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I like "The Ten Commandments" better than the book. :-)
While I think that LotR in book form is better, I do see where people who like the movie better are coming from. Tolkien is inconsistent (maybe there's a better word) as a stylist. I.e., some parts of LotR are tight and very well written (many of the battle scenes; the scouring of the shire; the unexpected party; most bits with Gandalf; most bits with Gollum); but other parts would benefit from a good editing - the section on the Ents, for example - but also a lot of the Sam and Frodo scenes after they've left Rivendell. (And the class differences between Frodo and Sam seem dated and out of place in the book). Also, I think Merry and Pippin are supposed to be comic relief but then develop into more serious characters...but I don't think they are actually that funny to begin with - and then their transformation into serious characters isn't that convincing either.
I'm not into Tom Bombadil, but I don't think that's an editing or writing issue - I don't really care for the characters or the plot...but I think they are pretty much what Tolkien wanted.
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