It's probably just as bad up here in Canada (though I haven't checked the statistics), though of course the overall amount will be considerably less, our dollar being what it is. (**Whack whack whack.** Wake UP, cursed Canadian dollar!)
I agree with you on the subject of Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings, Tracy. Harry Potter may have been visually pleasing, but Lord of the Rings managed to stay true to the book without leaving empty scenes and lines scattered wantonly all over the place. It was far more elegantly handled, despite the (SPOIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLEEEEERRRRRRRRRR!) wholly gratuitous, completely unnecessary and positively cloying romance scene between -- [machine gun fire].
Well, you know what I mean, yes? ^_^
I very much hope that JK Rowling (or is it Murray, now?) will have the sense to sack Columbus and get a better director. My vote goes to Lasse Hallstrom, the bloke who did The Shipping News.