Different from the book, but for the better

Rating: 8/10 (15 January 2018)

Probably everyone is going to compare this movie with the LOTR, which isn't a completely fair comparison. I am a huge LOTR fan, and I watch the trilogy every 6 months. But a better reference point for this movie must be the book by Tolkien.
Peter Jackson does a great job at not just bringing the book to life, but also adding on to it elements which make it even more fun. For example the movie has a lot of funnier elements when compared to the book. The dwarves are funnier, livelier and definitely more charismatic (especially Thorin) as compared to the movie.
Jackson has also tried to make this a prelude to the LOTR. Like adding Legolas (who isn't even mentioned in the book), and the necromancer. While fans of the book might not have liked so much of fiddling with the story line, I personally don't mind this.
The soundtrack is a inspired from LOTR, and in some placed even the same (like the scenes involving Elrond in Rivendell), but it works just as magically as it did in the trilogy. The visual effects are top notch and the goblin chase gives one goosebumps. The entire movie is very feel good and you don't feel tense even in the moments where the pack is in trouble. All in all, a great adventure movie.