Drinking Contest: Any Support From the Books?

[Essex]

Turin, a few points on your post:

As for the films being successful. that doesn't mean a thing. Plenty of films have been successful but of poor quality (Titanic, Pearl Harbour etc).

Of course it means 'a thing'. The movies are masterpieces, put together with love and care and plenty of hard work. That's one of the reasons that made it successful. (Oh yes, and nerds like me going to see each one at the cinema plenty of times)
PS Pearl Harbour successful are you sure??????
PPS Titanic, not my cup of tea, but a well crafted story, again with a stunning 'story line' to work from.

they went because they had heard of this book called LoTR and wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

I would say that the majority of people went not because they wanted to see what the fuss was about, but for the excellent reviews from fans and critics alike to the movies.

too often Hollywood's perceptions of peoples' intelligence is patronising

absolutely, but this film wasn't made by hollywood. It was made lock, stock and barrel by Peter Jackson. I think what we see here is Jackson's humour, not Hollywood's.
PS The Tolkien Reading world and his dog seem to have put down Gandalf's staff breaking as the worst new bit in the ROTK EE. I would say it's the face Gimli pulls as he's treading on the skulls in the paths of the dead. That 'humour' REALLY made me cringe. ugh!