Dang, I'm almost jealous. I couldn't resist the temptation and hope that the movies could maybe possibly vaguely live up to the legacy. Unfortunately I didn't quite anticipate how those images would forever alter my vision of the story/world. Though, I've purposely waited a long time and ignored everything about it, letting the memories fade, so I can re-read the trilogy and hopefully rediscover the greatness. :)
Exactly why I never watched the films, despite being a huge Tolkien fan from about age 9 to 16. The thought of how Hollywood would depict elves was particularly off-putting for me. I've never regretted not watching them, even when the hype was at its greatest, and any glimpses of screenshots that I've chanced upon have only confirmed that I made the right choice.