J.R. R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is a 320 page children’s book, but in the hands of director Peter Jackson —a filmmaker with a penchant for Tolkien film adaptations running about almost three hours each— “The Hobbit” has been transformed into three separate movies (the original plan was to make two movies). Now the final movie in what has become a six-part Tolkien “The Lord Of The Rings” saga is coming to a close (unless Jackson decides to make “The Silmarillion” or make a version for dinner theater). And so a new trailer, a zillion new photos, banners and posters for "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" have arrived.
While no running time has been confirmed yet, one might assume we’re looking at three hours, since the film will have two main storylines to contend with: finishing the Dwarf business with Smaug the dragon and the following war encompassing much of Middle-Earth. But in a recent interview with USA Today, Jackson said this movie is his favorite of the three and says it moves quicker than the other ‘Hobbit’ movies, like a thriller. "I haven’t made a film quite like this," Jackson said. "It’s my’ All the President’s Men‘ —or the closest I’m ever going to get." We hope that’s Kiwki humor we don’t quite understand. "[Five Armies] doesn’t have any of that," Jackson said of all the to and fro traveling that has marked most of the series. "Everybody’s where they need to be, there’s no new characters, all cards are on the table."
Here’s the official synopsis:
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.
Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain.
As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.
Starring the usual bunch: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom and probably a bunch of cameos from “The Lord Of The Rings” for good measure—oh god, think of the codas on top of denouements. The final chapter in the ‘Hobbit’ trilogy hits theaters on December 17. Let’s hope they can manage to tell it in less than four hours. We’ll see. Enjoy the latest trailer which is mercifully less than three minutes long.
