The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies - 10 Reasons It's A Great Adaptation

6. Thorin's Personal Journey

The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies truly is Richard Armitage's film. In the book, Thorin's madness and fall from grace make for a tragic conclusion to the story. In this film Thorin likewise goes through that huge personal - and destructive - journey. From a king consumed by dragon sickness, to his rallying of the dwarves at the gates of Erebor and his final battle with Azog, this is the film that proves why Armitage was chosen for the role. If Bard is the Aragron of this film, then Thorin is Boromir - a man consumed by the duty and power who tries to do the right thing and ultimately falls. His scenes with Bilbo and Dwalin convey the madness the mountain has on him, but Armitage delivers it in a way that makes you feel sympathy for him despite the foolish decision he makes. His final scene, dying before Bilbo, humbly begging for forgiveness, is beautifully acted and brings the relationship full circle. Before this film, none of the dwarves had yet matched the wonder of John Rhys-Davies's Gimli, but in The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, Richard Armitage took the crown.