I was talking to some younger people the other day about Tolkein's work and I really am not surprised at the disdain for it. Today everything has to happen immediately or it sucks. Books take time to read, things can be complex and have many layers to them and groundwork laid long before its culmination, and "Ain't nobody got time fo' dat". Hell you can't even get them to write out words so they use text abbreviations. These days few people can tell the difference between a quality steak and slab of marinated beef from Applebees.
I'm loving these films. I think the extended editions are awesome. My issues with them are few, (Witch King shattering Gandalf's staff, Legolas superhuman feats since a race of elves capable of such things would be unstoppable, the orcs climbing like spiders, and the bridge collapse in the Hobbit). Casting is great, effects are spectacular and the story is brought to life quite effectively. I'll be sad when there is no more story to tell.
