I wonder if the Hobbit trilogy will have the same sort of reception the Star Wars prequels had. Think about it—We have one perfect trilogy that everyone loves; a trilogy that changes cinema and raises an entire generation of fans. Followed by a second trilogy that is much less well received, and even gets a lot of undeserved hate (because everything today has to be the best thing or the worst thing ever). Both are by the same director (who was somewhat unknown during the first trilogy and then became one of the greatest directors of all time by the second trilogy), and both are special effects extravaganzas that pioneered several new cinematic technologies (Remember that the Hobbit films came out in high frame rate versions that made people sick?).
Anyway, I wonder if in a few years people will start looking at the Hobbit movies in the same way people view the Star Wars prequels. Because there is a whole generation now that absolutely adores these movies and finds them superior to the originals.