The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) is an epic high fantasy adventure film, directed by Peter Jackson with a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, and Jackson himself. It is based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel of the same name. As Smaug sets Laketown ablaze, Bilbo and the Dwarves watch from the Lonely Mountain. Bard manages to escape from prison and kills the dragon with the help of a black arrow. Smaug’s body crushes both him and his companions who were escaping with the town’s gold on a boat. With Bard as their new leader, the people of Laketown take refuge in the ruins of Dale. Meanwhile, Thorin becomes consumed with finding the Arkenstone that Bilbo had previously discovered and hidden away. He orders for the entrance to be sealed off upon hearing that Laketown survivors have sought shelter in Dale. In another part of Middle Earth, Galadriel, Elrond, and Saruman arrive at Dol Guldur and rescue Gandalf before sending him off to safety with Radagast.

The Nazgûl are conquered, and then they confront a shapeless Sauron. Galadriel expels him and his followers, declaring that he will retreat to the East. Azog, making his way towards Erebor with a massive army of Orcs, commands his son Bolg to gather their second army from Mount Gundabad. Legolas and Tauriel observe Bolg’s army as it is reinforced by berserker Orcs and immense bats. Thranduil and a group of Elves arrive in Dale to reclaim a treasure previously withheld from them by the Dwarf king Thrór. Bard requests Thorin to fulfill his promise of sharing the gold with the people of Laketown, but Thorin stubbornly declines. Gandalf appears in Dale to warn Bard and Thranduil about Azog’s approaching army, but Thranduil disregards his advice. Bilbo cunningly retrieves the Arkenstone from Erebor and hands it over to Thranduil and Bard with the intention of using it as leverage for peace negotiations. However, Thorin angrily rejects their offer, while Bilbo scolds him for allowing greed to cloud his judgement.