Allow me to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading the comments from you anti-LOTR persons.. I saw the movies; as a fan of the author I must say I think they did what they could on screen even though some parts were disappointing.. I also read the books, yeah they were a bit dry and drawn out, particularly from the middle of The Two Towers onward--however I enjoyed them overall.. To those who did not, no one forced you to stick with them, you have no one to blame but yourselves if you want that time back. Cheers!