The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

This article is about the 2014 film. For the battle itself, see Battle of Five Armies.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is a 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 was produced and directed by Peter Jackson, who also directed The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The film is the sixth and final Middle-Earth film adaptation to be released and the third chronologically.

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 begins with Smaug's attack on Lake-town and continues with the dragon's demise, the Attack on Dol Guldur, the Battle of Five Armies, and the return journey.

On February 28, 2013, a new release date in December was confirmed for the film, mirroring the release dates of Peter Jackson's previous Middle-earth films, The Lord of the Rings and the first two films of The Hobbit. The film was released on December 12, 2014 in the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe (e.g. Austria), and on December 17 in the United States.^[1] The film was a major box office success, grossing over $955 million worldwide.

Etymology

The film's title The Battle of The Five Armies refers to the climactic battle by the same name between the Men of Lake-town, the Elves of Mirkwood, the Dwarves of the Iron Hills, the Orc armies from both Dol Guldur and Gundabad and the Eagles with the company of the Shape-shifter.

Synopsis

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Smaug destroys Laketown

Opening

Bilbo and the Dwarves watch from the Lonely Mountain as the dragon Smaug destroys Laketown. Bard breaks out of prison and kills Smaug with the black arrow, whose falling body crushes the fleeing Master of Laketown. Bard, chosen as the new leader, and the people of Laketown seek refuge in the ruins of Dale. Tauriel travels to investigate Mount Gundabad with Legolas. Upon arriving at Erebor, Fili, Kili, Bofur and Oin are informed by Bilbo that Thorin has been inflicted with Smaug's "dragon sickness" as he searched for the Arkenstone. It is revealed that Bilbo actually stole the Arkenstone from Smaug but knows it should be hidden from Thorin, who orders the entrance of the Lonely Mountain be sealed off.

Attack on Dol Guldur

Meanwhile, having become a prisoner in Dol Guldur, Gandalf is saved by Galadriel. Galadriel carries an unconscious Gandalf into a more open area while being taunted by The Necromancer. Elrond, Saruman, and Radagast arrive and rescue the Grey Wizard. Gandalf is saved by Galadriel and given to Radagast while Elrond and Saruman hold off the Nazgûl. Sauron appears to them with the Nine at his side. Using the power of Nenya and her Phial, Galadriel takes on the Dark Lord and the Ringwraiths, banishing them out of the fortress. Galadriel falls back fainting as Elrond supports her, realizing she has used her full strength in order to cast him away. Though Elrond believes they must warn the Free People of the enemy's return and set a watch upon the boundaries of Mordor, Saruman tells him to take Galadriel to safety while he deals with Sauron.

Radagast provides Gandalf a horse and his staff before riding to Dale. At that time, Azog approaches the Lonely Mountain 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.

Battlefield

Following Bolg to the fortress of Gundabad, Legolas and Tauriel see Bolg with another army of Orcs and hundreds of war-bred bats. They decide to return to Laketown to warn the others.

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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 stubborn dwarf refuses to listen, to his company's dismay. As they prepare for the battle, Thorin gives Bilbo a mithril vest. Thorin begins to talk like Smaug, telling Bilbo that he will never share the treasure with Bard and Thranduil, not wanting to part with a single coin. After Gandalf arrives at Dale, Bilbo sneaks out of the Lonely Mountain to hand the Arkenstone over to Thranduil and Bard. Inside the camp, Thranduil reminds Gandalf that he is the one who started all this and he will finish it.

The next day, the elf army and the armed people of Laketown gather at the entrance of the Lonely Mountain. Thranduil and Bard ride at the front, where Thorin threatens to kill them if they get any closer. Bard unveils the Arkenstone at the gates of Erebor and Thorin learns of Bilbo's actions and almost kills the Hobbit. Luckily, Gandalf approaches at the front with Bard and Thranduil, telling Thorin that Bilbo is his to keep. The other dwarves hold off their leader so Bilbo can escape down the wall to Gandalf. Then, a dwarf company under Dáin II Ironfoot arrives and is about to attack the elves on Thorin's call, but Azog sends one branch of his army to attack Dáin's force. While Thranduil assists Dáin's army, Azog sends the rest of his forces to attack Dale with Bilbo, Gandalf, Bard, and the other elves coming to its defense. Gandalf, Thranduil, Bard, and Dain do the best they can to hold off the Orc armies as more and more come, killing more Dwarves, men, and elves. Meanwhile, Alfrid takes a pile of treasure and escapes the battlefield, with Bard permitting him to do so.

