: This is just my opinion and I'm sure that many here will disaggree with me, as some already have. But doesn't anybody else think that expecting the movie to stay absolutely true to the book is a little farfetched???

I agree that all PJ needs to do to have done a "good job" is to make an enjoyable movie that will inspire people to read the book. But he also needs to make it enjoyable for people who know and love the book. This doesn't mean that he has to stick word-for-word to the novel, but it would be nice if he didn't make changes (such the introduction or removal of a major subplot) for no good reason.

For years, there haven't been any good cinematic interpretations of LotR. In a way, I want the movie to be made for us. But it's hard to make a movie designed for a rabid fans and still earn a buck; people who aren't already familiar with the work would be put off.