Quote Originally Posted by phil_geo View Post
I mean, did Gandalf really have to catch a moth to summon the birds AGAIN? It was such a special moment from LotR, and now it seems moth-catching is just how you get birds. The escape from the Goblin King really reminded me of the flight through Moria, although even more slapstick and improbable. The fight between the stone giants reminded me of their attempt to cross the mountains before going to Moria in Fellowship.
I agree that we didn't need to see these things again. The escape from the Goblin King, especially, because even though it was so similar, they left out the small matter of suspense. When I was watching everyone swaying on that pillar of rock in Moria, I was in genuine fear that they would fall. I had read the books a dozen times, and I knew that no one would fall, I knew that the movie would never deviate from the books that far, and yet I was cringing in my seat waiting for someone to plummet to their death. In The Hobbit, I always felt that they were all safe.

In spite of that, I enjoyed the movie. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough that I intend to go see it again. And I thought it was just the right length.