History Awesome / TheHobbitTheBattleOfTheFiveArmies

** Seeing her walk across the battlefield [[CrisisCatchAndCarry carrying Gandalf]], which is similar to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietà_(Michelangelo) Mary holding Jesus]].

--->'''Elrond:''' ''[addressing the Nazgul]'' [[PreAsskickingOneLiner You should have stayed dead.]]

*** Gets even better when you realize that of the factions present, the Dwarves were the perfect fit to take the initial charge. Skilled as the Elves were, they were agility fighters who worked better in loose formations. The Men of Dale lacked the armor to take a charge. The dwarves, being almost exclusively heavy infantry (and the best in Middle Earth), were the perfect choice to take the charge and then ''push it back'', giving everyone else a chance to apply their advantages. Even if the Elves hadn't leapt over, Dáin had enough awareness to put his men into a position to give everyone else a chance to play to their strengths ''by playing to his strengths''.

* Thorin and Dwalin defeating a hundred goblin mercenaries by themselves.

** While it was unnecessary as he'd already gone back to normal, Kíli telling Thorin that he's going to help the other Dwarves, regardless of what Thorin orders.

** Also Azog's [[OhCrap look of utter disbelief]] when he sees the Eagles appear behind Thorin, realising his victory as about to come crashing down around his ears.

** As well as the same woman calling to all the others around her to pick a weapon and go help their men. Not only do the women join her, but also the young, the elderly, and the citizens that were injured during Smaug's attack.

* In this movie, all the HorseOfADifferentColour actually makes sense. Why does Thranduil ride a stag? Because its enormous antlers can pick up and wreck Orcs. Why do the Dwarves ride goats? Because they live in the mountains and can ride up near-vertical mountainsides perfectly. How do Orcs actually ''find'' enough secretive, dark tunnels to lurk in, and breed up their own numbers, each time their forces get pasted and the survivors need to go to ground in a hurry? They have their Were-worms dig some.

* [[AuthorityEqualsAssKicking The White Council]] versus Sauron's Nazgûl (in full battle regalia, instead of their signature cloaks). Let's face it:

-->'''Sauron''': You cannot fight the shadow. Even now, you fade. One light alone in the darkness.
-->'''Galadriel''': ''(defiant)'' [[BadassBoast I am not alone]]. ''([[BigDamnHeroes Elrond and Saruman enter Dol Guldur]])''

*** It runs in the family. Bain succeeds his father as King of Lake-Town, and ''his'' son Brand succeeds ''him. Brand dies a hero, defending his people during the War of the Rings.''

* Even more extended version goodness--Dwarves demonstrate a successful counter to a massive arrow barrage--they launch a volley of large projectiles fit with spinning "whips" (like huge airborne fans) that splinter all the arrows and then wreck death among the archer lines. I have no idea if that is remotely realistic, but it sure was awesome.

* The benevolence of Bard toward his people after the rampage of Smaug.

* The Company managing, in one night, to construct out of the rubble a section of battlements at least three feet thick with a hole in it for private parlay sessions and the tops of the battlements matching the existing walls. Dwarves truly are the greatest engineers in Middle-Earth.

* Galadriel literally vaporizing the orc in the extended edition. Her BadassBoast beforehand helps too:
-->'''Galadriel:''' ''I have come for Mithrandir... and I will leave with him. If you try to stop me... I will destroy you.''
* Even more extended version goodness--Dwarves demonstrate a successful counter to a massive arrow barrage--they launch a volley of large projectiles fit with spinning "whips" (like huge airborne fans) that splinter all the arrows and then wreck death among the archer lines. I have no idea if that is remotely realistic, but it sure was awesome.
** And then that reaction of Thranduil seeing this countermeasure against his archer volleys. The arrogant Elvenking looks outright appalled for the first time.
** The Goat Cavalry. In so many editions and settings, Dwarves have never been fielded with cavalry, just [[MightyGlacier tough and slow infantry]]. Here, they got [[LightningBruiser full-plate warriors on goatback]], and they are faster and more maneuverable than horses. You wouldn't want to meet that on the battlefield.
*** A minor note with this is how the massed Dwarf infantry calmly parts ranks to allow their cavalry to pass through their lines, showcasing that the Elves aren't the only ones with a high degree of precision and discipline.
** And then there's the Elvish counter to the Goat Riders. The archers fall back and a couple of lines of spearmen form a shield wall, but this is just to break up the initial charge as the goats are able to jump or gallop over them. However, more Elvish spearmen form a much more flexible formation behind this initial line, allowing the cavalry to spend their momentum before counterattacking.

