The theater was having some problems with a new system and the hard drive crashed. 3D wasn't available so I can't comment on it. Been waiting a long time for the movie and it did NOT disappoint. Yes, some places did seem a bit slow, but Jackson is telling more of the story. The Hobbit book and this movie are a bit (so far) more light-hearted than LOTR. If you are a real stickler for the book, you might be disappointed, but push that to one side and be entertained. This is fantasy at its very, very best. The depth of the characters, details, and settings are so real that you feel as if you are in the movie. Great! (I'd love to live in Rivendell personally.) Sit back, relax and enjoy the incredible story-telling magic.