I really was not crazy about Bard, and until we see more of Beorn I suppose I'm on the fence there too. But I also was not that crazy about anything in Laketown. I think Martin owns a young Bilbo and can no longer see anyone else pulling it off, except for Ian but only as older Bilbo. I'll have to reserve judgment on the rest until the Extended Edition is released though. I do find it amusing how popular Legolas was 10 years ago, and how he's almost despised now. I do contest that via PJ's fan fiction Tauriel is done much better than Legolas in DoS. It does not really bug me even though the love story is not needed whatsoever, but I find Tauriel more believable in the Tolkien world rather than Legolas. If anything this may take a way from his LoTRs character rather than add anything good to it. He does not come across very likable.

Taking the liberty to create and delve more into Tolkien's universe is a very bold move on Peter Jackson, but I can see why he does it. Who would not? It's an awesome world and directors do it constantly in nearly every film they adapt from, but it so happens he's been given the honor to mess around in a world that is protected by millions of fans, and his footsteps are observed closely.