I'm sure fans of this series will really enjoy this but I had a hard time getting into it. I'm not a Tolkein fan though

Rating: 6/10 (5 April 2014)

"You've changed Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same hobbit as the one who left the Shire." After making it through the Misty Mountains, Bilbo (Freeman) and company must now make it through the dangerous Mirkwood Forest, this time without the help of Gandalf (Mckellen). When they arrive at the Laketown settlement Bilbo is told how to fulfill his dwarven contract. He must retrieve an artifact guarded by the deadly dragon Smaug. I will begin by saying that I was not a fan of the original Lord Of The Rings movies but did think the first Hobbit movie was good. I have just never really been of fan of the books or the movies so that will weigh into my judgment. That said I thought the last half hour of this one was exciting but up until then I found it much harder to get into then I did with the first Hobbit. I'm not sure why but historically the 2nd movie in a trilogy is usually the weakest one (Empire Strikes Back is the exception). I'm sure fans of this series will really enjoy this but I had a hard time getting into it. I am looking forward to the third one though due to the way this one ended and that I thought the Return Of The King was the best in the original trilogy. Overall, fans of the series will like this way more then I did, at least I think they will. I give this a B.