Check out the Tolkien professor, who has his Simarillion seminar on line. I never got through the book either, but having it explained helps. Its on iTunes or google the Tolkien professor.
Most of the Simarillion is unfilmable, except for Luthien and Beren. TurinTurimbar’s story is too depressing.
However, Jackson has the rights to LOTRs including the appendices, so Aragorn and Arwen could be filmed.
GAH.