As for the Hobbit book itselt, it took me so long to finish it. I just can't relate to any character at all since they are so detached from me; male dwarves and a hobbit. There is also no strong female presence in the book, just nitpicking I was able to relate to Bilbo more in the trilogy movies- a person wanting an adventure but couldn't anymore.
I'd tell Christopher Tolkien to go do something to himself that he would find repulsive. These movies make the stories more accessible to people who would otherwise not be interested. I never even heard of the books before the movies were released. Assuming he gets royalties from his father's estate, I wouldn't be bitching. I bet his wealth sky-rocketed with people buying both the books and movies after the movies were released.
Agree.
I think the main reason why Tolkien Jr is so bitter is because their family lost the rights to the royalties when Tolkien sold LOTR in the 1960's I think. But I would agree that the movies were great. I read the books after watching the movie and although purists might hate me I think the movie justified it.
Aragorn in the movies is much more better than the books since in the books he's just too perfect, does nothing wrong, no doubts, knows everything and he's so bent on taking the back the throne. Pippin and Merry are also more relatable in the movies as young hobbits growing up because of tough times. I also loved the expansion of Arwen's role and the incorporation her love story to the main story. Boromir was wonderfully played by Sean Bean and his death was much sadder in the movie to me.
And I never liked Tom Bombadil, I'm glad he was cut out XD
As for character, the movies cannot simply fully capture the complexity of Eowyn, Gollum and Sam as well as the friendship between Legolas and Gimli but I can see the effort.
The action scenes were never seen before in any movies and even after 11 years I've never seen something as grand. I just LOL at poor-written CGI-fest movies trying so hard to be epic. Elrond, Faramir and Denethor are OOC and probably I was mostly disappointed with Frodo. Elijah Wood was magnificent but I never get why Jackson made Frodo so weak in the movies.
AND THE MUSIC! EPIC MUSIC!
I know the movies aren't perfect I have issues as well but it doesn't change my opinion that they are really awesome and has translated Tolkien's work into something unimaginable for him.
. But then again, it might be an opportunity to get the whole family to go out again together. You know, beyond things like birthdays. iirc, the last time the whole family was together was at my bday party last January. And as usual, that was mainly about my older brother's job, or lack thereof, 
.
