that only clock in at 2 or maybe 3.
You can build up the characters and suspense a lot better when you have a lot more time.
But then again, I prefer the long epics, all of my favorite movies clock in at over 2 hours, and the only version of LOTR I own is the Extended Edition and the only problem I have with the hobbit as 3 movies, is if you are going to go that route, why not show the Beorn scene AS DESCRIBED in the book over an overly-long barrel fight that never existed?