The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A hobbit steals a shiny rock, causing an epic real estate dispute between dwarves, elves, men, orcs, and some eagles who clearly just wanted to stir things up.

🍿 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Fall of Smaug and its Aftermath

The film opens immediately after the events of *The Desolation of Smaug*, with Smaug attacking Laketown. Bard manages to defeat the dragon, but Laketown is left in ruins. This sets the stage for the complex conflicts that arise as the survivors seek shelter and resources, leading to a standoff at the Lonely Mountain.

Thorin’s Dragon Sickness and the Arkenstone

Inside the Lonely Mountain, Thorin succumbs to ‘dragon sickness,’ an obsession with the treasure that clouds his judgment and strains his relationships. Bilbo’s possession of the Arkenstone, a symbol of kingship, further complicates matters, as it becomes a bargaining chip in the brewing conflicts between dwarves, elves, and men. This internal conflict is critical to Thorin’s arc.

The Gathering of Armies and the Battle Begins

As the various factions converge on the Lonely Mountain, tensions escalate into outright war. Elves and men demand their share of the treasure, while Thorin refuses to negotiate. The arrival of Dain Ironfoot and his dwarf army further intensifies the situation. However, the emergence of a massive Orc army forces these rival factions to unite against a common enemy. The five armies are the Elves, Dwarves, Men, Orcs and Wargs, and Eagles.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman): A hobbit who finds himself embroiled in a conflict for a mountain of treasure and the fate of Middle-earth.
• Gandalf (Ian McKellen): A wise wizard who guides and protects Bilbo and the dwarves, aware of the rising threat of Sauron.
• Thorin (Richard Armitage): The proud and stubborn dwarf king whose quest for reclaimation of the ancient homeland leads to war and madness.
• Azog (Manu Bennett): A fearsome orc chieftain and a primary antagonist driven by vengeance against Thorin’s lineage.
• Bard (Luke Evans): A skilled archer and leader of men who becomes instrumental in the defense of Dale and Laketown.
• Thranduil (Lee Pace): The Elvenking of Mirkwood, whose aloofness and desire for wealth complicate the war.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Bilbo Baggins: “One day I’ll remember. Remember everything that happened: the good, the bad, those who survived… and those that did not.” – Bilbo reflects on the experiences and losses of the journey.
• Thorin: “I will not part with a single coin, not one piece of it!” – Thorin’s dragon sickness takes hold, and he refuses to honor his promises.
• Gandalf: “The world is not in your books and maps. It’s out there.” – Gandalf encourages Bilbo to embrace adventure.
• Bilbo Baggins: “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – Bilbo expresses his wisdom regarding the true values in life.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $250,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $255,138,261
• Worldwide Gross: $962,253,946

💥 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘Battle of the Five Armies’ was a wild ride! The action was non-stop, and seeing Thorin finally face Azog was intense. I definitely felt the weight of the deaths, even if the love story felt a bit forced. The ending with Bilbo back in the Shire always gets me, though. It’s a bittersweet goodbye to Middle-earth. I give it a solid 8/10, but they could have kept some things from the books, like the funeral.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the Lord of the Rings trilogy”
  • “Viewers who enjoy epic fantasy battles”
  • “Those interested in stories about greed, sacrifice, and redemption”
  • “Anyone looking for a visually stunning film experience”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense battle violence”
  • “Death of major characters”
  • “Scenes of grief and mourning”
  • “Some frightening imagery”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While bloated with CGI and lacking the charm of its predecessors, ‘The Battle of the Five Armies’ delivers a satisfying, if somewhat exhausting, conclusion to the Hobbit trilogy. The action is relentless, and the performances are solid, but the film ultimately feels more like a spectacle than a story.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “The sheer scale of the battle is impressive, but the emotional resonance is lacking. ‘The Battle of the Five Armies’ is a visually stunning but narratively thin finale, prioritizing spectacle over substance, which is typical of this trilogy. Some new stuff is added and the old things are changed, with a weird result.
• Empire Magazine: “A rousing and visually arresting end to the Hobbit saga, ‘The Battle of the Five Armies’ delivers thrilling action and emotional closure, even if it occasionally gets bogged down in its own epic scope. Overall, this film still has some magic.

Audience Reactions

The battle sequences are visually stunning and packed with action.: The grand scale of the battle and the special effects were incredible.

Richard Armitage’s performance as Thorin is a standout.: His portrayal of Thorin’s descent into madness is captivating and heartbreaking.

Overall Consensus: A visually impressive but uneven conclusion to the Hobbit trilogy, ‘The Battle of the Five Armies’ delivers thrilling action but lacks the emotional depth and narrative coherence of the Lord of the Rings films.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This is the last movie featuring legendary screen actor Sir Christopher Lee (Saruman the White) to be completed and released before his death on June 7, 2015.”
• “The Extended Edition Blu-ray contains twenty minutes of additional footage, including more graphic violence, increasing the run-time to 164 minutes and earning it an R rating.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies?

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is available to rent or buy on platforms like Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. Check your local listings for potential availability on streaming services, but it is generally not included in standard subscription packages. Physical copies, including Blu-ray and DVD, can be purchased from major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, you might like these similar films:

• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): Direct continuation of the same saga, featuring grand battles and the resolution of a long-standing conflict.
• Kingdom of Heaven (2005): Features large-scale medieval battles and explores themes of honor, duty, and sacrifice during times of war and political intrigue.
• Clash of the Titans (1981): An era-specific fantasy film with mythical creatures, gods, and a hero’s journey against overwhelming odds.
• Avengers: Endgame (2019): A modern epic that brings together multiple factions to confront a powerful enemy in a large-scale battle, with emotional character arcs and sacrifice.
• Excalibur (1981): A dark fantasy cult classic based on Arthurian legends, featuring knights, magic, and epic battles for the fate of a kingdom.

🛒 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Related Products

• The Hobbit: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended Edition) [Blu-ray]: Experience the complete Hobbit saga with extended scenes and bonus content, perfect for immersing yourself in Middle-earth.
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – The Video Game: Embark on an interactive adventure, reliving the events of the first film with engaging gameplay and iconic characters.
• The Art of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: A beautifully illustrated book showcasing the concept art, designs, and behind-the-scenes secrets of the film’s production.
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – Collector’s Edition Statue: High-quality collectible statue depicting a key moment from the final battle, perfect for displaying your love for Middle-earth.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Last Goodbye” – performed by Billy Boyd
• “Ironfoot” – performed by Howard Shore
• “Mithril” – performed by Howard Shore

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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Ever wondered how they got that genuine surprise from the actors in The Hobbit? Check out this video to find out!

The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies [ strategies and tactics in the book ]

Looking for an in-depth exploration of the differences between the book and movie versions of The Hobbit? This video delivers!

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