Enjoyed this much more than I expected. Jackson wins me over again.

Rating: 9/10 (27 July 2013)

FIRST.....
I've never read any of the Tolkien books.
/shrug
Never have.
SECOND....
When it comes to this film, and the three earlier LOTR films, methinks that's a good thing.
I had no desire to see the first LOTR films, but after friends popped in a DVD, I was pretty impressed, as they truly are epic films.
I felt much the same about this film, and like the LOTR films, I found myself pleasantly surprised.
This is a GREAT film. Period. The characters are well acted, the costumes, sets, and props are among THE highest quality of ANY film, the visuals and effects are excellent, and the story is compelling.
I found this to be a FUN film to watch. The dwarfs are well played, and while they do have fun with the characters, they come off as serious characters that can appeal to adults as much as they can to younger viewers.
While I initially was hesitant to give this one a chance, I'm glad I did, and look forward to further releases.
An epic film worthy of an epic tale.
9 of 10 stars