[Quiet Man Cometh]

I definitely agree that the movie needed to be shorter, and that it would have been better if it felt more like a story about Bilbo than a prequel to the LOTR movies.

I did like Smaug and apart from the scene length and how long it took to get around to the barrel rider/Laketown connection (took all one one statement in the cartoon) I thought he was well done.

I have watched the cartoon a couple times recently, and although the design of the elves is a little unfortunate (I like the goblin design now that I'm not afraid of them ;)) I think I preferred their depiction in the cartoon. The part of me that likes creepy or quirky characters liked movie Thranduil though, but I don't have previous references of character in mind to be offended on behalf of.