I didn't expect to enjoy this movie at all--it was just a little over-hyped for my taste. But the special effects were so stunning and realistic--and that's not something I typically place a lot of emphasis on. I will say that the "bad guys" were such over-the-top caricatures of what they represented, that it insulted my intelligence a bit. That being said, I found myself really identifying with the characters and getting lost in the story. Overall, I really enjoyed it. NOT appropriate for little ones, though.