Someone here asked if this is what the fans deserve.

Rating: 7/10 (15 December 2014)

Without actually reading any further of this comment, I concluded (with 96% certainty, mind you) that we are talking about fans of the LoTR universe. In which case, I have to say I don't consider myself a fan, but knowing fans, and hearing that this doesn't follow the source material accurately, I have to come to the conclusion that no, this is not what the fans deserve. If, however, we are talking about people who are fans of movies and TV series, the medium in generally, then my answer is a 100% yes.
There are two things in this movie which annoyed me. The character development of Thorin Oakenshield and the melodramatic writing. In all honesty, I can forgive these due the outcomes. Due the deaths. I have considered LoTR a children's book ever since Gandalf supposedly died, but came back alive after all. What a waste of a great death. The last Hobbit shows what I appreciate the most; balls. Balls to kill off characters, balls to out-write cast without any need for it, other than good writing, because let's face it, unneeded happiness is never memorable.
Now is the point where I say that I never actually even watched Hobbit for the story nor plot. I watched it for the cinematography, production values and simply entertainment. The landscapes are glorious, fight between the mountains was visually stunning. Same with tons of scenes, not just with action scenes, but simply scenes where camera is just moving and showing us the scenery. We got to see something exactly what a fantasy world should look like and boy it is prettier than ever.
The pacing gets my praising. It is even smoother as my awkward rhymes! 2.5 hours rarely go past this fast. There was not a moment that bored me, there was hardly anything that annoyed me, the ride was simply entertaining and that's all I ever asked from it. Since we got to see some good death too, the movie was simply a positive surprise from my part. Aftertaste; great. Worth every penny.