I'm going to get the books during Christmas break and see what the hype/controversy is all about. I've heard it's the "Anti-Narnia" which sounds interesting; I wonder if it's just as preachy but with a different agenda. I like the Narnia series as a whole, but it was best when the metaphors were more subtle without slamming you in the face. There's a big difference between the quality of say Silver Chair and The Last Battle, which is the final and most preachy book in the series.
Peter Jackson rocks, but I don't like what I'm hearing about The Hobbit. If he does it, I don't want LOTR-lite; The Hobbit is an entirely different type of book. I don't want it split into two fucking films, and I don't want it in 3D. In fact, I'd prefer it not even be made. Even Jackson can't make a story with 12 dwarves, a wizard, and a middle aged hobbit interesting to audiences.
