Can't say I agree, but considering the source material, Jackson did an outstanding job cutting out the boredom.

Tolkein had a lot of skills as a linguist, as a world crafter, but as an engaging storyteller... The books were on the order of 1200 pages. 1000 pages were often excruciating details of nine men walking in the woods, 100 pages were battle scenes written by the guy who thought the first 1000 pages were a good idea, and 50 pages were three hobbits doing something out of left field at the end. And if you have high hopes for that other 50, Tom Bombadil spouts poetry for fifteen of them, and there's about twenty pages of arguing in there that always leads to everyone just sticking to the original plan.

1st look at The Hobbit's Dori, Nori and Ori

Looking better and better everyday.

http://blastr.com/2011/07/image-of-the-day-1st-look.php

It's doubtful: most of the same talent, the same director, the same writers, etc.

Part of the problem with Star Wars was the the prequels didn't have the same writers and Lucas was too busy green-screening performances to care otherwise. Merchandizing.... grr...

Here is a 2nd Production Video of the Hobbit, looks like a ton of hard work.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=79633

Someone enjoyed Bridgette Jones diary? Isn't that one o the signs of the apocalypse?