13 Problems That Almost Ruin The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies
8. The Anti-Capitalist Message
Tolkeins entire Middle Earth world was very much impregnated with an anti-industrial message: Saurons plundering of the land for his own gains and his new war techniques stood in contrast with the nature-loving armies of elves, dwarves and men. Very basically, its all a hippy fantasy, and it worked marvellously, including in the Lord Of The Rings films. Unfortunately, perhaps because Jackson wanted to over-sell the politicised message of the Hobbit (the dangers of greed and capitalism) the undercurrent makes way for sledge-hammer obvious preaching. Thorins nightmare sequence where he battles with his thirst for gold is aesthetically pleasing, but at times it feels like some of the characters should have been been holding placards in support of some Occupy Middle Earth protest. Subtle, it really isnt.
