I only just got back from watching the film, and I must say I feel sad that the whole Middle-Earth journey with Peter Jackson has come to an end. I think the movie had a fitting climax, but the ending seemed to be a bit rushed, espically after Bilbo returned the shire. I personally wished Peter Jackson had added some things towards the end, including some bit which reflected on the end of the lord of the rings, with the vision.
SPOILERS!
With the Beginning, I loved the Battle with Smaug against Bard the Bowmen, and the events in lake-town were one of the main highlights. However, Its a huge shame that Smaug was only in it for the beginning, even though the book was written like that.
I felt the Middle was slow, up until the arrivals of the Dwarfs. It felt like an hour of "Oh, Thorin is going mad over a bit of money, Army from the north, Bilbo fled and trying to advert war with Bard and thranduil. (this was probably down to my Eagerness to watch the main battle). Also, Screw Alfrid, he was a waste of time for my viewing. He pissed me off so many times, and drew away my enjoyment from the film at times, espically in the middle when no action was taking place. Rant over. However, I did love the middle section with Gandalf being rescued by the White council, and Galadriel going Crazy. Awesome!
When the battle hits off, I thought the CGI was Perfect in this film, and not too "fake" as many people have made out to be in the other two. The battle and the conversations throughout were perfectly balanced, and well paced. (Also, If anyone is curious, I thought the Kili - Tauriel relationship story was done right, not too in the way like the ending of the last film, thought tauriel was the perfect addition to the story).
The action was top notch, the acting was well done, especially by Martin freeman and Richard Armitage, were outstanding and deserve commendation. With the ending, the Eagles arrival seemed to end the battle, similar to how quick the battle was ending with the arrival of the army of dead at the battle of Pelennor Fields in the Return of the King. I also did tear up when Kili, Fili and thorin all die.
to be fair with this part, I didn't find that scene funny at all, It was them two chuckling as Gandalf is trying to smoke a joint. I did think it was fitting, but that is just my opinion.
For me, the ending felt a little weak. I loved the part when Legolas is given the task to go and search for strider (Nice mention about arragon), and the bit where bilbo says to the remaining dwarves left to visit him sometime, where they "don't have to knock next time". Other than that, the auctioning of bilbo stuff by the shirefolk was unnecessary, and the departures of gandalf seemed odd. But i did like how it came to join back to Bilbo 111th Birthday.
Overall, this film for me was the best out of the three, and I could feel the emotion put into the film. The hobbit series was a blast, and I can't now Imagine how they could do it again in one film. I think my problem with this last film, why it didn't impact me like the other two, was my emotions of not wanting the film to end, and thus conflicting my experience. The hobbit wasn't a money grab like people say, it was one last adventure, which peter jackson wanted to share to the fans of Middle Earth. He did the book justice, and tolkien with the movies, including the Lord of the Rings. All I say to him is this, thank you for the amazing time to middle earth, it has been a blast!
Disclaimer: All of above is my opinions, I'm sorry if you don't agree with them.
hm ... now that i think about it ... you are somehow right, i personally didnt found the scene funny either, it was more the problem, that the most of the audience in the cinema was laughing at this point ....