* Thorin snapping out of being stricken by the [[{{Greed}} dragon sickness]]. Then the thirteen Dwarves charging out of Erebor and turning the tide against the Orcs. Everyone rallies to their king and Bilbo instantly knows that Thorin has recovered when he hears the horn. Of course, smashing open the sealed gates of Erebor with an ''enormous'' bell was pretty epic, too.

** In a meta example, casting Creator/BillyConnolly as Dáin. The Big Yin ''hates'' Tolkien, so it's only appropriate that he's cast to play a character who gives exactly ZERO fucks about ''anybody'' in Middle-earth.

* In a meta example, the fact that Creator/PeterJackson and company could make a two-and-a-half-hour movie out of so comparatively little of the book while making the film seem a lot shorter than it really is. ''That'' is some good storytelling.
* Another meta one: despite the massive amount of ExecutiveMeddling the trilogy and this one, in particular, suffered, the fact that Warner Bros. is allowing the extended cuts of all three films (which Jackson and the cast have stated are their preferred versions) to be released theatrically for a limited time is awesome.

* Thranduil's stag mount going on an epic charge as it runs for the safety of Dale, at one point impaling a half dozen orcs on its antlers before Thranduil decapitates them all with a single swing of his sword.
** After the elk dies, Thranduil gets one. He rolls off with a very "ItsPersonal" look on his face, then proceeds to [[CurbStompBattle kill a dozen Uruks without getting a scratch]] with his [[DualWielding two]] Elven [[OneHandedZweihander blades]] (although to be fair, it's not exactly a BFS). As seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZZ-gWAy0sc here.]]

** After the elk dies, Thranduil gets one. He rolls off with a very "ItsPersonal" look on his face, then proceeds to [[CurbStompBattle kill a dozen Uruks without getting a scratch]] with his [[DualWielding two]] Elven [[OneHandedZweihander blades]] (although to be fair, it's not exactly a BFS). As seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGvSHEsJBjQ here.]]

* Bilbo willing to go the extra mile - sneaking out of Erebor to deliver the Arkenstone to Bard and Thranduil - just to save his friends. While all of the "big folk" are convinced that war is inevitable, Bilbo will exhaust any means just to prevent bloodshed and save his friends.

*** The look on Legolas' face basically says: "Oh come on" when he sees that the only way to save Thorin is to throw Orcrist and it being a famed blade he doesn't want to give it up, especially against Bolg, but ''he still throws it'' which puts him at a serious disadvantage.

** It gets better. In their first match in the previous film, it was a soundtrack-less, close-quarters, brutal fistfight more than anything. The rematch adds in an InterestingSituationDuel, disarmaments, and Legolas stabbing Bolg through the head, before dropping him off the tower bridge, where Bolg is then crushed by rubble. ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill indeed.

** And it's all capped with the shot of Orchrist piercing ''straight through Azog and emerging through the bottom of the ice'', possibly the most badass shot in all six films.

** Especially Beorn ski-diving down from his eagle and changing to his bear form in mid-air.

** The Goat Cavalry. In so many editions and settings has Dwarfs never been fielded with cavalry, just [[MightyGlacier tough and slow infantry]]. Here, they got [[LightningBruiser full-plate warriors on goatback]] and they are fast and more maneuverable than horses. You wouldn't want to meet that on the battlefield.

** And then there's the Elvish counter to the Goat Riders. The archers fall back and a couple of lines of spearmen form a shield wall, but this is just to break up the initial charge as the goats are able to jump or gallop over them. However, more Elvish spearmen form a much more flexible formation behind this initial line allowing the cavalry to spend their momentum before counterattacking.
* And one more for the extended edition, with Bofur taking charge of a troll and rampaging through the battle like an MMORPG player who just activated a cheat code.

