THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES (C+)

Bottom Line: Once again lacking the energy, depth and sheer cinematic prowess of its preceding Lord of the Rings trilogy (three books, three movies), this final chapter of The Hobbit series (one book, three movies) inefficiently attempts to wring a few remaining drops of creative juice from a virtually dry sponge.  There’s a definitive pattern at play here where roughly 37 solidly entertaining minutes of each of the three films could have been used to make one impressively epic flick (An Unexpected Desolation of the Five Armies?  …or maybe we just call it The Hobbit and leave it at that).  Either way, this was a sporadically rousing and always bloated exercise in giving a damn.  It’s overly produced, meanderingly mechanical and earnestly unengaging.  When we’re not knee deep in The Real Dwarves of Middle Earth drama, you might favor some of the action scenes – but there’s little else to truly admire…  If you’re invested in this drawn out series it makes sense to take a look – but we've been here and it kinda feels like were going back again and again…and again.  At least this time though it’s the last time.

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly and Orlando Bloom

Directed by: Peter Jackson (THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY)

Rated: PG-13

Running time: 2 hr. 24 min.

Studio description: From Academy Award (R)-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor tohoard it as Bilbo's frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide - unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance. (c) Warner Bros

Official site: www.thehobbit.com