The final push towards the release of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is in full swing.  We’ve already seen a collection of new images and the first clip, and now Warner Bros. has released some additional, more revealing The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies images that evoke a somber, dark tone.  The first reviews for the film are mostly quite positive, with many singling out The Battle of the Five Armies as the best of the Hobbit trilogy.  That’s certainly encouraging to hear, and with Peter Jackson revealing that there will be around 30 minutes of additional footage on the Extended Edition, fans should rest easy when hearing that the theatrical cut of The Battle of the Five Armies is also the shortest Middle-earth film yet at 144 minutes.

Check out the intriguing new The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies images after the jump.  The film stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard ArmitageEvangeline LillyLuke EvansBenedict CumberbatchStephen FryCate BlanchettIan HolmChristopher LeeHugo WeavingKen StottJames Nesbitt, and Orlando Bloom.  The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies opens in theaters on December 17th.

Images via Warner Bros.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.