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

9. ...But Also Stays True To The Book Too

Bilbo actually sits out much of the battle and surprisingly - for all the giant worms, bats, orcs, elves and dwarves - so does the audience. After the thrilling assault on Dale, told through the emotional viewpoint of Bard and his family, the battle turned deeply personal as key characters battled on the frozen towers and hills above the ruined town. When you returned to the epic struggle it was all over, recreating that same moment in the books when Bilbo woke up after being knocked unconscious. Cleverly the focus on key characters - Thorn, Fili and Kil, Legolas and Tauriel, Bilbo and Dwalin - allows their battle against Azog and his son Bolg to feel more personal and yet still feel intense and dramatic at the same time. The frozen river, crumbling towers and falling snow added to the beauty of these final struggles, keeping it removed from the main battle while raising the stakes for these characters further. It was these personal moments that made the end of The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies more than an hour long CGI-blood-fest, staying true to the source material at heart.