A disappointed LOTR fan

Rating: 5/10 (12 March 2013)

Compared to LOTR this is a major disappointment. As one who bought LOTR on blu-ray in their extended editions because of the magnificent quality of the films it is hard for me to accept such a follow-up effort. The decision to stretch this to 3 films has ruined it. The story plods, with nothing more than one action sequence after another tying it together. Unfortunately the action sequences are utterly unbelievable with hardly a scratch to show for a battle with thousands or a fall that should kill. There is a line to be drawn between fantasy and a lack of reality and it has not been drawn at all here. The CGI is obviously CGI in many places too which I found frankly puzzling given how well it blended in on LOTR. Doubtless when all 3 films have been released they will again release an even more pointless extended edition. I earnestly hope some enterprising soul edits these down to the one film it should have been all along. It can only be better.