Saw the movie.
Over all great. Everything you'd want from ponies and then some once you get used to the different animation.
Problem is that they added too many new characters and locations and as a result, only one(Tempest) gets any development whatsoever. If you haven't read the comic prequels, you probably walked away figuring Capper just really likes buttons. They're all likable though so I do hope we see some of them showing up in season 8.
I just saw it and I did not think it was that fantastic:
--Twilight's behaviour in this story was decidedly off. She is not doing well as the Princess of Friendship, especially not after how she spoke to Pinkie after the failed theft of the hippogriff/merponies' magic pearl. Is there any way to reverse alicorn ascension? Because she sure deserved it after that. And this after she had a strong showing in the season finale.
--There was I consider a somewhat disturbing development: I think this is the first time they have actually killed a villain (the petrified Storm King falling and shattering).
--The Storm King and Discord...separated at birth? Lookswise maybe not, but in terms of personality he came off as a weak Discord clone. I don't see why they needed a "real" actor for the voice work here; John de Lancie would've done just as well.
--As was already said, too many new characters. Came off feeling a bit like the old Transformers movie IMO.
--The new animation style was more eye-popping than the TV show (which has itself improved over the years), but I felt it had a familiar feel to it. Then I saw the credits. VERY disappointed they outsourced the animation on this one--it looks much like one of China's Xi Yangyang (Pleasant Goat) movies. Visually very impressive but they can't come up with good stories worth crap. (Can you tell I've had to sit through a few of these...?)
OTOH, it was strangely satisfying to finally see Spike's fire breath being used in an offensive manner.
cheers,
Gabe