* [[AuthorityEqualsAssKicking The White Council]] versus Sauron's Nazgul (in full battle regalia, instead of their signature cloaks). Let's face it:

** And then that reaction of Thranduil seeing this countermeasure against his archer volleys. The arrogant Elven king looks outright appalled for the first time.

* In this movie, all the HorseOfADifferentColour actually makes sense. Why does Thranduil ride a stag? Because its enormous antlers can pick up and wreck orcs. Why do the dwarves ride goats? Because they live in the mountains and can ride up near-vertical mountainsides perfectly. How do orcs actually ''find'' enough secretive, dark tunnels to lurk in, and breed up their own numbers, each time their forces get pasted and the survivors need to go to ground in a hurry? They have their wereworms dig some.

** The Dwarven Army, in general, is awesome both in-universe and out-of-universe. Why? We've seen armies of men and elves since ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', they can be easily portrayed by normal-sized actors without too many special effects. This is not the case with the dwarves.

*** This deserves an elaboration; although it was blatantly obvious from the start that the Orc army was large and powerful enough to crush the Men, Elves, and Dwarves simultaneously, the Dwarves didn't even ''hesitate'' to turn their backs on the Elves (who had been threatening to kill them less than a minute ago) to ensure that their army would suffer the brunt of the assault, whether the Men and Elves decided to back them up or not. For a race often described as "greedy" and "stubborn", this was an extremely selfless act. And even moreso in the extended edition, where the dwarves and elves had ''already engaged in combat'' by the time the orcs arrived. And the dwarves, without hesitation, turned their backs on the elves who intended to wipe them out, because politics can ''get stuffed'' when there's ''real'' evil to wage war against.
** After seeing the Orc armies emerge, Dáin immediately breaks off his charge on the Elvish army and rallies his warriors to attack the orcs, even though they are hideously outnumbered. It took guts to do that since there was absolutely no guarantee the Elves and Men would follow him into battle.

*** Gets even better when you realize that of the factions present, the dwarves were the perfect fit to take the initial charge. Skilled as the elves were, they were agility fighters who worked better in loose formations. The Men of Dale lacked the armor to take a charge. The dwarves, being almost exclusively heavy infantry (and the best in Middle Earth), were the perfect choice to take the charge and then ''push it back'', giving everyone else a chance to apply their advantages. Even if the Elves hadn't leapt over, Dáin had enough awareness to put his men into a position to give everyone else a chance to play to their strengths ''by playing to his strengths''.

** While it was unnecessary as he'd already gone back to normal, Kíli telling Thorin that he's going to help the other dwarves, regardless of what Thorin orders.

*** Bonus points for the sword being ''Orcrist'', as in the elven blade that was Thorin's that Legolas took from him the last film. As the orc falls over the cliff, Thorin takes hold of the blade and draws it to wield against Azog after.

* Kíli turns into a OneManArmy on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against the orcs for killing his brother. It is epic to behold.

** Their first confrontation in the film is in narrow areas and very scattered. The set up for the second and final round deserves mentioning. Thorin regains his Elven sword and walks out onto a frozen waterfall, where Azog stands holding a flail. It feels like something out of a Kurosawa film.

* In a meta example, the fact that Creator/PeterJackson and company could make a two-and-a-half hour movie out of so comparatively little of the book while making the film seem a lot shorter than it really is. ''That'' is some good storytelling.

** And then there's the Elvish counter to the Goat Riders. The archers fall back and a couple of lines of spearmen form a shieldwall, but this is just to break up the initial charge as the goats are able to jump or gallop over them. However, more Elvish spearmen form a much more flexible formation behind this initial line allowing the cavalry to spend their momentum before counterattacking.

** [[TheGoodKing Lord Elrond]] beating the hell out of a couple of the Ringwraiths. Notably, he is the only one who does not use magic in the fight. He can use magic if he wants; specifically, he's a talented seer and possessor of one of the Three Elven Rings. But instead he stuck with his sword against the teleport spamming undead ancient kings.

** Note that this is a fight between her and Sauron. The Nazgul backing him up are instantly sent running back to Mordor.

** Dwarven Army, in general, are awesome both in- and out-of-universe. Why? We've seen armies of men and elves since ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', they can be easily portrayed by normal-sized actors without too many special effects. This is not the case with the dwarves.

