The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies - New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth - Part 3

This is a six minute featurette on the Region 2 DVD of Man of Steel(no, you read that right...don't ask me. I guess they had to put *something* on? Well, there is one of the FX that I've reviewed by the name of Krypton Decoded. And a nifty 2 minute 75th anniversary animated short), concerning, yeah, it's there in the overlong title. As I watched this from a copy from my library, I can't say for sure if there's supposed to be another disc to it with more, well, any other, extras, but it didn't come with here. And the cover text doesn't suggest such exist. So, real cheapo, this one. Not even about this. See, this is why special feature hunters should always look carefully what it says about such.

Anyway, it goes into how the country was the only place they could possibly shoot, focusing on Hobbiton: filming it from the air now that that's possible, building and reconstructing sets, how it's really there with no FX enhancements necessary(...no, really. They said this about arguably the most over CG-ed movies in recent memory), the beauty of nature(unintentionally making a strong case for environmentalism, actually respecting nature, you know, crazy notions like protecting what's keeping us alive, if for no other reason than to, y'know, prolong our own existence). It consists of a series of short interviews with crew and cast(some of whom are all but unrecognizable out of make-up, costume and character, clips of the films, behind-the-scenes footage, pre-visualizations, green screen footage, and the effects are further gone through as we see partially complete ones.

There is a nothing objectionable in this. I recommend this to anyone interested in the subject, as it's quite concise and detailed on it. 7/10

The thing I hate most about book adaptations are when they cut your favorite part of a book for the sake of pacing or time. Here in the Hobbit movies there is no fear of that as we took what should have been a little less than 4 hour movie and made it 12 hours long. The original cartoon did this tale in under 3 hours and was completely faithful. It omitted the Grizzly wizard and I believe one other scene from the book. Here and with the other movies we add whatever Peter Jackson wanted to keep out more cash. Most of the action scenes are frankly more cartoony than the cartoon. The love story is pointless and as we have learned with Game of Thrones,when you vere from the source material the end product suffers. There is a fan online that cut the 3 films down to one movie and it's so much better than sitting through all the extra crap. Most of which is pointless, emotionally blah, and a waste. I love the Lord of the Rings films but after watching each of the Hobbit films once I have zero desire to ever do so again.

I've always loved the hobbit since I was a child. This movie is the 3rd in the trilogy, and finishes it beautifully. I was not disappointed at all. Only minor things are different from the book, but it's hardly noticeable. It ties in nicely with the first two of the trilogy, and finishes them with an epicness that's hard to find in many movies. It does have a long play time, but for me that's not a complaint. If you enjoy movies from the fantasy genre, this is one of the best and a must see. I have watched it many times, and am proud to own the blue ray trilogy collection.

This is a nice little love letter to New Zealand, which is the official home of Middle Earth!

Standard talking head stuff, nothing anybody hasn't seen before in the Lord of the Rings extended edition DVD's.

It's fun to watch, not must see viewing, unless you like that sort of thing.

I can confidently say that "The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies - New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth - Part 3" is a must-watch for any fans of the "The Hobbit" trilogy and the "Lord of the Rings" franchise. This documentary takes viewers on a journey to the breathtaking locations in New Zealand where the films were shot, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movies and the incredible effort that went into bringing J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth to life.

One of the highlights of the documentary is the access it provides to the filmmakers and cast members, who share their experiences and insights about the process of adapting such a beloved and complex story for the big screen. The film crew's dedication and passion for the material is evident in every frame, and it's clear that they put their hearts and souls into bringing this epic tale to life.

As someone who has reviewed many documentaries in the past, I can also say that the cinematography in this film is truly breathtaking. The footage of New Zealand's landscapes, from the snow-capped peaks to the lush forests, is absolutely mesmerizing, and it's easy to see why the country was chosen as the perfect location to film Middle-earth.

Overall, "The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies - New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth - Part 3" is an incredible and informative documentary that offers fans of the franchise an unparalleled look into the making of the films. It is a must-see for anyone who loves "The Hobbit" trilogy and "The Lord of the Rings" franchise.