The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (originally known as The Hobbit: There and Back Again) is an upcoming 2014 epic fantasy adventure film and the third and final installment of The Hobbit Film Trilogy. Like its predecessors The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the film will be produced and directed by Peter Jackson, who also directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Filming took place primarily in New Zealand. The film stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo, Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey, Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug and the Necromancer, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield.

The film will possibly begin with Smaug's attack on Lake-town and continue with Smaug's demise, The Battle of Dol Guldur, The Battle of Five Armies, and the return journey. It has also been thought that there will be some sort of skirmish in the ruins of Dale involving Gandalf and Thranduil (and possibly Tauriel).

On February 28, 2013, it was confirmed there is a new release date for The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies. It has been announced via press, and now mirrors the release dates of Peter Jackson's Middle-earth films, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The film will be released on December 12th in the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe (e.g. Austria), and December 17, 2014 in the United States.^[1]

Etymology

The film's title The Battle of The Five Armies refers to the climactic battle by the same name between the Goblins and Orcs, the Men of the Long Lake, the Elves of Mirkwood, the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain and the Iron Hills, and the great Eagles.

Synopsis

Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, and his fellow Dwarves are still inside the Lonely Mountain as the dragon Smaug flies out to destroy Lake Town for their association with the intruders. Still locked up by the Master of Lake Town, Bard manages to escape and kills Smaug while the Master of Laketown is trying to escape while carrying all the gold he took from the town's coffers. As Bard tells his people that they will take residence in Dale, with Kili confiding his love for Tauriel, the four Dwarves set off in a boat to the Lonely Mountain to meet up with their company. Arriving at Erebor, Kili's group find Bilbo and learn that Thorin has lost his mind while scouring the gold for the Arkenstone, which is actually on Bilbo's person who is keeping at Balin's behest. The maddened Thorin proceeds to command the Dwarves to block the gates to prevent anyone from entering or leaving.

Meanwhile, having become a prisoner in Dol Guldur, Gandalf is saved by Galadriel and given to Radagast while Elrond and Saruman hold off the Nazgul wraiths. But Sauron appears and attempts to temp Galadriel before she is able to cast him and the Nazgul away from the fortress. Though Elrond believes they must warn the Free People of the enemy's return, Saruman tells him to take Galadriel to safety while he deals with Sauron. At that time, Azog approaches Erebor with his vast orc army while learning from Bolg that an Elf army under Thranduil is also approaching. Azog tells Bolg to head to Gundabad and ready their other army. Following Bolg to the fortress of Gundabad, Legolas and Tauriel see Bolg with a huge Orc army and hundreds of war-bred bats.

When Thranduil’s army arrives in Dale, he forges an allegiance with Bard to claim a necklace of white gems from Thorin's treasure. Though Bard attempts to reason with Thorin to avoid further bloodshed, the Dwarf refuses to listen to his company's dismay. After Gandalf arrives at Dale, Bilbo sneaks out of Erebor to hand the Arkenstone over to Thranduil and Bard. The next day, Bard unveils the Arkenstone at the gates of Erebor and Thorin learns of Bilbo's actions and almost kills the Hobbit. Luckily, the other Dwarves hold off their leader so Bilbo can escape down the wall to Gandalf. Then a dwarf company under Dain Ironfoot II arrives and is about to attack the Elves on Thorin's call, but Azog sends one branch of his army to attack Dain's army. Azog sends the rest of his forces to attack Dale with Bilbo, Gandalf, Bard, and the Elves coming to its defense.

Inside Erebor, Thorin eventually overcomes his madness. While the others aid what remains of Dain's forces, Thorin rides towards Ravenhill with Dwalin, Fili, and Kili to settle things with Azog. At the same time, after being banished by Thranduil despite her and Legolas warning him of Bolg's army, Tauriel sets off for the Ravenhill with Bilbo following to tell the Dwarves of the second Orc army. However, Bilbo ends up being knocked unconscious as Thorin battles Azog to avenge Fili while Kili dies protecting Tauriel from Bolg. But after Legolas kills Bolg, the battle is then joined by Radagast, the Great Eagles, and Beorn with the Orc armies quickly decimated. When Bilbo has regained consciousness, he finds that Thorin has managed to kill Azog but is mortally wounded and dies soon after making his peace with the Hobbit. Sometime after, as a disillusioned Legolas leaves his father to meet up with one of the Dunedain, Bilbo bids his goodbyes to the surviving members of Thorin's company and returns to the Shire with Gandalf. But as they part on the outskirts of the Shire, though he does not know its true nature, Gandalf knows of the Ring that Bilbo found in the Goblin tunnels before they part ways on good terms. Bilbo's story ends when he returns to Bag End and finds the Sackville-Bagginses are auctioning off his belongings. The scene transitions to Bilbo on the day of his 111th birthday when he receives a visit from Gandalf.

Cast

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
Ian McKellen as Gandalf
Richard Armitage as Thorin II Oakenshield
Ken Stott as Balin
Graham McTavish as Dwalin
William Kircher as Bifur
James Nesbitt as Bofur
Stephen Hunter as Bombur
Dean O'Gorman as Fíli
Aidan Turner as Kíli
John Callen as Óin
Peter Hambleton as Glóin
Jed Brophy as Nori
Mark Hadlow as Dori
Adam Brown as Ori

Significant Cast

Rumored

Erin Banks as Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
Shane Briant as Mayor of Michel Delving
Greg Ellis as Net Mender
Brian Hotter as Otho Sackville-Baggins
Simon Pegg as Dwainive

Reception

The battle of five armies world premiere was on December 1st 2014. The event took place in Leicester square in London, Many of the cast were there and the film event went very well. The film was received very well and many critics praised the film's visuals, acting, and action sequences. However, some expressed criticism on the length of the film. Rotten tomatoes rated it 79%.

Videos

Trailers

Extras

The Hobbit The Battle of the Five Armies - "I'm Not Alone" Clip

Interviews

Gallery

Posters

Banners

Promotional Images

Character Posters

Screenshots

Soundtrack

Regular Album

THTBOT5AOSTCover — Original Soundtrack Cover

Disc 1

Fire and Water
Shores of the Long Lake
Beyond Sorrow and Grief
Guardians of the Three
The Ruins of Dale
The Gathering of the Clouds
Mithril
Bred for War
A Thief in the Night
The Clouds Burst
Battle for the Mountain

Disc 2

The Darkest Hour
Sons of Durin
The Fallen
Ravenhill
To the Death
Courage and Wisdom
The Return Journey
There and Back Again
The Last Goodbye performed by Billy Boyd
Ironfoot

Special Edition Album

THBOFA-Special-Edition-Cover-Art — Special Edition Cover