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The more I've thought about my position on this, the more I believe that it is correct. Tolkien set out to establish a mythology for Britain. He has suceeded. Middle-Earth is now, with these movies, a true myth. The main story in the myth is now two thirds of the way from being completely retold. Myths do not follow a specific series of words upon retelling, they follow the general story and are retold with different words. Jackson's version of this story is a simple retlling of the myth (which Tolkein wanted!) in his own words, or his own vision.

It doesn't matter if Faramir seems like a meany, it only matters that he captures Frodo then breaks the laws of the land to let him continue his quest. Tolkien told the story one way, Jackson told it another, but the basic story is the same.

The Ents meet Merry and Pippin, have an Ent-moot, and decide to attack Isengard. Tolkien tells it one way, Jackson another.

Theoden heads to Helms Deep, Saruman traps him there, the armies of Saruman breach the ancient fortress, the men of Rohan fight bravely, they are rescued at dawn by forces unlooked for. Tolkien this way, Jackson that way.

Keeping the story the same but changing the details does not ruin the myth.

You've made the best comment. Tolkien's goal was to establish a mythology (not a pseudohistory) that he hoped others would contribute to. He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.

As a Tolkien fan for thirty years I am acutely aware of every deviation Peter Jackson has made from the canon. And you know what, I don't care. It's Jackson's story, not Tolkien's.

The most interesting change, in my opinion, is where the grief of Arwen at the death of Aragorn (in the book put in an appendix) is incorporated into the story, and used to explain her breaking of her engagement. That makes Eowyn a serious romantic rival. It will be interesting to see how it is handled.

" The Ents meet Merry and Pippin, have an Ent-moot, and decide to attack Isengard. Tolkien tells it one way, Jackson another."

The fundamental thing about "Lord of the Rings" is that it is a Christian and Catholic work. It is a myth about truths. Tolkien tells Christian truths, Jackson doesn't.

The Ents are one area where Jackson does a thorough trashing of Tolkien.

Tolkiens Ents thoughtfully and prudently decide to go to war. They go to "Just War".
"Of course, it is likely enough, my friends,' he (Treebeard) said slowly, "likely enough that we are going to our doom; the last march of the Ents. But if we stayed at home at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway sooner or later. That thought has been long growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve. Now at least the last march of the Ents may be worth a song."

Jackson on the other hand has his Ents decide not to fight. Merry diverts them toward Isengard which gives them a reason to fight; revenge. For revenge they take up the battle. To fight for revenge makes them no better than Saruman.

LOTR is about good versus evil. It's about the nature of good and it's allies (the virtues) and the nature of evil and it's allies (the vices). Good can only overcome evil if correct actions are motivated by moral reasons. The interior qualities count. Tolkien would never have Ents defeat Saruman by acting out of revenge.