![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates," Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasn't making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable," Carter Chadwick ('22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – 4.5/5 Stars
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” is a movie based on the book “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is the final movie in the trilogy and picks up where “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” left off.
The two hour and 24 minute film, which was released on Dec. 17, follows the plot of the book and consists of many action scenes.
As soon as Bard, a human of Laketown, defeats the dragon Smaug and stops him from destroying the town, the dwarves sneak into the Lonely Mountain. The absence of the dragon means that Thorin may claim the treasure in the stronghold as his own and reclaim the throne that his grandfather once held. He does so but only wishes to find the Arkenstone, a symbol of the king’s power and finally goes mad with dragon fever.
The people of Laketown must rebuild their homes and seek shelter and a share of the treasure, but Thorin refuses them. At the same time, the elves arrive, seeking another part of the riches and prepare for war. The news of the dragon’s defeat reaches so far that the orcs begin their march while the dwarves arrive to defend their mountain.
While the battle ensues, there are many action scenes, especially for the elves and dwarves. The battle between “five” armies really consisted of three armies – the elves, dwarves and orcs. The humans and the second orc army did participate, but were not given much screen time.
Splitting from the book, director Peter Jackson decided to bring the elves Legolas and Tauriel into the films. Tauriel continues to work out her relationship with Kili as Legolas continues to deal with his unrequited love. This romantic side story, only found in the movie adaptation of “The Hobbit,” distracted from the main plot and had no place in an adventurous story meant to follow the hobbit Bilbo through his quest to help the dwarves reclaim their treasure. Jackson seems to be trying to add more significant female characters – there is only one other woman in the movie and only gets a few minutes of screen time – but it was not necessary because the book’s characters are predominantly male.
I would give this movie a 4.5 out of 5 because it’s entertaining, but not one that will leave a lasting impression. Most fans of the books should be satisfied with the conclusion to the movie trilogy.