Even the author of the books herself said the movie was terrific!
This is an interesting fact! Thanks for telling me that!
It remains one of my favorite movies of all time and I never get bored watching it.
It's my number one movie too. It's simply impossible to become bored with it. I actually went into cinema to watch it several times. Now I have a DVD copy of it, and I watch it at least once a month.
Though, I have to respectfully disagree that the books were "dull;" I've read up to the fourth book, and enjoyed them so far!
This is because we have rather different tastes. The main problem I had with these books is that it is too hard to feel sympathy for the characters. They either have little personality (Digger), or an annoying one (Twilight, Otulissa). And the villains were not threatening enough. But villains are the driving force of any story, and if they are weak, then the story itself is weak. The movie greatly improved both the heroes and villains.
Anywho, I think another movie that doesn't quite go with the book, but was fantastic overall, was The Hobbit. I'm reading through the book at the moment, and absolutely love both. Such a fantastic story. I don't think Tolkien would have a problem with the changes made to the story!
I love Tolkien's stories too! He is my only favorite fantasy author. I don't read other fantasy authors, they are often too cynical and have various extremist beliefs and creepy obsessions, and it clearly shows in their stories. And I don't want to read such garbage. Tolkien is THE best, because he didn't sell his soul to cynicism and amorality, and that's why his works are so majestic and heartwarming. Those who hate Tolkien are soulless, and that's a fact.
And the Tolkien films are incredibly good. Like the Guardians oif Ga'Hoole movie, they are almost flawless, and I love them.