Having read LOTR at least as often as Jon, and having participated thru high school and beyond in a fantasy of our own devising among friends involving what we thought of as "Middle Earth: Next Generation" LONG before Star Trek thought of that: I am nervously awaiting the film which I will go to see as soon as possible.
On the Harry Potter issue, my husband was one of the original proofreaders (!) of the first 3 HP books to be "Americanized". Of course, when the first one came across his desk he had no idea what was to become of it- he remarked that he had an interesting story to proof and he was pleased that he didn't have to Americanize it as much as many other stories that come.
(He also hoped he'd be able to find a copy somewhere- he thought the kids might enjoy it!)