I read in one of the film mags they are going to pad the Hobbit fim out with information recorded in the appendices at the end of the LOTR book.
There is events going on recorded there that run parallel to the Hobbit saga that can be easily woven in .This info deepens our understanding of people like Beorn, Bard and some of the other characters.
Also Tolkien wrote the Hobbit with children in mind ,nearly all the references to combat are kept quite low key.Boost those scenes in the book for cinema and you will probably 2, 3hour films is only just enough !:flip: :bouncy:
On a pesonal note I cant wait to see the Lycanthrope Beorn in action. I read the book 35 yeaars ago and he is still one of my all time favourite Tolkien characters

Roll on the MOVIES !!!:flip: !!!! :bouncy:
GOD bless ...............VINCENTI