To be honest, I liked it better than LOTR. It was a happier place which added a bit of coler to the never-ending doom and gloom of Fellowship of the Ring and onward stuff.
I'm going to come out and say it, but I don't think I've ever been enthralled with those books. I mean, yeah I get why I've never heard someone else say that but it's just too much monotone. Couldn't find anything to relate too as a result, really. I had that problem with both the film and the books and it stopped me from seriously getting engrossed on a personal level.
I'm gonna go hang out with the Harry Potter people guys. And screw the critics!
I've always liked JRR Tolkien more than JK Rowling. But yeah, I know some people don't like 'em. They just have terrible taste.