4. "Historical Accuracy"
Yes, Jackson brutally changed The Hobbit. But many of the changes are based on Tolkiens source material. Not all of them, of course. Azog was killed in Moria, he didnt launch a weird vengeance quest after the dwarves. There were not so many epic battles in the first third of the book, and Bilbo did not stand over the fallen body of Thorin and fight off the wargs who were closing in. But other changes were more accurate (I guess I should say accurate, since theyre based on a fictional history). The dwarves did try to retake Moria. Thorin
et al did wander throughout the west of Middle Earth, working as itinerant blacksmiths. Gandalf was concerned about Sauron using Smaug, and wanted to establish an anti-Sauron power base in the East by helping the dwarves. And Saruman was being a little sketchy when it came to the Ring in the meetings of the White Council around this time. So yes, Jackson
et al did change The Hobbit from the whimsical tale we all grew up reading into a shadow epic to The Lord of the Rings. But at least some of it was true to Tolkien. Granted, my inner child is still furiously fuming over that painfully melodramatic orc-and-warg battle at the end, when all I wanted to see was some exploding pinecones and helpful eagles.