Inside the Lonely Mountain, Thorin eventually overcomes his madness after a lengthy hallucination. Thorin and company burst out of the Mountain and join the battle, much to Dáin's delight. While the others aid what remains of Dáin's forces, Thorin rides towards Ravenhill with Dwalin, Fili, and Kili to kill Azog. At the same time, after being banished by Thranduil despite her and Legolas warning him of Bolg's army, Legolas and Tauriel set off for Ravenhill with Bilbo following to warn the Dwarves of the second Orc army. Thorin tells Fili and Kili to scout the towers as Bilbo came and warned them. But he is too late. Azog captures Fili and stabs him in the back before throwing him off a tower. While Thorin fights Azog to avenge Fili, Kili dies protecting Tauriel from Bolg. After Legolas kills Bolg, the Great Eagles arrive, led by Radagast and Beorn, to assist in the battle, quickly decimating the orc army.

3D7CF384-2256-4351-A8B1-2B1E6DB72051 — The Eagles

Ending

When Bilbo regains consciousness, he finds that Thorin has killed Azog but was mortally wounded in the process and dies soon after making his peace with the hobbit. Sometime after, a disillusioned Legolas leaves his father to meet with one of the Dúnedain, a man who goes by the name of Strider. Thranduil, after seeing Tauriel kiss Kili's dead body, finally accepts Tauriel's love for Kili and agrees with her plan to bury the dwarf. Bilbo bids farewell to the surviving members of Thorin's company, telling them they are welcome to join him for tea whenever they are in the Shire, to which he returns with Gandalf. As they part on the outskirts of the Shire, Gandalf reveals that he knows of the Ring that Bilbo found in the Goblin tunnels (though unaware that it was the One Ring) 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 and are about to sell his house. The scene transitions to Bilbo on the day of his 111th birthday when he receives a visit from Gandalf, ending where the The Fellowship of the Ring begins.

Cast

Main

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

Minor

Uncredited

Shane Rangi as Laketown Refugee
Jeff Slaven as Laketown Extra
Christopher Winchester as Laketowner
Dee Bradley Baker as Creatures (vocal effect) ^[2]
Stephen O'Neill as Laketown Extra
Shane Briant as Mayor of Michel Delving
Greg Ellis as Net Mender

Extended Edition

The extended edition of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies has additional 20 minutes of extended footage:

More scenes of Bard attempting to kill Smaug
More scenes of Smaug destroying Lake-town
Elven archers firing at Dain's army
Dwarves with Ballistae firing at the Elves.
Dwarven Goat Riders attack the Elves

Funeral of Thorin, Fili, and Kili
Coronation of Dáin II Ironfoot, the new king of Erebor
Gandalf interrogated about one of the Elven Rings of Power, Narya in Dol Guldur
More footage of Elrond and Saruman fighting the Wraiths
The death of Alfrid Lickspittle
More fighting in the city of Dale
More battle scenes
The war beasts Azog sends just after the battle begins
Axe blade removed from Bifur's forehead
Conversation between Bilbo and Bofur before he hands over the Arkenstone
Galadriel unveils her true power when she slays an orc
More graphic and brutal Orc kills

Reception

The Battle of the Five Armies world premiere was on December 1st, 2014. The event took place in Leicester square in London. Many of the cast members were there and the film event reportedly went very well. The film was well received and many critics praised the film's visuals, acting, and action sequences. However, some expressed criticism on the short length of the film. The film's current Rotten Tomatoes score is 59%.^[3]

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

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