trublu: If you're like me, the subject matter may be a bit off-putting. I've never taken much of a shine to the whole genre of elf, dragon, fantasy stuff. And I tried reading the hobbit as a boy, and just could not get into it.

It came as a surprise then, that I enjoyed LOTR. But my tastes regarding the trilogy may be bassackwards compared to LOTR devotees: I like the first one the best, the second one less so, and the third was just painful to get through.

However, even if you don't like the plot and characters, in terms of visual and auditory impact, the entire series sets a benchmark for home theater that few films can rival. The battle scenes are on the short list when it comes to demo material.

From that perspective alone, it's worth checking out; but be sure to start with the first one so you get on board with the storyline.