** After seeing the Orc armies emerge, Dáin immediately breaks off his charge on the elvish army and rallies his warriors to attack the orcs, even though they are hideously outnumbered. It took guts to do that, since there was absolutely no guarantee the Elves and Men would follow him into battle.

*** Gets even better when you realize that of the factions present, the dwarves were the perfect fit to take the initial charge. Skilled as the elves were, they were agility fighters who worked better in loose formations. The Men of Dale lacked the armor to take a charge. The dwarves, being almost exclusively heavy infantry (and the best in Middle Earth), were the perfect choice to take the charge and then ''push it back'', giving everyone else a chance to apply their advantages. Even if the elves hadn't leapt over, Dáin had enough awareness to put his men into a position to give everyone else a chance to play to their strengths ''by playing to his strengths''.
*** The elves get their own moment when the Orcs show up. As the dwarves disengage and charge to form their shield-wall, the elves instantly begin forming up to reorient against the new threat. And neither group required any orders to do so.

*** Her appearance on the surface reassembles her Dark Queen temptation in LOTR but it is not. She appears horrific because Sauron is pouring out his magic and death directly at her, and she boldly resists even a decrepit state.

** In a meta example, casting Creator/BillyConnolly as Dain. The Big Yin ''hates'' Tolkien, so it's only appropriate that he's cast to play a character who gives exactly ZERO fucks about ''anybody'' in Middle-earth.

* The Company managing, in one night, to construct out of rubble a section of battlements at least three feet thick with a hole in it for private parlay sessions and the tops of the battlements matching the existing walls. Dwarves truly are the greatest engineers in Middle-Earth.

** After Kili dies, she doesn't bother attacking Bolg with her knives--instead she plows into him and knocks them both off the edge of the cliff, clearly planning to [[TakingYouWithMe take him with her]]. If the drop had been more severe, it probably would have worked.

** Their first confrontation in the film is in narrow areas and very scattered. The set up for the second and final round deserves mentioning. Thorin regains his Elven sword, and walks out onto a frozen waterfall, where Azog stands holding a flail. It feels like something out of a Kurosawa film.

* Thorin and Legolas' duels are happening ''concurrently'' to boot, with both directly intervening to help each other at various points of their conflict.

* Azog gets one for his aversion of HollywoodTactics--he uses [[SandWorm Were-worms]] for a surprise assault, a SimpleYetAwesome mechanised system of coordinating his army through use of a horn and flag signals, a very solid divide-and-conquer strategy and his overall plan of bogging down the enemy forces to allow a second allied army, the existence of which was unknown until it was too late to do anything about it, to sweep in was surprisingly brilliant from the usually [[ChaoticStupid less than tactically minded orcs]]. Perhaps the reason it took so long for Sauron to attack Gondor was because he couldn't find a replacement for Azog and had to be satisfied with the less brilliant [[BodyHorror Gothmog]].
** In addition, both Azog and Thorin get one in their final confrontation for the same reason: Simply backing off, assessing the situation, and hatching a simple but brilliant scheme. Thorin drops his sword, only to pick up Azog's makeshift flail and toss it at him so the weight causes him to slip into the ice below. Azog is visible under the ice as Thorin tracks him to be sure he's dead, and sees his eyes close as he seems to struggle. In reality, Azog was playing dead just long enough to get a cheap shot in and break out of the ice as his foe reels back in pain.

** As well as the same woman calling to all the others around her to pick a weapon and go help their men.

** Dain uses a giant war-hammer as his weapon of choice and rides a boar. He puts them both to good use as he [[FoeTossingCharge cleaves through]] Orcish ranks, but when the fight is at the thickest, what does he choose to use as a weapon? ''[[HardHead His head]].'' And thus he goes about headbutting a dozen Orcs one by one, most of which were ''wearing helmets''.
*** To elaborate, Dain wasn't dazing these guys with a headbutt and then finishing them with his hammer. He was ''instantly knocking them out right through their helmets.''

