: 1.) Some people like it when you stay true to a story, and authenticate it. Too many changes just makes real fans go "Huh?" and the movie becomes a bomb. (IE the reason a lot of fans don't like the animated LOTR.) There are some changes that have to be made for time...and like someone said in the X-men movie, you have to see what is going to look good, and look incredibly goofy. (In the comic and cartoon Wolverine wears yellow spandex. That would look so horrible it would turn the movie into a comedy so they put him in an awesome black uniform.) Changes like that are bound to happen to make it look more believeable... but you need to stick mostly to the story people are familiar with to have a hit. Especially if it has such a strong following as Tolkien has.

Sorry to cut in, but I have to mention, that any artist woth his salt should be able to create an awesome yellow suit! ( maybe not spandex but.. ) and black suits have been done to death.
J.