I'm doing more recreational reading too

Reading:
Narrative creates storyline

Films:
Storyline creates narrative

I love both methods for telling stories but the difference is why you'll never have a truly good book-to-movie conversion. That said, I think Peter Jackson is the best at it!

I've seen several attempts to bring Tolkien to film, most of them animated or rotoscoped affairs. (Bakshi = rotoscoping for most of his animation.)

That said, yes there was a lot of passion brought to bear by Jackson to create Middle Earth on film, by being fastidious with details - props, settings, wardrobe, effects. Everything was quite right, and the cast were all very much on board, very Tolkien-fannish in their own ways. So we had what in est we called "alignment to a purpose."

For me, the storyline is in the mind of the creator, be it the screenwriter or the bookwriter. When you have adaptations, then you have simply a guideline or inspiration, and as most people are quick to acknowledge, there are only so many plots in human storytelling, and everything under the sun is a rehash of the basic 7, 3, 5, or what have you. (I tend to like to boil it down to 3 focii: violence, thrill, and romance.)

Jackson's other films have been quality entertainment as well. There are few directors other than Spielberg/Lucas that get my attention when movies are released.

Abrams certainly seems to be a rocketing star.

Star Trek
Star Wars
Half Life

I've enjoyed everything the Nolans have done as well.

And in television: Lost and Fringe...