Well, speaking of tone differences. The narration was light and breezy in the hobbit. The tone itself just in the books was alot different. The narrator of the hobbit is playful, like telling a yarn about the days long ago. Even though there are battles and the like, it's more sweet spirited and positive.
Exactly. This is the way The Hobbit has to be, much more of a children's story. Jackson could do the wonder of it, but it should be a real children's film: fast-paced and no grand vistas.