Sorry for the long delay, but I somehow doubt allot were very anxious
Anyways, here is a quick little view of my thoughts.
After 3 hours, I think I have a bit to say on this. By no means did I look for nuance on the movie's part, for this was for enjoyment only, but due to what I know already, the lore itself sought me out.
If you have read the book and enjoyed it, there's a good chance that the movie will be a sour pill to swallow. I think I know now why the Tolkien estate wished they hadn't made a LotR movie. I enjoyed those movies, but this...it was too much.
Speaking from a lore perspective, they changed many things, many that should be let alone. If its not broken, don't "fix" it. I admit that you have to make changes to write it from a book to a movie (references "Alex Rider: Stormbreaker". The movie was slightly different from the book, yet was true to the heart of it). And if it was all the same as the book, there would be no surprise in the story; it would be worse due to your imagination being limitless. But there is a balance to be had. And the LotR movies did fairly well there.
The first change up is in the beginning and how Bilbo is writing the story down. It was not perfect, didn't really fit the style, nor (obviously) was it in the story. But it worked, and got the story from A to B. This change I understand and although the timing (in the story) was off, it made it easier to understand what was going on. So, I found it kinda cool.
The most glaring intrusion was of Rudolp... Ratagast the Brown. I fail to see how this was not a post film marketing scheme. I doubt many others weren't thinking of how silly it was to have Santa as a 'wizard'. There were a great deal of options to make this less....fantastical. It was almost humiliating to watch it was that bad.
And speaking of humiliation, how Gandalf brought up Bullroarer Took was spitting in Tolkien's face. Whether or not the story was true should have been up to the viewer. A simple wink would have said more than, "Every story needs embellishment!" In my mind that was saying 'Tolkien was lying and the story is false..... And what else is false?' Not remotely honoring the work put into the story. Not to mention how awkwardly it was brought up.
Also the dwarves didn't look like dwarves (well Balin was the only one I instantly recognized, and Dwalin wasn't TOO bad). None of them looked correct. The youngest (Kili and Fili) were both about 80 and yet couldn't manage to get more than stubble. Their beard of course, is a source of pride. Nor did they have blonde beards as the book stated. Nor did Thorin have his long blue(I assume kinda a steel blue-grey thing kinda was the idea) beard tucked into a golden belt.
Also the eagles never talked. Which was as stupid as if they left out the skin-changers and Beorn. At the very least the wargs talked.
And I suppose the whole 'Azzog'(sp) thing kinda worked. Although it really screwed with A) the lore B) the tone. At least they actually took a real character.
Anyone else notice that Bilbo NEVER stumbled upon it in the movie. Talk about inconsistencies! If he had done a half hearted attempt I would have been content.
Visually it was pretty dang cool. Lore wise, it was terrible (The other movies lore was WAAAY better). Possibly worse than terrible. No really new music; allot of the same themes and motifs. The characters were completely different (though I suppose you could kinda fight for some). Gollum and the whole song about the Desolation of Smaug were very well done. And the overall tone was totally different from the books and other movies.
So I would give it a 6/10. It was done well, but felt more like a retelling of a retelling of the animated movies of the books. Kinda like 'Westside Story' and 'Romeo and Juliet.'
Also, if you just look at the maps, you can tell that they wouldn't have seen the Lonely mountain from the Misty mountains. That's like seeing Chicago from New York (not that bad, but still impossible).
I mean LotR is suppose to be England's mythology.
Edit: I would say watch the movie first. They are massively different to begin with. And I doubt anyone who read LotR after the movies, really had the movies stuck in their mind. I mean they are wonderful, but not nearly as grand as the book. Besides the books having very little action. (The Battle of Helms Deep was a page, instead of a half hour).
Anyways, here is a quick little view of my thoughts.
