Jim-

I wathced half of the first LOTR DVD last night, and I have to say there is no comparison between that and "The Two Towers." Fellowship introduces characters, explains motivation, and bascially functions as a film independent of the rest. the Two Towers is nothing more than a second act. And the director did not even try to make it self-contained in any way. Compare this to "Star Wars" where the 6-part saga is brillinant, but any episdode can stand alone.

As for reading the books, let's just say my uber-geek status begins and ends with Star Wars. If I were to be obsessed with Roddenberry AND ALSO read TOLKIEN, well let's just say I doubt my porspects of sex in college would have been very good.