If you can't see it in 3D then don't bother at all.

Rating: 9/10 (5 July 2014)

Being a family of massive fans of the first film we couldn't wait to see this one. We couldn't get tickets for the 3D version so went with the 2D. You know those parts where everything slows down for the WOW 3D moment? This film is riddled with those and it's a big problem for those who can't watch in 3D. There are entire scenes that should be epic but are dull and strange because they are *supposed* to be wowing you in 3D - except they're not. They're just almost slot-mo, unimpressive and distracting. They also make the pace of the film really weird.
For 2D viewers you can expect to spend 2 minutes looking at somebodies back, several 2 minute intervals looking at a dragon tilting its head at an odd angle so that you can be unimpressed by its non-3D tusk and many other such interruptions to your viewing pleasure.
This film was made to be seen in 3D. If you have astigmatism, a lazy eye or, like us, couldn't get tickets then save your time and money and go see something else. I wish I had!
The story was fine, I think, but we had trouble being immersed in it because of the pacing issue and I found myself becoming bored.