What a great journey today, that began in Wichita, KS and finished in Joplin, MO at Regal Theater. After grabbing pizza at Cici’s, Dayan and I settled into our seats in the darkened theater for the final movie in The Hobbit trilogy. The extended edition of The Battle of the Five Armies played for the first time this evening, ahead of its upcoming DVD release.
We loved watching the other two Hobbit films again on the big screen. However we highly anticipated tonight’s conclusion to the epic story, with its 20 additional minutes of footage. The film’s rating changed from PG-13 to R, with the new scenes, which caused us to speculate about what was coming.
Since the DVD isn’t available yet, I don’t want to include spoilers. I’ll say that Dayan and I greatly enjoyed this longer version of TBOTFA and we were so glad for the opportunity to see it in the theater. This is a big, BIG story, full of complex characters, transformations during the journey and huge good verses evil confrontations. The biggest clash of all results in the final battle, and it was there that most of the extra footage was reintroduced. I loved seeing more action from Thorin’s Company of Dwarves. And scenes that didn’t quite make sense in the theatrical version…like where did those goats come from??…now completely integrate with the story.
While Dayan and I found several of the additional scenes to be humorous, many heightened the intensity level. I found myself gripping my armrests tightly! And there was a deeply moving scene added after the tragedy that befell Thorin, King under the Mountain, and his sister’s sons, Fili and Kili. This movie delivered an emotion wallop before. Tonight, just as I could see through tear filled eyes again, I was overcome once more.
What a powerful story these Middle Earth films portray. I was inspired, impacted and called into a bigger life. I couldn’t help but notice tonight that for the third day in a row, I have received the message of running toward danger. Thorin and Company certainly did. Bilbo, Gandalf, Galadriel and Saruman did. The elves of Mirkwood, Thranduil, Legolas and Tauriel did. And Bard the Bowman did. All stepped up, embraced their courage and ran forward, for their own good and the good of all. They risked their treasures, their relationships, their very lives and engaged, handling what was before them. Bilbo even said, “I am glad to have shared in your perils, Thorin.” Peril…the threat of danger.
When something shows up repetitively in my life, especially from different sources, I pay close attention. Courage. Running toward danger. Running toward my power, my dominion. Reclaiming my power, my “home”, which was the ultimate quest of the Dwarves of Erebor. In three days I’ve come full circle, back to the movie I watched Sunday night…Home. I’m not sure yet what it all means but I know from experience, it is an important message. It’s an ongoing conversation with the Divine. I haven’t figured it all out yet. But I’m open. I say, “Yes”. I say, “Tell me more”!