The Hobbit: The Battle Of Five Armies **½

Peter Jackson directed this Fantasy Adventure. Watch Preview. Cast: Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Martin Freeman, Stephen Fry, Jed Brophy, Christopher Lee, Orlando Bloom, Billy Connolly, James Nesbitt, Ian Holm, Hugo Weaving, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Graham McTavish, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly, Richard Armitage. Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images. Running time is two hours and twenty-four minutes.

The third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece by J.R.R. Tolkien.

This isn't a film I'm going to remember for long. It's very well made, has spectacular computer graphics and a very competent and talented cast. What it lacks is a story. That's to be expected since Jackson has turned a relatively small novel into three epic sized films; you've already seem most of the plot in the earlier releases. It's been long enough since the last one that I found myself struggling to remember just who the characters were. That turned out to be not much of a problem since the only thing you need to know is this is a bunch who really likes to fight. And fight they do, for two and a half hours. Tolkien fans and those who really, really like screen violence should find this a film to see. The rest will find this forgettable as soon as you leave the theatre. I saw this in 3D IMAX and found the screen quality excellent, as usual.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. If you're going to see this it should definitely be on a large screen. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. HFR 3D Times. 3D IMAX Times.