The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies Review *Spoilers*

 Peter Jackson has put together a trilogy. The Hobbit, Tolkien's shortest book has been split into three films: The Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, and the newly released The Battle of Five Armies. Most critics have claimed that this story could have been just two movies and that this conclusion is almost pointless. Those who have read my blog know my disposition on The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's other works. I have made clear my concerns about the Norse mythology resurgancy he started and the magick elements. The Battle of the Five Armies confirms my concerns and even does something I thought I would never see. But first, I shall break this post into three part, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

THE GOOD

I shall start with the good. In this final chapter there are moments that will move any Christian. The story of how greed and love of money corrupts will resonate with many. The ideal of loyalty, that no matter how bad it gets, people stay true to one another is exmplified in Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield's relationship. I was thrilled that Thorin has returned to his Unexpected self, with the excpetion of his dragon sickness moments. The battles were brillantly done. The scale and scenery felt the most like the battles of Middle Earth seen in the LOTR Trilogy. I particularly liked the Bard, who behaves like a true leader who thinks of others first and risks everything to save strangers and kin alike.

Finally I must come to Thorin Oakenshield. Richard Armitage does his best acting in this installment. Rather than a stone hearted ruler under the mountain, Thorin has a thorn in his side; the recoquest of Erebor and the treasure within has turned him mad like his grandfather Thror. Thorin's transition from tem[per to tenderness does not feel forced or seem bi polar. He is wrestling with his demons and his decision to defeat them and become Oakenshield again is inspiring.

The fight scenes are well done. I particularly liked the duel between Thorin and Azog on the ice. Very few Medievalesque films have one on one duels anymore that you can tack with your eyes.

The final scenes of old Bilbo ruminating as he holds the One Ring and then greets Gandalf (a scene that is identical to The Fellowship of the Ring scene, but from another pespective) was a genius segway and transition into The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

THE BAD

Within twenty mintues, Smaug is slain. This felt anticlimatic. Smaug doesn't get to scorch and scurry the people of Laketown for very long before the Bard exploits his weak point. This is where a plot hole ensues. The Bard is never informed about Smaug's missing scale, and thus the scene unfolds with the Bard using his son's shoulder to shot the black arrow into Smaug's underbelly and thus undoing the fire drake who flies into the sky and then falls.

Too many scenes are dedicated to tertiary character than Albert, who basically is Wormtounge of The Hobbit. He is coward and displays the characteristic selfishness of a corrupt servant. At one point he cross dresses as old woman to avoid fighting, which is just shameful and frankly not humorious at all.

THE UGLY

This is where I dedicate most of my effort to explain. The first ugly moment is when Gandalf is being rescued by the White Council: Elrond, Galadriel, and Saruman come to save Mithrander. The White Council confronts the Nazgul or Black Riders before they take flesh form. The result is fireworks show of black and white magic. Saruman uses his staff to disbatch the demonic Ring wraiths. But most startling is when Galadriel confronts Sauron. Sauron appears in the flaming eye, and from it the armored behemoth of black magic begins speaking in his demonic voice. Galadriel rises up, his spirit side green like the freaky version of herself in The Fellowship of the Ring (the Mirrior Scene) and the two spirits of White and Black magic confront each other. This confirms what I shared in post called "The Truth About The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Star Wars." That post shared how a former white witch said that black magick users and white magick users like her do battle one another and the place in the spirit realm they contest each other is called middle earth. If you watch the scene of Galadriel versus Sauron, both are creepy, Sauron expousing how no light can stand against the darkness and Galadriel showing a Nymph/Sprite version of heself that is green in hue (which is the color of the undead and Celtic spiritism). The scene has both Sauron and Galadriel chanting against each other and any white witch or black magic warlock would recongize it as legitament white and black scorcery! This scene alone is why I do not recommend the film. But there is one more finding that shocked me. 

             Galadriel versus Sauron

During the actual battle of five armies at the last act of the film, there is a scene that is subtle, but subersive towards Christianity! When Azog The Defiler (The Pale White Orc) is standing on this rampart above the Lonely Mountain directing his armies, flag like sails made of windmill like material rise. One of them that rises behind him is in the shape of a cross! The design is the cross formee, which is french. I was astounded that the Orcs, the enemy and evil ones have the cross as the symbol! This is when I realized that The Hobbit Battle of Five Armies is subtlely endorsing Norse Mythology, Black and White Magick, and Nihilism (no afterlife is alluded to in the film). But Christianity is appears in symbol behind the sinister one and thus the purpose of the filmakers is evident; they wish to create in people's minds that Christianity is wicked and against high society and cullture. This is shame because J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit, was professed devote Catholic Christian. But Hollywood never wastes a chance to undermine the Christian faith.

     Azog The Defiler (not the scene) 

The third ugly moment is when Thorin talks with Bilbo and becomes posessesd by his gold lust. He speaks in distubingly demonic tone and says he will not part with one piece of gold. Granted, Thorin does redeem himself and this is used to identify that he is going insane, but it sounds like the voice of the gods in the Stargate series who have tone that just has a dark effect on the soul of the listener. 

The Hobbit The Battle of Five Armies is epic that will please action fans, infuriate Tolkien purists, and please many of the undestanding fans. But from a faith prespective, I can not endorse this film. The scene of Black and White Magick is disturbing. Nothing in the film can redeem the scene of the cross appearing behind Azog. I recommend every Christian stay clear of The Battle of Five Armies. Save your money. If you absolutely have to see it, pray before hand and be praying under your breath during the scenes I mentioned. Otherwise the witchcraft could have negative effect on those not aware.