From the "haven't read the books" point of view, I'd like to see the film in case it clues me in to whatever was going on in the book's first pages that I couldn't understand so I gave up reading.
Ha! Oh man, that first chapter is like the most confusing first chapter of a book ever. Next to Foucault's Pendulum. But, seriously, if you keep reading, it makes sense by the third chapter or so. He finally gives you an exposition dump.