 The film received generally positive reviews . The review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 67 % of critics gave the film positive reviews , based on 188 reviews . Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 62 out of 100 , based on 34 reviews . Audience members polled by CinemaScore mostly gave it an A − . Film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film 3 out of 4 stars ( as he did with The Lion , The Witch , and The Wardrobe ) , calling the performances " strong " , the storytelling " solid " , and the scenery " breathtaking " , though he also said , " it 's a dark tale , and the climactic battle scenes go on at length . " 
