OK, ended going to the sneak peek after all, since all the good seats were taken at any of the other times we could go...
SO, I'm not sure I want to see it again, except as a part of the full set.
I'm not going to post any spoilers, yet,
but the special effects were amazing, the story was somewhat true to the book (no spoilers) and the ending will have you screaming foul... BUT we knew this one was kind of a go-between. A filler for the beginning and ending where things go from dark to darker, to darkest.
Extremely violent, PLEASE don't take your younger children. The spiders alone will give them nightmares for weeks. Some very cool fighting moves by the dwarves, though, which led to our favorite part of the movie. (think whirling dervish and you'd be close)
All-in-all, guys, It's a great, solid middle section of a trilogy that will only wet your appetite for the third installment. Just as it should.
Sorry if this was a little rambling, but sleep has eluded me for a few days and I'm feeling the effects.
Ya'll take care.