There were three movies there. A rollicking group adventure, a self-serious fantasy epic, and a small piece about personal growth. I just wish Jackson had stayed with the personal growth as part of the group adventure. Ultimately, if the most distracting CGI was removed (the Goblin King and his secretary looked imported from another film, the rock monster fight was like watching a video game, and the dish-tossing looked so fake it was impossible to suspend disblief), the film would have been better for it. I liked the sorrow of Thorin Oakenshield, but I would have liked it to be more flawed, more wrought with personal vengeance, less with Manly Man Feelings.