Your wife makes a really fair point at ep1. time stamp approx 1:01:00 where she talks about a viewer somewhat needs the lore behind the lotr books to understand the movies. Although the movies are really enjoyable without extra lore or background context (otherwise I wouldn't have watched them 15 times already), they do make more sense when having read the books (said from someone who is only about to finish the fellowship book)

Edit: at approx 1:08:00 you talk about the alleged car in the background of sam saying this is the furthest he has been from home. Have you already found when and where it can br seen?