[Heatmiser]

I really enjoyed TTT, with the aforementioned exception of Faramir's character and the trip to Osgiliath. Everything else was understandable for cinematic reasons. I actually understood moreso the reason for Elrond's character departure from the books in this movie, while in FotR I didn't like it at all. He seemed to cynical and harsh. It makes more sense after TTT to play up the big decision Arwen has before her and the conflict Elrond has as a father.
Finally, I will be extremely disappointed if the rumors about RotK are true- specifically, that the Scouring of the Shire will be left out. The whole rest of the story doesn't have the same impact if you don't get to see how it affected life in the near utopian Shire and how the hobbit-heroes (mainly Merry and Pippin) make things right again. I suppose if Saruman dies at Orthanc, then it is almost a forgone conclusion that the Scouring will be left out. I have really thought that Peter Jackson has done the book justice so far, but that opinion will change if he leaves this out.