Directed by Peter Jackson, this film is the final one in the “Hobbit” series.

    It picks up where “Desolation of Smaug” leaves off. The dragon is hurtling down* towards Laketown, Thorin Oakenshield is getting a little anxious down in the treasure hoard*, and Gandalf is swinging gently in the breeze in an iron cage in Sauron’s destroyed castle.

    Almost immediately, we are drawn to the battle scene, as Smaug breathes fire, laying waste to Laketown and forcing the people to run for their lives, until taken out by iron-arrowed Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans). Thorin (played by Richard Armitage), meanwhile, is succumbing to* what is called “dragon sickness” — a hunger for gold that causes him to lose his dignity* and sense of honor. Another concurrent* plot sees Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee and Hugo Weaving turn up like some kind of superhero team to see off* Sauron.

    As for Bilbo Baggins — well, he doesn’t have a whole lot to do. Martin Freeman is as likeably careworn* as ever in the part, but as Jackson pushes events towards the huge confrontation* signaled from the beginning, it is clear that Thorin is the film’s key character. Bilbo has a couple of errands to run*, a ring to fiddle about with, but not much else — and certainly not much in the way of fighting.

    Jackson has concentrated his cinematic fire on the clang of swordplay and the roar of battle.

    This film is a fitting cap to a long series that, if nothing else, has changed original author Tolkien’s place in the culture. His books were once strictly for teen nerds*.

    While this film is unlikely to repeat the Oscar sweep that greeted the conclusion of Jackson’s first Tolkien trilogy, in truth it is just as enjoyable as each of the five films that came before it. (SD-Agencies)