*** Gets even better when you realize that of the factions present, the dwarves were the perfect fit to take the initial charge. Skilled as the elves were, they were agility fighters who worked better in loose formations. The Men of Dale lacked the armor to take a charge. The dwarves, being almost exclusively heavy infantry (and the best in Middle Earth), were the perfect choice to take the charge and then ''push it back'', giving everyone else a chance to apply their advantages. Even if the elves hadn't leapt over, Dain had enough awareness to put his men into a position to give everyone else a chance to play to their strengths ''by playing to his strengths''.

*** Bonus points for the sword being ''Orcrist'', as in the elven blade that was Thorin's that Legolas took from him last film. As the orc falls over the cliff, Thorin takes hold of the blade and draws it to wield against Azog after.

** It gets better. In their first match in the previous film, it was a soundtrack-less, close-quarters, brutal fist fight more than anything. The rematch adds in an InterestingSituationDuel, disarmaments, and Legolas stabbing Bolg through the head, before dropping him off the tower bridge, where Bolg is then crushed by rubble. ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill indeed.

** And don't forget about Dwalin in the background, who is not only fending off any orcs or goblins that may try to interfere with the showdown between Thorin and Azog, but must also protect a wounded and unconscious Bilbo after he got knocked out. He pulls it off too, earning his credentials as a OneManArmy.

** Especially Beorn ski-diving down from his eagle and changing to his bear form mid-air.

** In addition, both Azog and Thorin get one in their final confrontation for the same reason: Simply backing off, assessing the situation, and hatching a simple but brilliant scheme. Thorin drops his sword, only to pick up Azog's makeshift flail and toss it at him so the weight causes him to slip into the ice below. Azog is visible under the ice as Thorin tracks him to be sure he's dead, and sees his eyes close as he seems to struggle. In reality, Azog was playing dead just long enough to get a cheapshot in and break out of the ice as his foe reels back in pain.

* Another meta one: despite the massive amount of ExecutiveMeddling the trilogy and this one in particular suffered, the fact that Warner Bros. is allowing the extended cuts of all three films (which Jackson and the cast have stated are their preferred versions) to be released theatrically for a limited time is awesome.

* Even more extended version goodness--Dwarves demonstrate a sucessful counter to a massive arrow barrage--they launch a volley of large projectiles fit with spinning "whips" (like huge airborn fans) that splinter all the arrows and then wreck death among the archer lines. I have no idea if that is remotely realistic, but it sure was awesome.

** And then there's the Elvish counter to the Goat Riders. The archers fall back and a couple lines of spearmen form a shieldwall, but this is just to break up the initial charge as the goats are able to jump or gallop over them. However, more Elvish spearmen form a much more flexible formation behind this initial line allowing the cavalry to spend their momentum before counterattacking.

* Even more extended version goodness--Dwarves, for the first time in ''any'' movie on my memory, demonstrate a sucessful counter to a massive arrow barrage--they launch a volley of large projectiles fit with spinning "whips" (like huge airborn fans) that splinter all the arrows and then wreck death among the archer lines. I have no idea if that is remotely realistic, but it sure was awesome.

*** This deserves an elaboration; although it was blatantly obvious from the start that the Orc army was large and powerful enough to crush the Men, Elves, and Dwarves simultaneously, the Dwarves didn't even ''hesitate'' to turn their backs on the Elves (who had been threatening to kill them less than a minute ago) to ensure that their army would suffer the brunt of the assault, whether the Men and Elves decided to back them up or not. For a race often described as "greedy" and "stubborn", this was an extremely selfless act. And even moreso in the extended edition, where the dwarves and elves had ''already engaged in combat'' by the time the orcs arrived. And the dwarves, without hesitation, turned their backs on the elves who intended to wipe them out, because politics can ''get stuffed'' when there's ''real'' evil to wage war against.

* Dain Ironfoot has a giant war-hammer as his weapon of choice and rides a boar. He puts them both to good use as he [[FoeTossingCharge cleaves through]] Orcish ranks, but when the fight is at the thickest, what does he choose to use as a weapon? ''[[HardHead His head]].'' And thus he goes about headbutting a dozen Orcs one by one, most of which were ''wearing helmets''.
** To elaborate, Dain wasn't dazing these guys with a headbutt and then finishing them with his hammer. He was ''instantly knocking them out right through their helmets.''