3. Mount Gundabad Ties The Film To The Wider Middle-Earth Mythology
In The Silmarillion, The Witch King of Angmar ruled in the north and raged war against the elves and men; Dúnedain and Gondor both. This is part of the rich history of Middle-Earth that preceded both The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings, retroactively making the wars fought in those movies feel like mere skirmishes. In introducing Gundabad, the orc mountain stronghold at the edge of the ruins of Angmar, Peter Jackson borrowed the rich history of Middle-Earth to elevate the story and tie it into the wider events of The Lord Of The Rings. It was another step in linking in the two trilogies in a satisfying and cohesive way, while also building on the threat of the invading orc army led by Bolg. As the armies marched out of Gundabad, watched by Tauriel and Legolas, you were reminded of Sam and Frodo watching the Witch King of Angmar's armies pour out of Minas Morgul in The Return Of The King. No longer was The Hobbit a mere tale about the quest for lost treasure.