I finally got to see
the movie. Unshackled from the craptastic screenwriting of George Lucas, Natalie Portman actually gets to show that she can indeed act.
...and Hugo Weaving. I was never really big on him. I thought that his Agent Smith character was interesting, but cartoonish and then the whole Elrond thing just fell flat because I kept hearing him say, "Mr. Anderson..." in my head. This is probably the best role he's ever played, even though you never see his face.
Story-wise, it's interesting but predictable. They spend the entire movie setting up the climax of the film and when it finally does arrive, it's exactly what you expected. No surprises. It's not really a complaint. Here is a movie with a beginning, a middle, and an end. No sequel opportunity. No hook for the next film. Get in, get out, get done.