I thought the tone of the movie was bang on. Sat somewhere between the childishness of the book and the seriousness of the LotR movies. The Hobbit book was definitely for kids (even though I still enjoy reading it, I too read it again ahead of seeing the movie) but I think the movie was suprisingly scary. The Orcs, wargs, goblins, decapitations, and overall intensity was frightening. I loved that, my boys loved that, but I’m sure some kids would have been very frightened, I know I would have been in my youth.
The pace of the second half of the movie was incredible and enjoyable. The slower first half was appropriate.
The positives:
1. Special effects were nearly flawless.
2. Bag-end, I want to live there.
3. Songs, not too many, not too few (probably a minority here)
4. The overall amped up magic, Gandalf blasting the goblins was cool.
5. I liked the goblin king.
6. Azog was really interesting. One line in the book but now positioned well to lead the orc army in the final battle. Good idea and scary dude
7. The scene with the trolls was a high point for me.
8. Riddles in the dark, I got a little tired of Gollum in the LotR but thought the scene here was excellent.
9. I’ve never been a fan of Dwarves, until now, tough as nails, Thorin Oakenshield kicks butt.
10. Eagles were cool.
11. Marin Freeman was great!

Negatives:
1. Radagast was just too goofy. I could live with the bunny sleigh but smoke coming out of his ears, give me a break.
2. While I like the idea of the stone giants hurling rocks at each other in the book it became an unnecessary set piece to show-off technical wizardry, not bad but not really required.

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