Epic battles compensate for perfunctory dialogue, narrative bloat in last 'Hobbit'

"Lord of the Rings" fans can rejoice!

"The Battle of the Five Armies" ranks as the best segment in Peter Jackson's second trilogy based on the Middle-earth literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Wait a minute.

Now that I think about it, that's hardly a monumental achievement.

After being mired in the Shire during "An Unexpected Journey," then laggin' with the dragon during "The Desolation of Smaug," we get treated to a psychologically denser, more visceral, more rapidly paced adventure in "The Battle of the Five Armies."

But we also become subjected to one of the most perfunctory and dumbed-down screenplays ever to invade the fantasy film world.

This script, attributed to four writers, comes riddled with monosyllabic imperatives ("Send in the war beasts!" and "Slay them!"), hissing threats ("Leave Sauron to me!") and ponderous, expository observations ("The battle for the mountain is about to begin!" Gandalf announces, right before the battle for the mountain begins).

"The Battle of the Five Armies" takes up moments after "The Desolation of Smaug" ends, with the titular dragon (again voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) off to see the wizard and everyone else in the city of Lake-town, targeted for fiery destruction in retribution for helping Bilbo Baggins and his buds invade his golden lair.

This impressive, action-packed opening sequence gives way to an even more violent and frightening conflict as various groups descend upon Erebor's mountain, intent upon laying claim to its vast, golden riches.

Already inside the mountain with his followers, dwarf Prince Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage, executing the film's best, most layered character) lays claim to Erebor's throne, then slowly succumbs to a precious lust for wealth, a condition that destroys thought and threatens his sanity.

Soon, other groups show up with eyes on sharing the spoils: the Bard of Bowman (Luke Evans) leading Lake-town survivors; General Dain Ironfoot (Billy Connolly) leading the Iron Hills dwarves; King Thranduil (Lee Pace) leading woodland elves, and several others.

Following the axiom "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," "Five Armies" uses those vicious CGI Orcs to unite the other armies and set the stage for a massive assault sequence of the size and scope we've come to expect from a Jackson thriller.

Along the way, we get updates on the interracial romance between archer elf Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) and dwarf Kili (Aidan Turner), the exploits of Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) and Bilbo (Martin Freeman), who sits out most of this movie on the narrative sidelines.

"Battle of the Five Armies" is mandatory viewing for all LOTR fans, regardless of its relative strengths and weaknesses.

After 13 years and two Middle-earth trilogies, Jackson goes out with a bang, a combustible visual mix resembling a violent video game that could use one or two more edit sessions. (Not a surprise, given that Jackson squeezed three movies out of Tolkien's relatively thin 1937 novel.)

At the conclusion of "The Battle of the Five Armies," a wizard and a hobbit sit quietly together as a majestic sun sets over the distant mountains.

This wordless moment of shared understanding makes the perfect final image to bring Jackson's impressive epic saga to a close.

And it would be, if not for the three extra endings that come after it.

“The Hobbit: Five Armies”

★ ★ ½

Starring: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Evangeline Lilly, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Ian Holm

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Other: A Warner Bros. release. Rated PG-13 for violence. 144 minutes