J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit finally hit the big screen this past week. For me and many other Tolkien fans, it was a long-awaited moment . While I enjoyed the movie, and believe that most Hobbit fans will as well, here are five things Tolkien purists, concerned parents, or moviegoers wondering whether they want to plunk down their $10 should know:

#1-Peter Jackson is still in Lord of the Rings  mode. This is probably my main issue with The Hobbit. Before I explain, however, I must tell you, first off, that everything in this film is gorgeously designed- the sets, the costumes, the CGI images, you name it. The opening scenes simply took my breath away. If you thought Minas Tirith was something, just wait till you see Erebor and Dale. And don't even get me started on how good Gollum looks this time around. Regardless of what other quibbles critics may have with this film, none are suggesting that Jackson has lost his cinematic mastery. Which brings me to my point. While Jackson's overpowering, over-the-top sets and epical dialogue were a smash-hit in LOTR, they feel just a tad unwieldy and gradiose in The Hobbit. Much of this is due to the fact that, compared to the grim, everything-at-stake nature of The LOTR books, The Hobbit is a frolicking child's tale. With the LOTR books,Jackson had to decide what to cut out. With The Hobbit, in order to fill the nearly 3 hour time block, Jackson instead found himself in need of excess material to pad the storyline. Perhaps The Hobbit would have fared better as a single three hour flick than as a nine hour trilogy. Apparently, though, Jackson was more interested in fitting the Hobbit into his LOTR mold than in fitting his plans to The Hobbit's mold.

#2- Martin Freeman delivers as Bilbo Baggins. Since I was ten, Bilbo Baggins has been one of my favorite story characters. Thus, I awaited Freeman's portryal of him with much anticipation. I'm happy to say he gets an A+ in my book. Quirky, endearing, and brave, Freeman's Bilbo is nearly everything I could expect of an actor. I say nearly because, honestly, I don't think any actor could quite measure up to the Bilbo I envisioned reading the Book. But Freeman's comes close.

#3- The longer it's been since you've read the book, the more you'll enjoy the movie. I went to see The Hobbit with two of my sisters, neither of which had read the book. While I exited the theater unsure how I liked it, they both came out raving. I think this difference was largely due to the fact that, since I've read the book many times, I have a strong mental outline of how the story progresses. Consequently, I found the new plot lines including Radagast, the white council, and Azog distracting. Since my sisters were experiencing the story for the first time, however, they didn't know what was new and what wasn't, and apparently found the storyline engaging.

#4- This movie probably isn't for little kids. I have two younger sisters who have both read The Hobbit, and they and I really hoped they could see the film. After viewing it though, I must admit that it might be a little much for one of them, and definitely too much for the other. While the violence is, in my opinion, definitely a step down from that in LOTR, the film still solidly earns its PG-13 rating. There are multiple decapitations, lots of ugly creatures, and at least one or two genuinely scary moments. Like I said before, though, this isn't quite Lord of The Rings level intesity. While everyone's kids are different, I would say as a general rule that this film would probably be fine for anyone 12+. However, as in everything else, parents know best.

#5- Despite a few questionable decisions, Peter Jackson has proven that he was the one meant to helm this film. I remember seven years ago, when the first Walt Disney Narnia film, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe came out. I thought it was outstanding, and waited a whole year in eager expectation for the second. When Prince Caspian finally rolled around, however, I was thoroughly disappointed. While the first film had remained startlingly true to C.S. Lewis's vision while still feeling fresh and compelling, the second fell flat due to new themes and character interactions foreign to C.S. Lewis's work. With the Hobbit, Jackson faced a similar test. He had to prove to audiences that he still had the touch- that he would treat The Hobbit with the same respect he gave to LOTR. And I believe Jackson solidly passed that test. In an age where big-budget action flicks are a dime-a-dozen, Jackson's painstaking attention to detail is refreshing. From the gently rolling hills of the Shire, to the lush valley of Rivendell, to the mighty halls of Erebor, this film is a visual masterpiece. And although I might take issue with a few of Jackson's plot tinkerings, I can say this: he has kept the heart and soul of Middle earth intact. Even more important than the visual beauty in The Hobbit are the themes of friendship, valor, and courage that permeate this story. While it may not be quite the story you remember, taken as a whole, The Hobbit is a visually awesome, emotionally compelling film.