Stuart Townsend as Aragorn.

bahahahahahahahahah

No really, this is him. As Aragorn. This was going to be Aragorn.

I fully expected to hate Radagast, given how many called him the Jar Jar Binks of The Hobbit. That's a huge exaggeration. Radagast is fine. He's even fun to watch most of the time. He just doesn't mesh with the plot of this film (at least not yet.) And someone in pre-production clearly overestimated how much people enjoy looking at birdshit.

The action scenes were the parts that I least hated the HFR. But let's be honest, there aren't really all that many of those. This is a pretty talky movie, to the point that Jackson inserts big epic battles for really no reason. Did we really need that Azog flashback? No. That's something that should have gone in an extended edition.

Wrote this for Facebook, I'll repost it here.

I just got out of The Hobbit in 48 fps. I HATED HATED HATED it. Totally distracting, tacky, and unnecessary. There's nothing this format offers that IMAX doesn't already provide, and better. It is heinous to behold, an embarrassment to cinema. I had to walk into another screening afterwards for a few minutes just to wash the bad taste out of my mouth. An hour in I contemplated leaving altogether. It was a horrendous experience. It was like I was watching it on TV. It actually made me tune out of the movie, like I could go on Facebook and just let it play in the background. HFR 3D is an interesting idea, but in execution it is a complete and total failure. Don't waste your time or your money.

I'm reserving a full review until I see it again in 48 fps (the way it was meant to be seen) but I think I liked it. I was bored for the first half, to be honest, but once we see Radagast's encounter with the Necromancer, the movie started to engage me. Too bad that subplot doesn't pay off. I assume they're saving it for part 2.

Also, I loved seeing Benedict Cumberbatch's name in the credits. Wasn't he great as the Necromancer's groan in that one scene?

I'm okay with the two-pilot thing. You don't get a single person to captain a ship, or fly a rocket.

I'm starting this meme. I think it's got potential.

This summer, CANCEL THE APOCALPYSE

I also really like that line. It indicates that they're fleshing out Ma and Pa Kent beyond their down-to-earth homey wisdom. Hopefully that holds true for all the characters.

The trailer seems to indicate that all the cast members get a moment in the sun, in an Avengers-esque way. No sign of Chekov, though.

I just watched Paranorman, and oh my god you guys have GOT to do Paranorman. It's freaking amazing.

The only thing that disappointed me about that trailer was that it featured yet another use of the Inception BRMMMMMMMMMMM. It's in like every trailer nowadays. So boring.