> From what I understand about it - and I don't have this firsthand from the studio or any suchlike thing, so keep in mind that it may not be correct - there has been extensive tampering. Specifically, Arwen Evenstar has been expanded into the "strong female lead" of the movie, because people were all complaining that the books were obviously sexist. That, to my thinking (I'm a bit of a Tolkien purist), is an unforgivable mangling of what Mr. T actually wrote.

OK, OK, I know who you mean. But my impulse to agree with you is being distracted by the idea of "Lord of the Rings as written by Mr T." Thanks a lot.