Pacing was a key thing I liked about this film

Rating: 8/10 (10 December 2014)

The saga has come full circle, and my worst fears of a stumbling ending has been alleviated. What I found striking is the film's striking pacing which is strangely very true to the book (note, pacing). I was never truly bored, and Hobbit/Lord of the Rings have a tendency to drag on. Sure there are some of these annoying "this sets up for LOTR", but it's more to find a way to conclude characters in the film.
Overall it was an "expected" experience, but I wasn't raging out of the cinema. The trilogy is definitely a warmer welcome than the Episode 1-3 of Star Wars, and I can see myself watch all 6 films of what I presume now is called "The Middle-Earth Saga" back-to-back.