Can't transfer hd footage into final cut hd....

I have on my hard drive, some quicktime/mov files that I am attempting to transfer in to final cut hd (hd...so what's the friggin problem) but when I try to drag them into the project or timeline directly, final cut "unexpectedly" quits. Same happens when I try to just open these quicktime files on my desktop to watch the clips. It just seems my ibook g4 can't handle the footage, but as far as I know that shouldn't be, because I have final cut hd, and even imovie hd (think it's called that, I also attempted to load the footage in to ths and the same thing happened. The footage was shot on the JVC hd cameras.... anyone have any advice? I have to admit, i'm a little tech challenged, i'm really a director, but I need to edit this film quick, please help!
p.s. my homeboy said it might have to do with a codec issue??

thanks...