The Hobbit movie - good / bad idea?

[Gerbil]

OK so I know everyone will scream 'GREAT IDEA!' but really rather than just post a 'me too' can people say WHY they think this and justify it rationally?

I'm currently re-reading the Hobbit (yeah like the day it takes to read ) and I'm thinking it's actually not very good material for a movie. Certainly not if it's to join onto the LotR films.

The material is just too different and more childish.
Style aside, it also does not fit very well into the world of LotR (as we all know it was in part retro-fitted into the LotR story and mythology) - it would just need too many changes to become consistant.

And of course - changes are bad, right? We don't want another Liv Tyler putting her ugly mug in shot, do we?

So go for it, explain away, but EXPLAIN please! Don't just say 'cos I want to see it!' (No bonus points for being the first to quote that as the only thing in your message).

I'm looking for serious reasoned opinions. I leave it to you guys to show me whether I've come to the right place or not for that