Geeky Randy's summary

Rating: 8/10 (9 December 2014)

After 11 years of the major success of THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, its unforgettable predecessor is also brought to the silver-screen in prequel form, with Peter Jackson reuniting viewers with Holm and Wood in Bag End on Bilbo's one-hundred-and-"eleventieth" birthday—basically opening THE HOBBIT trilogy in the same spot LORD OF THE RINGS opened. Many characters from RINGS were written into this story, which takes place before RINGS (as already stated) but all the actors mysteriously look a lot older (hmm). Fans of the previous three films may find this installment more childish, and fans of the book will find the adaptation overly ambitious. Still, Freeman is more than charming as a young Bilbo Baggins, the dwarfs share the right amount of cluster that they did in the book, and Jackson brings to life the Riddles In The Dark chapter excellently. Lighten up and enjoy.
***¼ (out of four)