It sounds like they're trying to compensate for the fact that The Hobbit is simply a lighter read than Lord of the Rings, both in terms of size and complexity, and tone and subject matter. Which isn't the right way at all, because the Hobbit always read like a comedy/adventure, and that's exactly the way they should have kept it. An orc nemesis is a stupid idea, and I understand what you mean about the CGI. I noticed that it was "faker" even in the trailers, which is one of the reasons I haven't been too excited for the premiere. Given this review, I'll still see the movie, but it may be some weeks from now, I'm in no rush.