Coming up next we have 2014's conclusion to the Hobbit trilogy. "The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies" brings us to the end of the journey of Bilbo Baggins and his return home after battling orcs, worms, wolves, and other unpleasant things to see the dwarfs returned to Erebor, their homeland.
The film's cast includes Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Dean O'Gorman, Aidan Turner, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, Jed Brophy, Mark Hadlow, Adam Brown, Cate Blanchett, Sylvester McCoy, Lee Pace, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, and Billy Connolly.
The people of Lake-Town are in danger. The dragon Smaug has been awakened and is releasing his fury on their town.
Bard the Bowman faces off with Smaug. "Tell me, wretch, how now shall you challenge me?" comes the dragon's pointed question.
Bard successfully slays Smaug with a black arrow, bringing an end to the terror he had unleashed.
Meanwhile, Gandalf is held a prisoner at the ancient fortress of Dol Goldur. The voice of Galadriel comes to him and comforts him, telling him that he is not alone.
Back at the Lonely Mountain, Thorin Oakenshield has gone in and taken possession of Erebor now that Smaug has been destroyed. Gold fever has taken over his mind, and all of his thoughts are bent on finding the Arkenstone.
Galadriel arrives at Dol Goldur just as Gandalf is being tortured. Galadriel is able to save him, but something very sinister is lurking in the shadows.
Sauron himself makes his presence known, and Elrond and Saruman come to Galadriel's aid.
After getting Gandalf to safety, Galadriel summons every once of strength she has to do battle with Sauron. Unable to take physical form, he is banished by her into the east. Saruman offers to take care of Sauron from there.
As the refugees from Lake-Town pour into the city of Dale on the slopes of Erebor, Thorin greedily cuts himself off from them, refusing to offer them assistance in their time of need. Bilbo shakes his head in sadness.
Elvish King Thranduil arrives and offers aid instead. When Bard offers him thanks, Thranduil says that he desires white gems of pure starlight that are within the mountain, and he prepares his troops to march on Erebor.
Elsewhere, in the ancient Kingdom of Angmar, Legolas and Tauriel discover that not all is as it seems, and a force is gathering in numbers there.
Gandalf, now recovered, joins Thranduil and Bard at Dale, where they discuss what Sauron has been up to. "You started this, Mithrandir. You will forgive me if I finish it," says an upset Thranduil.
Hoping that war can be averted, Bilbo arrives and presents them with the Arkenstone, so that they can use it as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with Thorin.
Matters come to a head at the Lonely Mountain, and war is imminent. Thorin's cousin, Dain Ironfoot, brings a dwarf army to help Thorin keep a hold on Erebor.
The dwarf/elf confrontation is put on hold when Azog the Defiler arrives with an army from a surprising place. Were-worms have tunneled for them and now they are in a prime position to take over everything. It is all out war.
The war is long and hard-fought. Azog and Thorin do battle against one another, and each is the cause of the other's destruction.
After it's all over, Thranduil tells Legolas to go and search out a young ranger, whose father Arathorn was a good man. "His son may be a great one," says Thranduil. (This lets us know how Legolas and Aragorn know each other in The Lord Of The Rings.)
Their quest now over, Bilbo prepares to return home. Before he goes, he bids farewell to the dwarves, and reminds them that they are all welcome at his home should they ever find themselves in the area.
Bilbo is finally able to return home with Gandalf at his side. He's very glad to be back in his hobbit hole.
As the years pass, Bilbo holds the ring that he found in the goblin tunnels, and he prepares to celebrate his 111th birthday (which also leads us right into the first LOTR film).
Cast rundown:
Martin Freeman.................................Bilbo Baggins
Ian McKellen.....................................Gandalf
Richard Armitage...............................Thorin Oakenshield
Ken Stott..........................................Balin
Graham McTavish...............................Dwalin
William Kircher..................................Bifur
James Nesbitt...................................Bofur
Stephen Hunter.................................Bombur
Dean O'Gorman.................................Fili
Hugo Weaving..................................Elrond
Christopher Lee.................................Saruman
Ian Holm.........................................Old Bilbo Baggins
Billy Connolly....................................Dain Ironfoot
And that's it for The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies. When the film was being promoted at San Diego Comic Con, fans camped out overnight at the venue in order to get seats. Actors Andy Serkis (who did not appear in this film) and Lee Pace woke up fans in the middle of the night, gave autographs, and posed for pictures for several hours. Lee Pace, who played King Thranduil, kept his sword after filming wrapped. He housed it in his umbrella stand.
Among the scenes that were deleted from the final cut was this one depicting Thorin's funeral. It's very beautifully done and I think it definitely deserved to be in the final film product.
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