Much like Transformers 2, I left the movie theater quiet and with nothing to say. It was empty calories, not memorable at all, and not something I'd ever volunteer to watch again.
I didn't mind bringing back the LOTR alumni solely because I could see the value in watching this "prequel" directly before Return of the King (except for Legolas needing 60 years to find Aragorn, who didn't look quite that old in "Fellowship"). But wow, no closure at all after introducing so many important characters.