Im aware this is a divisive issue, either yhou hate it or you love it. Maybe Im turning into "Grampa Jack" here />/>/>, but the level of detail in the image ends up detracting me from the story. It's kind of difficult for me to explain it, but being acustomed to the 35mm film all my life, watching all this new stuff makes me aware this is a film Im watching and it´s harder for me to immerse in the story (sorry if this doesnt make sense...).

I agree with SkycladGuardian here, this felt like a Jerry Bruckheimer production, from the chase scenes to the type of comic relief... that was one of the things that pissed me off the most. IMHO this should ve been a smaller movie, and it should ve concentrated in the wonderful characters the story has (from Bilbo, to Thorin and Smaug included, who is at the same time both terrifying and funny) and less about the battles and "sweeping spectacle". Clearly they wanted to replicate the "blockbuster" structure that LOTR had.

One thing important... DONT WATCH IT IN 3D or 48 frames/second mode, it's DREADFULL; and definetely not worth the extra money.

IMHO, a money-grab basically... The decisions behind making the original shorter story longer, just because you want to add some other stuff that Tolkien wrote later and didnt included in "THE HOBBIT" is shitty, IMHO, and it's basically monetary (lets do another trilogy) when with just ONE it was enough (specially if the film lasts almost 3 hours like in this case).

Of course, the special effects are awesome, but again, adding to the story of Bilbo and the Dwarfs against Smaug all the other shit about the Council, the Enemy in Dol-Guldur, the discussions between the Mages, all that doesnt add ANYTHING of importance to the story, nor does add any incredible or relevant character depictions as well... It only dectracts you from the main story. If Jacson wanted to tell ALL THE EVENTS, he should ve compiled a TV series ala Game of Thrones with all that other footage, but leave the original story as it was. The way it was done, it's INSANELY LONG...

Sorry if I sound too ranty, but Im pretty pissed for the results... I really wanted to like this movie...

RPGs

More in line with the baldurs gate games are both "Icewind Dale" and "Icewind Dale II". Definetely less story and roleplay and more action, but the art-style is still awesome (and if you happen to like winter settings you'll have a treat). I wouldnt pick up "Inquisitor", unless you re OK with READING A LOT, it has no audio or video sequences, so all the miriad ammount of characters you have to take into account are rather difficult to follow. That one is definetely for those who love really old-school mechanics.

A rather recent Action-RPG with lots of humor is "Costume Quest", from the people of Double Fine. It's CRAZY funny (actually the creator of the game, who is a female developer, has quit Double Fine and returned to PIXAR, her original "home". Yeah... Im a nerd. />/>/>/>).


ADVENTURES

If you like horror-survival, I would definetely pick up Cryostasis... it KICKS ASS.

For more old school adventures, "Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathners" or "Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within".

For more modern style adventures, the ones by the talented Spanish Pendulo Studios (specially "Runaway: a Road Adventure" or "Runaway: A twist of fate".
It's a shame that the ones from Daedalic ("Edna & Harvey" and the "Deponia" series) are not included in the sales offer. I would definetely recommend those, which I bought from GOG at the time of the last CDP RED Conference.


Strategy
"Dungeon Keeper 2" IS A MUST HAVE. But you know about it already, Im sure.
If you like war history, I would pick either "Panzer General 2" of the "Red Baron Pack". Both of them are great and stand the test of time.
Gangsters is a fine game also, with tons of replay value and is crazy cheap. It's kind of a mafia sim.

Having to quell my sick collector's fetish, though I dont own an X-BOX, I ended buying separately (e-bay) both the box and the artbook from the Dark Edition... which are its coolest items IMHO(already own the medallion).