I'm a semi-serious fantasy enthusiast, and The Hobbit (the book) was my point of entry. I'm not a total text-purist, but I like fidelity to Tolkien's vision.

As with LOTR, I felt that Jackson had an overall successful approach, although the overall impression of the film did not quite come together for me. The characterizations were good, particularly Freeman's Bilbo, which was wonderful. I also appreciated Thorin, though the rest of the dwarves were a little too motley for me.

I would like to have seen more of Bilbo's inner experience, and certainly less heavy fight scenes. The escape from Goblin Town was overdone and wasted a lot of time. I personally would have liked less backstory up front, and more revelation during the course of the film, although I suppose this way may have been better for non-initiates.

The Goblin King was one of the best parts IMO. The whole Radagast business was awful; farcical and out of place. I'm also not sure why the pale Orc nemesis was brought into the picture. I thought Jackson's treatment of Riddles in the Dark was overall very successful, but I didn't like his plot adjustments surrounding the ring.

So at the end of the day, a fitting portrayal of the story and a great Bilbo, but with unnecessary changes to the story.

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