I just saw a clip from LOTR Two Towers and I never got into LOTR and now feel like I lack some culture not having read any of it. I also haven’t watched any of the movies. I tried watching The Hobbit (first movie) but I didn’t understand any of it. Maybe it’s not for me? I like sci fi but not sure about phantasy. Can you understand each book without reading them in order? How many books are there? Is it still a trilogy?
Just watch the LOTR trilogy, extended edition or not doesn’t really matter for a first viewing (I personally find The Two Towers lags along a bit in the middle of the extended version, but that could just be the fatigue of doing the marathon 10 times or so).
If you’re a reader, read the Hobbit, then the trilogy, then the Silmarillion then whatever else you want out of the legendarium.
Hobbit movies are pretty bad, the book is way better.