This was heartbreaking. This movie could have been...SHOULD have been so much better. I should have known not to get my hopes up since Peter Jackson wasn't directing it.

I think that Spielberg was a little too personally close to all of the content that the book references for him to realize that so much of that content is what makes people love the book so much. He just sees those things and that period through different eyes than those of us who grew up during the period. He sees past accomplishments and a great catalog of his art. He has no idea of what his movies mean to someone who's childhood was essentially defined by them. This isn't a knock against a brilliant director, just a statement of truth - the artist will always feel differently about his own work than those who grew up loving that work. I'm sure that's why he left out so much self-referencing material, but the movie is so much poorer for it.

So, from the aspect of a movie adaptation of the book, it fails miserably and is such a disappointment. A Peter Jackson trilogy would have been better. It just feels so rushed at 2 hours, 20 min.

If you have no idea what's in the book, then this movie is at least a fun, mindless thrill ride, with outstanding effects and CGI, so it has that going for it. It's more for those that watched The Lord Of The Rings trilogy because "OMG, Viggo is so hot", rather than see Tolkien's vision come to life. It's the only explanation for the number of 10-star rating this film has garnered. That and hordes of shills.

I weep for the lost opportunity that this movie represents. Spielberg destroyed the story, but I'm more pissed off with Mr. Cline for allowing it to happen. You, sir, are are a complete SELLOUT. You should hang your head in shame for having your name associated with this dumpster fire of a film.