Books to Movies: The Battle of the Five Armies, Boring War Bits, and How to Make a Scene Memorable

"The Gathering of the Clouds"

The politics of Thorin being unwilling to open up his property to suddenly needy neighbors is very intelligent. Does he owe Bard? Yes. Does he owe the Elvenking? Not really but Bilbo is right that there is plenty to go around. Is he afraid of exposing himself up to scavengers when his own position is still insecure? Yes. 

 

Thorin has legitimate fears though his obsession and refusal to negotiate (Bard is being entirely rational) doesn't help matters. It's very smart writing, and Jackson--using Tolkien's material almost directly--prepares us for Thorin's intransigence. He also gives Thorin relatively strong arguments--"Why should we barter our birthright?"--while still underscoring Thorin's mistakes. Richard Armitage as Thorin and Luke Evans as Bard are two of the strongest characters in the two trilogies, and their exchange at the gate of Erebor is impressive.

 

The book does use more lore and mythic tropes in this section, such as talking birds. Jackson was wise not to. Again, set-up equals pay-off. Once you've got one talking bird...

 

Even Jackson's eagles don't talk, which I've always rather liked: they are forces of nature, not partners.

 

"The Clouds Burst"

 

is the war chapter. One chapter! In the movie, it is nearly 40 minutes long. I don't see the point. 

 

I've said it before, I'll say it again: the bomb in Die Hard is seriously still the best action sequence in all action movies.

 

One major difference between the book and movie--other than the length of the battle sequences--is that Bilbo in the book observes but doesn't participate. In the movie, he gets to the top of Ravenhill to warn Thorin and is present when Thorin is killed (as well as Kili and Fili). It's actual a decent pay-off for Bilbo having the ring, so I approve, even if the war sequence is way too long. 

Granted, the final scene and lines between Thorin and Bilbo are fantastic and memorable in both book and movie. 

I will maintain, however, that they would be more memorable if the battle sequences didn't go on QUITE so long and if so many deaths weren't already piling up. Thorin and Bilbo by this point are competing with Fili and Kili's deaths. 

 

In the book, those deaths are mentioned, but herein lies the conundrum of film. In the book, the brothers die and we can feel sad but in a distant sort of way. In the movie, we have learned to care about Kili and Fili for themselves (and needed to). Subsequently, their deaths in the movie might have overshadowed Thorin's if not for the impressive acting of the leads.

 

It's the same problem as Bilbo leaving the Mountain. Has the scene been given enough weight? Too much? 

 

The battle sequences in Five Armies seem rather like video game sequences. This, then this, then this, then this. There's so many "astonishing" moments when really, there should be three: 

• Thorin emerging with his group from the Mountain
• The eagles
• Thorin's death.

Eliminating all the extra-special astonishing moments helps the one or two important astonishing moments shine!

 

In fairness, I find war sequences boring in general. I prefer war movies like The Guns of Navarone that are about getting to the object. The first half of the Five Armies movie is quite good and captivating. From that point on, I start to do things like clean my nails and feed my cats. However, since I don't find war sequences-or the game of Risk--that engaging, it isn't entirely fair for me to assess them.