How the Hobbit 3 the Battle of the Five Armies Concluded Peter Jackson Middle-Earth Saga

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, released in December 2014, represents the final cinematic chapter of Peter Jackson’s ambitious prequel trilogy. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel The Hobbit, this third installment serves as a high-stakes bridge connecting the whimsical adventures of Bilbo Baggins to the epic, world-threatening stakes of The Lord of the Rings. While the film is characterized by its titular massive conflict, it also provides a tragic resolution to the lineage of Durin and the personal growth of a small hobbit from the Shire.

What defines the five armies in the final Hobbit film?

One of the most frequent questions surrounding the climax of the film is the specific composition of the conflicting forces. While Tolkien’s original text and Jackson’s adaptation vary slightly in focus, the cinematic version of the "Five Armies" is a strategic convergence of Middle-earth’s diverse races at the foot of the Lonely Mountain (Erebor).

The forces involved in the battle are:

1. The Dwarves: Specifically the Iron Hills army led by Dáin Ironfoot, who arrives to reinforce Thorin Oakenshield’s company.
2. The Elves: The host of Mirkwood led by King Thranduil, seeking the return of ancestral gems.
3. The Men: The survivors of Lake-town, led by Bard the Bowman, seeking the gold promised to them to rebuild their lives.
4. The Orcs: Two massive legions from Dol Guldur and Mount Gundabad, commanded by Azog the Defiler and his son Bolg.
5. The Great Eagles: Accompanied by Radagast the Brown and Beorn the skin-changer, they serve as the decisive aerial force that turns the tide against the Orcs.

The battle is not merely a brawl over gold; it is a strategic maneuver by the Dark Lord Sauron (operating as the Necromancer) to seize the Lonely Mountain as a northern stronghold for his upcoming war to reclaim the One Ring.

The death of Smaug and the transition to total war

The film opens with a sequence that many expected to see at the end of the second film: the destruction of Lake-town. Smaug, having been driven from Erebor by Thorin’s company, unleashes his fire upon the wooden structures of the city. This sequence serves as a technical showcase for Weta Digital’s CGI, rendering Smaug’s scales and fire with unprecedented detail.

The resolution of the Smaug threat is swift. Bard the Bowman, escaping from a collapsing prison, uses the Black Arrow—a family heirloom—to strike the one weak spot in the dragon’s hide. The death of Smaug creates a power vacuum. With the dragon gone, the immense wealth of the Lonely Mountain is undefended, drawing the attention of every major power in the region. This transition from a "heist" story to a "war" story is what defines the narrative structure of The Hobbit 3.

Why did Thorin Oakenshield succumb to dragon-sickness?

A central psychological theme of the film is "Dragon-sickness," a metaphorical and seemingly supernatural obsession with gold that mirrors the greed of Smaug. As Thorin reclaims his throne as King Under the Mountain, his character shifts from a noble leader to a paranoid recluse.

The film depicts Thorin’s descent through several key symptoms:

• Paranoia: He suspects his own loyal company of dwarves of stealing the Arkenstone.
• Broken Promises: He refuses to honor the agreement made with the people of Lake-town, despite their suffering.
• Isolation: He seals the gates of Erebor, willing to let his kin die in battle rather than part with a single coin.

This internal conflict is resolved through a dream-like sequence in the gold-filled halls of Erebor, where Thorin "drowns" in the floor of gold. His eventual reclamation of his honor—leading the charge out of the mountain to aid Dáin—provides the emotional peak of the film’s first half.

What happened during the attack on Dol Guldur?

While the dwarves and men argue at the gates of Erebor, a secret war occurs in the shadows of Mirkwood. Gandalf the Grey, captured in the previous film, is rescued by the White Council. This subplot is critical because it explains how Sauron was driven back to Mordor before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.

The confrontation features:

• Galadriel: Demonstrating her immense power by banishing the Nazgûl and facing Sauron directly using the Phial of Galadriel (the Light of Eärendil).
• Elrond and Saruman: Engaging the Nine Ringwraiths in physical and magical combat.
• The Necromancer's Reveal: Confirming that the shadow in the forest is indeed Sauron.

Saruman’s declaration that he will "deal with" Sauron is a subtle piece of foreshadowing for his eventual fall and alliance with the Dark Lord in the subsequent trilogy. This sequence was largely expanded from Tolkien’s appendices to provide more weight to the film’s status as a prequel.

The technical achievements of the Battle at Ravenhill

The climax of the film shifts the focus from the main gate of Erebor to Ravenhill, where Thorin, Dwalin, Fili, and Kili attempt a decapitation strike against the Orc command. The production utilized "Massive" software—originally developed for The Lord of the Rings—to simulate thousands of individual combatants, but Ravenhill is where the more intimate, choreographed duels take place.

