Pretty, but not a good movie

Rating: 5/10 (4 January 2014)

I haven't read the Hobbit in about ten years at least, so I'm a bit hazy on what is in the book and what isn't.
That said, once again, the second movie is way too serious for the Hobbit, which is a kid's book. The first movie, an Unexpected Journey, grappled with tone, not quite deciding whether it was serious or light-hearted, while the second movie has decided that it is more of a drama.
That said, the story is really slow. There are lots of side-elements to the actual quest which are distracting and pointless. Why are the orcs so hell-bent on chasing the dwarfs for instance? None of the characters are really sympathetic or have any kind of back-story that makes you care about them. Thorin in particular is like an Aragorn without a heart.
The movie contradicts a lot of the Lord of the Rings films by including detail that doesn't really fit into the second film - a lot like the problems that the Star Wars prequels do as well.
I actually fell asleep at one point where they were in a town trying to find some supplies for way too long. Gandalf's story feels very irrelevant - I wonder if it will go anywhere in the final movie.
Sadly, I only feel it has such a high rating because it bears the title "The Hobbit". If no-body had heard of the story I can't imagine it would do well.