Users know best

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2012)

The user reviews are a more accurate reflection of the films quality and entertainment value. The first ten minutes were worrisome as there is definitely something wrong technically with the film during the sweeping vistas in the beginning that are without question blurry and difficult to look at. Once the panning and swirling camera settles down however the film quickly settles into the plot and carries on entrancingly to the end.
It's quite awesome seeing images that I have visualized in my mind since age 10 come to life on screen. I thought the CGI and life action were blended superbly. I did not feel that any part of the film dragged on and unlike some parts of LOTR. I was ultimately surprised the movie ended so quickly, i.e it definitely did not feel like nearly 3 hours and I would have been happy to watch more of the film in the same sitting. Did it deserve the 10 I gave it? No, probably an 8 or 9 would have sufficed but an imbalance needed to be righted against the abysmal, undeserved critic's meta-score. It's definitely worth seeing in theaters. I wish they could fix the opening sequence to not be so dizzying and re-release it before more people see it.