The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Following Smaug's attack on Laketown, Bilbo and the dwarves try to defend Erebor's mountain of treasure from others who claim it: the men of the ruined Laketown and the elves of Mirkwood. Meanwhile an army of Orcs led by Azog the Defiler is marching on Erebor, fueled by the rise of the dark lord Sauron. Dwarves, elves and men must unite, and the hope for Middle-Earth falls into Bilbo's hands.
Critics Sentiment
Smaug sets Laketown ablaze in a spectacular opening
Martin Freeman delivers the film's first humorous moment
The film's most dramatic shift occurs from the prolonged setup and talking sequences around the 40-minute mark to the emotional climax of Thorin's sacrifice, rising nearly 2 points as the action intensifies.
Critics found the film strongest in its spectacular opening with Smaug's attack and its emotional climax featuring Thorin's character arc and death. The middle sections suffered from pacing issues and too much exposition, but the battle sequences and character resolutions provided satisfying closure to the trilogy despite some feeling it was unnecessarily stretched from the source material.
Full cast
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Ian McKellen
Gandalf the Grey
Martin Freeman
Bilbo Baggins
Richard Armitage
Thorin Oakenshield
Orlando Bloom
Legolas
Evangeline Lilly
Tauriel
Luke Evans
Bard
Lee Pace
King Thranduil
Benedict Cumberbatch
Smaug / Sauron (voice)
Ken Stott
Balin
Aidan Turner
Kili
Dean O'Gorman
Fili
Billy Connolly
Dain Ironfoot
Graham McTavish
Dwalin
James Nesbitt
Bofur
Stephen Fry
Master of Laketown
Ryan Gage
Alfrid
Cate Blanchett
Galadriel
Ian Holm
Old Bilbo Baggins
Christopher Lee
Saruman the White
Hugo Weaving
Elrond
Crew
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