I suppose one of these days I need to read those things. I've always been fearful to because what I've been told of Potter gives me flashbacks of what Sword of Shannara did to Tolkien, only Potter seems to be doing it with D&D. But I know you're a hardcore Tolkien fan and you don't seem to get that reaction from it, so maybe I'll give it a chance. . .Tried renting one of the DVDs the other day but I was only able to watch about half before the computer got finicky and wouldn't show the rest properly.
Ouch, don't compare "Shannara" and Potter.
I admit my perceptions are colored because I first ran into Potter when I was 16, lonely, and in desperate need of escapist fantasy; but I enjoy them. I have a number of friends I'd have never met without our mutual interest.
Don't watch the movies; the first two are no good. Well, they have good bits, but read the books. And you have to read the first three before quitting, because book 3 is where it really goes from "neat story, really cool world, I wouldn't mind visiting" to, "whoa, this woman can write!"