Prepare to get teary, Tolkien fans. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens tomorrow and it’s the last film in Middle Earth for the foreseeable future (until Peter Jackson inevitably makes The Silmarillion, as many fans believe he will).
We have been immersed in this world for more than a decade. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings first premiered in 2001, bringing J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world to life in a majestic way. It ushered in a new wave of fans (myself included), and awed those who had been Tolkien fans for years. Jackson’s first trilogy in Middle Earth amazed critics, with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King sweeping at the 2004 Oscars.
It’s unlikely that the final film in The Hobbit trilogy will have a repeat performance at the Oscars next year. On the whole, The Hobbit trilogy is not as highly regarded as Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, but there’s still something to be said for the legacy he’s created. Jackson’s vision made Middle Earth come to life in a way no one could have predicted. He created a new standard for film-making – one that is still highly regarded today.
Fans will not be the only ones saying goodbye to Middle Earth this year. The cast and crew worked tirelessly in New Zealand to make these films a reality and they will also be saying goodbye. Touching on that, Warner Bros. Pictures released a short featurette with Peter Jackson and members of the cast saying what they’ll miss most about these films. We are all leaving Middle Earth, whether or not we’re ready.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, directed by Peter Jackson, comes out tomorrow and stars Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Evangline Lilly, Lee Pace, Orlando Bloom, Luke Evans, Cate Blanchett, Aidan Turner, Christopher Lee, and Graham McTavish.
What will you miss most about Middle Earth? What are some of your favorite memories of these films? Let us know in the comments!
