Generally Entertaining - with a few flaws

Rating: 8/10 (18 December 2012)

Hubby and I are avid movie fans - we go out to the show a couple of times a month to see new and fading fast flicks.
We were looking forward to The Hobbit because we mostly enjoyed the 3 LOTR flicks. Although the last LOTR movie was too long and too dark for my tastes, we still bought all 3 DVDs.
Hubby and I both enjoyed The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - But we both thought it was too long - which is why it gets an 8 rating from me. And we knew going in that it was a 3 hour flick. We both also thought that the fight scenes were too prolonged, and the ORC lair/camp scene was interminable.
I also thought the sound for the movie was way too loud - so I wore my earplugs throughout. Even though I love loud rock music - the sound was too loud for my ears. Hubby had no problem with the volume.
I really liked the hairstyles, costumes, cinematography, effects and the humor! I laughed a lot during the movie - but hardly anyone else was laughing. I look forward to seeing the next 2 Hobbit flicks!