Word is that the final installment in Peter Jackson's cinematic Middle-Earth saga will be lighter on the exposition, heavier on the drama, and culminate with 45 minutes of battlefield cataclysm. Given Jackson's astonishing accomplishments bringing the battles of Helm's Deep and The Pelennor Fields to life, there is no avoiding the anticipation for this final clash.
If the dramatic tone of this trailer reflects the content of The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies, it would seemingly fulfill the promise that this trilogy would evolve, from the naive and somewhat frivolous tone of the first film, and Tolkien's own book (The Hobbit), into the mature and consequential tones that would align this story's denouement with the events as they unfold in The Lord Of The Rings. We will all find out soon enough, as the film opens worldwide next month.