This is our final chance to visit Middle Earth as imagined by Peter Jackson. It’s been a saga over 20 years in the making with Jackson working backwards in terms of time, with the occurrences in Lord of the Rings happening after the events here but filmed first.

I think this film needs to be considered as a bridging film between two trilogies, as well as the end of The Hobbit trilogy. This probably isn’t the ideal send off – a bit overblown in parts, with long sequences of CGI and the occasional incredible Elf-defying-physics. However I put this down to a degree of ‘seen it before’ as it’s a big ask to once again have audiences experience that feeling of mythic grandeur and dark unknown that we felt the first time we saw Middle Earth on the big screen way back in 2001.

The plot follows the book fairly closely with the telling at its best in the more sombre moments. Some harsh editing doesn’t give it the breathing space it needed and final conclusions don’t wrap up everyone’s stories to my satisfaction, but the ending for the titular Hobbit, whom the tale is ultimately centred on, is very fulfilling.

A big screen film for sure, and a strong finish, though I’m left feeling that the inevitable Extended Cut will eventually give me the absolute resolution I desire.