[Lush]

Well well well.
I only read the LotR (and then moved on to other works) after I saw the movie. I had skimmed "The Hobbit" on a babysitting job years ago, and found it really sweet and enchanting, but had not paid attention to the fact that there were other books that Tolkien had to offer.
Of course, I went to see the movie with some of my more indiscreet friends, who, afterwards were saying (loudly) stuff like : "Yeah, but the coolness won't start until they show the big spider, and everyone's gonna think that Frodo died! And watch out for that Gollum dude, 'cause he's going to save the day when he bites off Frodo's finger! Oh, but, like, Frodo won't do so well in the end anyway, 'cause he'll be sick and stuff, and they're gonna take him on this ship..."
Yeah, you get the idea that some of the biggest surprises that Tolkien had up his sleeve were spoiled for me. I don't think I enjoyed the books less because of that. Not at all. And, like any red-blooded female, I had a helluva time getting to know the characters of Aragorn and Legolas a little better. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
As for the morphing of the Downs, you know, "nothing gold can stay..."