[HCIsland]

I agree that PJ doesn't get enough credit, though I would certainly hesitate in saying the movies are an improvement. I honestly think people are expecting too much when they want a true interpretation of the book and a great movie. The two are mutually exclusive in many ways.<P>PJ's first job was to make great films, and he accomplished that. Both films are three hours long and feel like half that. He did it based on material that has been widely said to be unfilmable, and that comment has little to do with the needed special effects. Although some aspects of character and plot (and even geography) have been changed, the heart and soul of the books are there, and that is more important.<P>I think if one of us were to make the films, even Tolkien fans would be checking their watches before it was half over. I also get the same feeling that the same people that are trashing TTT were trashing Fellowship a year ago and will be trashing RotK a year from now saying, "I can't believe he butchered the book so much when he did such great job with the previous two movies".<P>Give yourselves a chance to get used to the changes and why they are in there.<P>H.C.