Last week, I watched The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. I’m not a Tolkien fan (actually, I have never read any of his books) but after seeing this movie, I definitely plan on reading some of Tolkien’s books. It had been a long time since I last saw a fantasy movie, and The Hobbit reminded me of how refreshing fantasy is.

The movie had a wonderful balance of comedy, action and drama. Unlike many other fantasy and action movies, The Hobbit provides a mix of bright, beautiful landscapes and dark, mysterious sceneries.

Martin Freeman did a great job portraying his character, Bilbo, as a quirky, charming hobbit. Ian McKellen plays a very respectable Gandalf, and Richard Armitage is rugged and fierce as Thorin Oakenshield.

However, there are some common complaints about the movie. For Tolkien fans, the addition of a she-elf is blasphemous, but I believe it creates a more entertaining and varied movie without taking away the essence of The Hobbit. Who doesn’t love Tauriel and the additional plot-line she creates?

People also criticize the movie for it’s excessive use of computer generated imagery (CGI). I would have to agree. Action in it’s rawest form is the most exhilarating. But the CGI was by no means distracting.

The movie as a whole was very impressive. I will definitely be there when The Hobbit: There and Back Again comes out on December 17, 2014.