Yup. Had the same experience. Gollum was so well done, It didn't occurr to me to think about him being a CG character. And I'm not stretching that. And the theater broke up laughing just about every time Smeagle took to screan. It's amazing how you start to sympathize with the little toad. While Same and Frodo are talking about how they will be remembered, I found myself thinking, 'what about Smeagle?' I won't give away more than that; but, Gollum was my favorite part of the Hobbit and the LOTR series. And I find myself wishing like anything that Jackson would do a theatrical version of the Hobbit now to complete the set. Not holding my breath; but, oh it would be so sweet.
Loved it.
Perhaps even a tad bit more than the first(!?).
The crowd loved it. Funny too how you had your 'factions' in the audience. One group of teenage girls clapped every time Legolas showed his face. (Altho watching him mount that horse made *me* gasp!)
Another bunch laughed extra loud at every one of the Dwarf Gimli's lines. (Personal favorite -- "We can take 'em".)
Great, great movie. I'll see it again.
I saw an interview with PJ sometime in the latter half of '02 and I thought I heard him say he was considering this.