Snore. All style no substance. What remains is saccharine melodrama, contorted physiognomy, and loud music. I fell asleep twice trying to get through the first two episodes. And I get they're trying to set up a number of story lines, but the transitions do little to maintain a cohesive thread. For a franchise that's rich in fantasy and invention, there's very little of either. Sadly the few cinematographic moments that truly shine feel completely co-opted from the Jackson movies. As I was lamenting through this snore fest, Two things come to mind: one, Tolkien might be totally played out, and two, what a colossal waste of money.
