The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies - Extended Edition

Director Peter Jackson's epic Oscar� Winning "Lord of the Rings" Trilogy was a monolith in filmmaking. The original series based on the classic J.R.R. Tolkien series of books, many never imagined that the entire series would ever be made into a full-length feature, much less a lucrative effort. So when after giving himself some time to catch his breath, many of his fans couldn't believe the news when Jackson revealed that he would return once again to Middle-Earth.

Finally bookending his series of films, the final installment "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" - Extended Edition bridges the two film series and fills in the plot lines setting up for the war that would end all wars. Though many critics felt that it was the studio that forcedly suggested to the filmmaker that he should extend the tale of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) into a three-film narrative to compete with his original, this chapter in the series marks its completion.

Coupled from many of Tolkien's notes and detailed elaborations on his Middle-Earth characters, the film opens with man vanquishing the epic tyranny of the elemental dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) and sets up the main players destined to confront the greatest evil ever faced by the inhabitants of Middle-Earth as Sauron's armies begin their efforts to destroy everything in their path.

Richard Armitage is the catalyst as the King Under the Mountain, Thorin Oakenshield who is succumbing to a dangerous thirst for conquest and greed in search of the Arkenstone, a treasure of the Dwarvish nation. Bilbo must help save his friend, unite the forces of Middle-Earth against the real threat of a massive army of Orcs that are descending upon the mountain. How there could be any more movie to add to this already lengthy adventure is remarkable.

What Jackson manages to achieve with his more than additional 20 minutes of footage, is fill out character nuances and flesh out scenes that add color and texture to the final film. At a whopping 164 minutes "The Battle of the Five Armies" is an investment, but with its sweeping vistas, elaborate battle sequences and exceptional lyrical script, this is a battle worth waging and completes Peter Jackson's masterpiece wonderfully.

Loaded with more than nine hours of bonus features the three-disc Blu-ray set has the "extended film" with commentary from the filmmakers that will enchant fans and behind-the-scenes buffs. Disc Two also adds to Jackson's "Appendices" which chronicle his own personal journey to bring "The Hobbit" to life and how digital effects brought the Five Armies to the battlefield. An additional bonus feature details the final moments and effort to bringing Middle-Earth full circle.

"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" - Extended Edition
available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD download.
$34.99
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