Blog Entry #5

Movie: The Hobbit Battle of Five Armies

Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVAgTiBrrDA

Fanonian Perspectives

(1) (2) (4) (6) (7) (8) (10) (11)

Summary and Relation to Fanonian Perspectives:

Bilbo and the Dwarves watch from the Lonely Mountain as the dragon Smaug sets Laketown ablaze (16) This is reflective of when foreigners come from another country and impose their rule due to their superior power. Bard the Bowman breaks out of prison, and eventually kills Smaug with the black arrow brought to him by his son Bain (1) (2) (7) (8) the death of Smaug the “oppressor” is reflective of many Fanonian themes mainly that the “foreigner must leave” and this is brought about by the initiation of violence after which “the last becomes first” and the colonized (towns people” become free. Smaug's falling body crushes the fleeing Master of Laketown, who was escaping Laketown on a boat laden with the town's gold. Bard reluctantly becomes the new leader of the people of Laketown, as they seek refuge in the ruins of Dale, while Legolas travels to investigate Mount Gundabad with Tauriel. Thorin, now struck with "dragon sickness" over the vast treasure in the mountain, searches obsessively for the Arkenstone, which Bilbo had previously found but kept hidden. Thorin, hearing that Laketown survivors have fled to Dale, orders the entrance of the Lonely Mountain sealed off (10) (11) this instance is directly linked to major Fanonian perspective whereby persons who unite against a common enemy for the betterment of themselves (the dwarves and the town’s people with their common enemy being Smaug) become self-absorbed an narrowminded taking the place of the colonizer and putting forward their self-interest before to collective benefit of the united nation. The system of colonialism is continued as the affluent members of the prior colonized nation take the place of the former colonizer, in this case Thorin after the death of Smaug took his place as the oppressor condemning the others for his selfishness. 

Meanwhile, Galadriel, Elrond and Saruman arrive at Dol Guldur and free Gandalf, sending him to safety with Radagast. They battle and defeat the Nazgûl and Sauron himself, banishing them to the East. Azog, marching on Erebor with his vast Orc army, sends Bolg to Gundabad to summon their second army. Legolas and Tauriel witness the march of Bolg's army, bolstered by Orc Berserkers and giant bats. Thranduil and an elf army arrive in Dale and form an alliance with Bard in order to re-claim white gems that are part of the Mountain treasure (1) (4) (6) reflective of the perspectives relating to the idea of unity is needed in order to succeed. Bard goes to the mountain and asks Thorin for the share of gold that he had previously promised the people of Laketown, but Thorin refuses (10) (11) this again directly relates to the perspective that 1 after achieving what both parties were fighting for one party becomes selfish and takes the place of the colonizer hence continuing the colonial regime and 2 that of “after decolonization, nationalism (unity) quickly shifts to ultranationalism” and “the divisions become more important as they are fighting for the bread crumbs left by the colonizer” the dwarves are willing to fight in order to keep the riches Smaug left. Gandalf arrives at Dale to warn Bard and Thranduil of the threat posed by Azog, but Thranduil dismisses him. Bilbo sneaks out of Erebor to hand the Arkenstone over to Thranduil and Bard, so that they can trade it for the gems and gold they were promised and prevent a battle. When Bard and Thranduil's armies gather at the gates of Erebor, offering to trade the Arkenstone for the Elven white gems and the portion of gold promised Laketown survivors, Thorin angrily refuses to believe they have the Arkenstone until Bilbo admits giving it away and chides Thorin for letting greed cloud his judgement. Outraged by what he sees as betrayal, Thorin nearly kills Bilbo, but Gandalf arrives at the gate and shames Thorin into releasing Bilbo. Thorin's cousin Dáin arrives with his Dwarf army, and a battle of Dwarves against Elves and Men begins, with the Elves and Men having a significant advantage. Wereworms emerge from the ground, releasing Azog's army from their tunnels. With the Orcs outnumbering Dáin's army, Thranduil and Bard's forces, along with Gandalf and Bilbo, join the battle (1) (2) again reflective of the perspective that persons must unite in order to defeat a common enemy. However, a second front is opened when many Orcs, Ogres, and Trolls attack Dale.

Inside Erebor, Thorin suffers traumatic hallucinations before regaining his sanity and leading his company to join the battle. He rides towards Ravenhill with Dwalin, Fíli and Kíli to kill Azog; Bilbo follows them using the One Ring to through the combat unseen. Meanwhile, Tauriel leaves with Legolas following her to warn the Dwarves of Bolg's approaching army. Fíli and Kíli are cornered. Azog kills Fíli, as Bilbo and the other Dwarves look on. As Thorin engages Azog in a fight to the death, Bolg knocks Bilbo unconscious, overpowers Tauriel and then kills Kíli, who had come to her aid. Legolas battles Bolg and eventually kills him. Thorin kills Azog (2) Thorin would find his freedom and the freedom for his people though violence it was the “cleansing force that restores his self-esteem), but is fatally wounded in the process. The Great Eagles then arrive with Radagast and Beorn to fight the newly arriving Orc army, and the Orcs are finally defeated. Bilbo regains consciousness and makes peace with Thorin before he dies. Tauriel mourns Kili and Thranduil acknowledges their love. Legolas then tells Thranduil he must leave, and Thranduil advises him to seek out a Dunedain ranger in the north who goes by the name "Strider". Thorin, Fíli and Kíli are respectfully laid to rest and Dáin is crowned King under the Mountain.

Bilbo bids farewell to the remaining members of Thorin's company and journeys home to the Shire with Gandalf. As the two part ways on the outskirts of the Shire, Gandalf admits his knowledge of Bilbo's ring and warns him that magic rings are not to be used lightly. Bilbo returns to Bag End to find his belongings being auctioned off by his least favourite relatives, the Sackville-Bagginses, because he was presumed dead. He aborts the sale, but finds his home pillaged. He starts to tidy up and takes the Ring out of his pocket.

Sixty years later, on his 111th birthday, Bilbo receives a visit from Gandalf, initiating the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Reference Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit:_The_Battle_of_the_Five_Armies