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Created Dec 26, 2014 06:02PM PST • Edited May 26, 2019 05:24PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

   Middle-earth makes its final cinematic appearance in the richly satisfying conclusion to The Hobbit trilogy, putting paid to Peter Jackson’s once controversial decision to turn J.R.R. Tolkien’s slim novel into a three movie series. Nothing sparse about this finale, that’s for sure.

   In fact, it’s almost as overwhelming as Hobbit 2: The Desolation of Smaug, mostly due to being somewhat of a forced march, what with the assembling of the five armies and all. OTOH, it’s a rich benediction for the Hobbit series, and for our cinematic encounters with Middle-earth in general, which began 13 years ago. Then in a bit of pretzel-logic, it ends as a precursor to the first Lord of the Rings. About that last, newbies should watch the Hobbit trilogy before watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

   Even a lukewarm fantasy fan like me can get happily lost in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Jackson’s channeling of Tolkien’s fable transcends genre, becoming a magical moviegoing experience whose like we’ll not experience again soon.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   The characters have deepened over the course of three movies, as has our relationship with the actors who play them. Thus it’s a succession of warm reunions as members of the huge cast appear over the course of this long movie. Having touched on most cast members when reviewing The Desolation of Smaug and the first Hobbit, I’ll comment here on two previously slighted actors and one who’s come into his own.

   Martin Freeman & Richard Armitage have grown into their roles as the Hobbit and the King. Freeman’s wizened expressions and deftly played subterfuge are affecting and critical to the movie’s success. Armitage’s crazed King is believably, albeit subtly, off his rocker. Bravo to both!

   Luke Evans jumped off screen in the previous installment and dominates the first reel of this one, going on to establish himself as a swashbuckler in the mold of Viggo Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings. This guy deserves to be a major moviestar.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

8. Male Costars Really Great 4.5

10. Film

    Really Great 4.5

    Peter Jackson, we’re (still) not worthy. Not only are we lucky you decided to make The Hobbit into a trilogy, we owe you an apology for originally dissing the decision.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Really Great 4.5

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

    This is one of the more brutal Middle-earth movies, even if most of the extensive battle violence is absurdly bloodless. Not all is bloodless however. Plus, heads are lopped off and the orcs are scary monsters indeed. Beware bringing little ones to see this movie.

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Brutal 3.1

19. Rudeness Salty 1.7

21. Reality

    Supernatural 3.7

    Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth movies are gleefully supernatural celebrations of modern moviemaking magic. How does he do it? More computing horsepower than NASA and more visual artists, CG artists and every other kind of FX artist than you can shake a stick at.

    For more, please see my Desolation of Smaug reality commentary.

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.8

23. Biological Fantasy 5.0

24. Physical Supernatural 3.2