A Great Final Installment To An Enjoyable Trilogy

Rating: 8/10 (11 May 2015)

Having now watched this final installment of The Hobbit, I think it's safe to say that while this trilogy isn't as good as the Lord of the Rings, they're still excellent films in their own right. I've read The Hobbit but not Lord of the Rings (yet), so it's quite surprising how the makers managed to get three films from a short book, but overall I think they were really well done.
The criticism I've read from people regarding this final installment - and even the whole series - has been ridiculous to say the least, from complaining that certain things weren't in the book to bad CGI. Bad CGI?! Seriously?? I must have watched a completely different film because the look of not just this film but the whole trilogy, from the locations, photography, and cinematography to the action and visual & special effects were nothing short of excellent and were just as good as the Lord Of The Rings. As for some things being in the film that weren't in the book...this is a film ADAPTATION. The Shining was absolutely nothing like the book yet that was praised. I know every one has their own tastes and opinions, but there's a difference between opinions and just trolling.
The films may have been beefed out quite a bit, but at no point do they ever feel that they are just dragging along. For me, there's more than enough to keep your interest and to keep you watching with plenty of drama, tension, suspense, and action throughout. As with the previous films, there is the occasional silly action scene such as Legolas running along rocks that are falling in mid-air, but it's not as if these scenes ruin the films.
There's also a nice wee tie-in to the Lord of the Rings with Legolas being told to seek out the ranger names Strider.
All in all, this was a really enjoyable movie to round off The Hobbit trilogy, so if you've not seen it as yet (or the previous movies), then ignore the - sometimes over-the-top - hate and go and watch it. You may just be surprised by how good it is.