Leaves a dent in the LOTR legacy

Rating: 1/10 (1 June 2013)

OK, to be fair this is not a 1/10 movie. But it is so far from being a 10/10 and a top 250 movie that I felt the need to make a point.
I can see that many of the reviewers who have given the movie a top score have not even seen the LOTR-trilogy. That is absurd. That would be like declaring "Godfather III" to be the best mafia movie ever without seeing the first two (which of course are FAR better). Or, perhaps more relevant, saying that "The Phantom Menace" is the best Star Wars-movie without having seen the others. You simply cannot judge "The Hobbit" without seeing in it the context of the LOTR-trilogy.
Sadly, "The Hobbit"-trilogy is probably going to be far more costly and extravagant than the LOTR-trilogy was. What a pity that is, when you think of the material the two trilogies were meant to cover. In LOTR each movie covered a thick book. In the Hobbit, each movie covers a couple of chapters in a small book for children.
The book which is "The Hobbit" simply does not warrant a trilogy of films. It should have been a single movie and nothing more. The pace in the movie is agonizingly slow, and it is filled with so many time-passing action sequences and special effects that you almost feel like you are about to have a stroke at the end of the movie. Three hours is spent on what is an hours worth of material at the very most.
As for the casting, it is cool to see some of the old gang again. But you can tell that it has been over ten years since the last movie. Which of course is a bit odd considering that this movie is a prequel to the others. I personally can't stand Martin Freeman (Bilbo) with his perpetual and one-dimensional annoyed/dumbfounded facial expression, but I guess that is a matter of taste.
The special effects are very good. I wish they were available when they made LOTR. But even though something is good, there is a limit too how much you can stand of it. Maximum Overkill is how I would describe it in this case.
All in all, I was very disappointed in the movie, and I do not feel like seeing the next two.
For you guys who have not seen LOTR and rates this 10/10 - you are unforgivably ignorant.
For those who have seen LOTR and STILL rates this 10/10 - sacrilege is the word that comes to mind.