Don't let that line fool you. Based on my exchanges of arcane Tolkienalia with him in an on-line discussion group, Martinez is the text-book definition of "Tolkien purist." He's aware that the movies aren't the books AND that they're popular, so I'm willing to bet his amaiable tune would be different if the reviews were not so rosy.
Oh - I certainly agree.
Frankly, his favorable reviews of the movies shocked me.