The duel between Thorin and Azog the Defiler on the frozen lake is a masterclass in tension and environmental storytelling. The use of the ice as a hazard, the heavy weaponry, and the final sacrificial blow by Thorin emphasize the cost of the victory. The deaths of Fili and Kili during this sequence underscore the tragedy of the line of Durin, leaving the throne of Erebor to Dáin Ironfoot.

From "There and Back Again" to "The Battle of the Five Armies"

The film's title underwent a significant change during production. Originally, the third film was to be titled The Hobbit: There and Back Again, echoing the title of Bilbo’s memoir. However, Peter Jackson and the studio felt that as the story was split into three parts instead of two, the title no longer fit a film where the protagonist had already reached his destination (Erebor) by the beginning.

In April 2014, the change was announced. The new title, The Battle of the Five Armies, was chosen to reflect the shift in scale. This decision was somewhat controversial among purists, as it moved the focus away from Bilbo’s journey and toward the tactical conflict. Nevertheless, it accurately described the film’s content, which consists largely of the preparation for and execution of the massive siege.

How the film bridges to The Fellowship of the Ring

The final twenty minutes of the film are dedicated to closing the loop with the 2001 film The Fellowship of the Ring. Several narrative "hooks" are planted:

• Legolas’s Path: Thranduil advises his son to seek out a young Ranger known as "Strider" (Aragorn).
• The Arkenstone and the Ring: Bilbo returns home with the One Ring, a secret he keeps even from Gandalf at the Shire’s borders.
• The 111th Birthday: The film ends with a transition from a young Bilbo (Martin Freeman) looking at his map to an elderly Bilbo (Ian Holm) being visited by Gandalf on his birthday.

These connections ensure that the six-film Middle-earth saga functions as a continuous history, despite being filmed out of chronological order.

Comparing the Theatrical Cut and the Extended Edition

For many enthusiasts, the theatrical version of The Hobbit 3 felt incomplete. The Extended Edition, which adds 20 minutes of footage (bringing the runtime to 164 minutes), offers a significantly different experience.

Key additions in the Extended Edition include:

• The Chariot Race: A frantic sequence involving a goat-drawn chariot on the ice, featuring Balin, Dwalin, Fili, and Kili.
• More Gore: The Extended Edition is rated R in the United States due to increased violence during the battle scenes (specifically involving trolls and decapitations).
• Dáin’s Character: More screen time for Billy Connolly’s Dáin Ironfoot, showing his combat prowess.
• The Funeral: A poignant sequence showing the burial of Thorin, Fili, and Kili, which provides better emotional closure.

The legacy of the Hobbit trilogy finale

Despite mixed critical reviews regarding its heavy reliance on CGI and its departure from the tone of the book, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies was a massive commercial success, grossing over $962 million worldwide. It remains a testament to Peter Jackson's ability to coordinate one of the most complex productions in film history. The film successfully concluded the story of Bilbo Baggins while setting the stage for the epic struggle against Sauron that would follow sixty years later.

Summary of Key Facts

Conclusion

The Hobbit 3 The Battle of the Five Armies is more than just a war film; it is a meditation on greed, honor, and the unexpected courage of the smallest individuals. By expanding the short chapters of Tolkien’s book into a grand cinematic finale, Peter Jackson provided a definitive end to his decade-long journey through Middle-earth. Whether viewed for its massive scale or its character-driven tragedies, the film stands as a monumental conclusion to the prequel trilogy.

FAQ

What are the five armies in The Hobbit 3?

The five armies are the Men of Lake-town, the Elves of Mirkwood, the Dwarves of the Iron Hills, the Orcs of Dol Guldur/Gundabad, and the Great Eagles.

Who dies in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies?

Major characters who perish in the film include Thorin Oakenshield, Fili, Kili, Smaug the dragon, and the antagonists Azog the Defiler and Bolg.

Is there an extended version of The Hobbit 3?

Yes, the Extended Edition adds 20 minutes of footage, including more intense battle sequences and a funeral scene for the fallen dwarves.

How long is the battle scene in The Hobbit 3?

The titular battle occupies a significant portion of the film, with the various stages of the conflict (from the siege of Dale to the fight at Ravenhill) lasting roughly 45 to 60 minutes of the runtime.

Why did the title change from "There and Back Again"?

Director Peter Jackson felt the original title was better suited for a two-film structure. Once the story was expanded into a trilogy, "The Battle of the Five Armies" was deemed more appropriate for a film focused on the war at the Lonely Mountain.