Couldn't be more disappointed

Rating: 3/10 (23 December 2013)

It starts with an opening scene that is so awkward it is almost comical - but not in the ironic, fun way. In the "did I get in to the wrong movie?" way. It was like watching Scary Movie when you thought you were sitting down to watch Scream.
It didn't stop there, though. Despite being incredibly long, the movie has almost no character development, and aside from Bilbo, none of the characters are at all likable. I went with friends that were big fans (and I was also a big fan) - and we all equally disliked just about every single one of the dwarfs. So much more could have been done with them, but instead they acted as props for the entire movie... moving props, yes, but still props.
Now to the absolutely, positively, worst element of the movie. HFR 3D. OMG, I really hope this goes extinct, and fast. I love 3D, and it is the only reason I go to movies in the theater anymore - but this HFR stuff makes it obvious that you are looking at a bunch of guys in makeup on a badly assembled set. I felt like I was watching a high-school play the entire time. I understand that HFR improves the way that sports look - but movies are vastly different. Movies need the soft edges and warmth that *film* provides. Movies need to let me escape into their world and enjoy the story. There wasn't a single moment during this movie that I felt like I was part of the story. Please, please let this medium die. I thought it was just me, but at the end of the movie my friends turned to me and asked "Why did the movie look so bad?" I explained about HFR to them and they said "Well, guess we aren't going to waste money going to the movies anymore."
And that's exactly what you would be doing if you saw this movie in the theaters.