Massive disappointment that's often massively dull

Rating: Null/10 (14 December 2012)

There's no dodging it, this is a massive disappointment on almost every level. It's an overly long and rather mind-numbing film that doesn't even offer the courtesy of a semblance of an ending. Yes, I know they are taking a page from the original trilogy and telling the tale in three parts but I wish they had at least offered some sort of payoff in this installment.
The first forty minutes absolutely drags and is as tedious as any film in recent memory. The entire first act feels like a dull parody of a Disney/Snow White/Dwarfs film complete with two singing numbers. They couldn't even use that time to give us relatable bases or depth for the characters they want us to follow for three films. Bilbo is a sniveling ninny throughout all forty minutes and you can't tell one dwarf from the other outside of the king.
Also, the CGI seems to be a step back which is bizarre. A lot of things and scenes looked horribly fake. I'm talking "Clash of the Titans" remake bad CGI (except Gollum- he was again exceptional) Then, there's the same ole plot flaw from the very first film surrounding the use of those giant game changing eagles.
All-in-all, there's nothing here that's thrilling and nothing that can come close to matching the grandeur or feel of the originals.