Do not listen to the critics on this one..... Go see it!

Rating: 8/10 (26 December 2012)

Okay, so let me preface my review by saying that I'm, in general, a sucker for critics' reviews. I'm like that friend of yours who refuses to see a movie at the theater unless it has a minimum of a 70% rating on rottentomatoes or metacritic. Well, I'm glad I wasn't overly beholden to this rule for The Hobbit.
I thoroughly enjoyed my viewing experience from start to finish. I was in a small town whose only theater offered it in 3d but not the high frame rate version, so I can't really comment on that. However, the movie looked great. Yes, CGI was abundant but I didn't feel that it distracted from the overall feel of the movie. After all, it is a fantasy-based movie, so I believe one must give some leeway for the lack of realism. Also, while some may argue that the plot was thin, you must consider that we have only seen 1/3 of the whole story, as this three part-er is based on a sole book.
In conclusion, I was highly pleased with part one of The Hobbit. It may not have risen to the greatness of the LOTR trilogy, but it still met or exceeded my expectations, especially in-lieu of many of the critics' reviews out there.