Ironic that you feel the sets artificial - if you watch the extras on the extended DVD for Fellowship - they actually built Hobbiton proper. They found a valley with a suitable party tree in NZ, made housefronts and gardens, and then waited almost a year for it to look properly grown and lived in.

I hope to be able to see it during Christmas week. I'm also looking forward to seeing Ents, but maybe I should lay off the pints of Baileys....

LTS