As a fan of the books, I didn't walk into the movie expecting much. This movie could have been 3 hrs and I would have been happier, but I know not all can sit through such epics and at 2hrs the studio was already pushing it. I let myself enjoy the movie and accept it for what it was, but I walked out of the theater feeling unsatisfied. It wasn't a waste of 2 hrs, but it just didn't go all the way. The story line and editing seemed sloppy and the whole picture seemed low budget. They should have had the director and screen writer from "Harry Potter". That series and "Lord of the Rings" have done the best with transitioning from page to screen. I hope they make the sequel and learn from previous mistakes.