While not a bad film (see the first installment), the 3rd film is just a bit tedious to the end. Unfortunately the trilogy's best character is a dragon (voiceover by the superb Benedict Cumberbatch) and therein lies the problem with the final installment as that story line is taken away in the first half hour. All that remains is a 90 minute "epic" battle that while it had some cool parts (the Elven warriors), I felt John Woo had a part in the ending where Legolas rides a Giant into a stone column to create a bridge to save the girl. There really was not much plot - The Return of the King was a much better movie. The Thorin section in the middle dragged on and on and on...
Unlike the LOTR, the Hobbit never had characters that demanded your attention- despite the lame attempt to create a love story between Elf and Dwarf. I believe Peter Jackson should have hired a Guillermo del Toro type director (who originally was supposed to do LOTR i believe) for the second trilogy and provide a different perspective on middle earth. Jackson created a visual spectacle and succeeded in some parts, but dragging the series to three movies took its toll on moviegoers like myself and the action wasn't all that different from the first trilogy.
I'll give the Five Armies a B, but can't say I want to watch any of the three movies again. Contrast this to LOTR which I watch annually.
KeithR
Unlike the LOTR, the Hobbit never had characters that demanded your attention- despite the lame attempt to create a love story between Elf and Dwarf. I believe Peter Jackson should have hired a Guillermo del Toro type director (who originally was supposed to do LOTR i believe) for the second trilogy and provide a different perspective on middle earth. Jackson created a visual spectacle and succeeded in some parts, but dragging the series to three movies took its toll on moviegoers like myself and the action wasn't all that different from the first trilogy.
I'll give the Five Armies a B, but can't say I want to watch any of the three movies again. Contrast this to LOTR which I watch annually.
KeithR