Walking into the theater I could not help but feel trepidation. It had been over nine years since the Return of the King, nine years since I had seen Middle-earth on the big screen. Well I am happy to say the wait was worth it.

Was the film perfect? No. It has pacing issues, some of the CGI looked unfinished, and it felt as if the film could lose Radagast, Frodo and Azog and be a better film for it. Still, I could not help but enjoy myself.

Freeman's Bilbo was all I could hope for and more. Gandalf was Gandalf once again and the company of dwarves were a lot a fun (especially Bofur). It was Richard Armitage's Thorin Oakenshield however, that truly won me over. His pride, his stubbornness, his hint of shame and his everlasting need to right the wrongs done to his people. When he charged down that tree I believed he could win. It is no wonder he has such devoted followers.

In the end, the film put a smile on my face from the start that did not leave my face until a few hours after I had walked out of the theater. I don't think there is much more one could ask for.

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