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How are they that different in the film than the books? - You speaking of Haldir? The Lothlorien elves were snotty in the book too - the thing with the blindfolds and such...

And with the exception of Galadriel's Halloween moment, which I think is overblown, the other elves seem just like the book to me, and Legolas certainly makes up for flaws of the others, don't you think? What to you mean?

How are they that different in the film than the books? - You speaking of Haldir? The Lothlorien elves were snotty in the book too - the thing with the blindfolds and such...

In the books the Lothlorien elves seem to be more cautious than arrogant. At least the book-Haldir greets Frodo courteously:

'Welcome!' the Elf then said again in the Common Language, speaking slowly. 'We seldom use any tongue but our own; for we dwell now in the heart of the forest, and do not willingly have dealings with any other folk.'

Isolating themselves isn't the same as being arrogant.

'But now we must debate no longer. Your folk must not remain on the ground.'

Here they show some concern for the safety of our travelers. At the blindfolding part, Haldir is rather apologetic when he explains that it is their law:

'I do not doubt you,' said Haldir. 'Yet this is our law. I am not the master of the law, and cannot set it aside.'

I think OT covered this one pretty well below, but I'll comment too.... I think the main problem is the Lorien elves, and Haldir and Co. specifically. The blindfold, remember, was just insisted upon for Gimli. It was the choice of the rest of the Fellowship to be blindfolded. There was a friendliness extended to most of the fellowship, especially when they hid them in the trees at night. I think OT said it best that they were cautious as opposed to arrogant.

And I think overall the book-elves just seem "brighter". They laugh a lot, they sing a lot, etc. It's almost as if while the book elves might have been standoffish too, their laughter and singing made up for whatever reservedness they had towards non-elves.