf’s (Ian McKellen) hands — and this is Jackson connecting with us via our heartstrings.

While The Battle of the Five Armies is grandiose in scope and a fine example of film as a spectacle, this aspect, however, does leave us with what could be the film’s shortcoming — that we are mere spectators as the franchise reaches for its conclusion. A lot of the humor, lightheartedness and flights of whimsy seen in the previous films go missing as we grind ourselves for the centerpiece battle. And rather than acting as some cinematic bridge to the Rings films, Jackson’s treatment relies heavily on expanding the Appendices that Tolkien wrote to accompany his Hobbit. Still, this is Jackson transporting us once again to Middle-Earth — a journey like no other.