Lord of the Rings The Two Towers (2 disc)

• Title:  Lord of the Rings:  The Two Towers (2 Disc)
• Director:  Peter Jackson
• Date:  2002
• Studio:  New Line Cinema
• Genre:  Action, Fantasy, Drama
• Cast:  Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Brad Dourif, Bernard Hill, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, David Wenham, Andy Serkis
• Format:  Color, Widescreen
• DVD Format:  R1, NTSC

"Maybe he does deserve to die, but now that I see him, I do pity him."  -- Frodo, to Sam, About Gollum


"The women of  this country learned long ago that those without swords can still die upon them.  I fear neither death nor pain."  -- Eowyn
"What do you fear, my Lady?"  -- Aragorn
"A cage.  To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them.  And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire." -- Eowyn
"You're a daughter of  kings, a shield-maiden of  Rohan, I do not think that will be your fate."  -- Aragorn

"The fires of  Isengard will spread -- and the woods of  Tuckborough and Buckland will burn.  And all that was green and good in this world will be gone.  There won't be a Shire, Pippin."  -- Merry

The Two Towers begins with sound clips from the previous film in the series, The Fellowship of  the Ring, rather than a more traditional voice-over such as was used in the first film.  The sound clips remind the audience of  the Fall of Gandalf  and quickly segue to Gandalf's battle with the Balrog and his reappearance as Gandalf  the White (previously he was Gandalf  the Grey).  The film moves back and forth between three stories:  Merry and Pippin who have been captured by Saruman's Uruk-hai;  Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli who follow, trying to rescue the two young Hobbits, but end-up involved in the troubles in Rohan; and Frodo and Sam's journey to Mordor (they quickly acquire Gollum as a guide).

Merry and Pippin's story is really well realized, as is the story of  Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.  Even Frodo and Sam's journey through the Dead marshes and to the Black Gate was well done (but see nitpick below).  The Gollum/Smeagol conversations were perfect!  It was almost like there was two different creatures.  I also loved Treebeard, and seeing some of  the other Ents at the Entmoot.

When reviewing these films I said I wouldn't nitpick, however, The Two Towers is the most nitpickable of  the three films.  Many fans of  the books scream about the Elves arriving to help defend Helm's Deep.  I can actually justify the artistic license there -- it was that or actually show that the Elves were busy themselves defending Lorien from three attacks by Sauron.  What I found almost unconscionable was why, oh why, especially when the movie is so long anyway, did Peter Jackson use a big chunk of the movie to have Faramir bring Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath, where Frodo is attacked by a Nazgul?  The flying Nazgul are in the books, but Faramir, in contrast to Boromir, defies the short-sighted orders of  his father (Denethor, the Steward of Gondor) and provides food and shelter to Frodo and Sam -- then lets them go.

However, I loved how Treebeard was brought to the screen, and Merry and Pippin's part were well done.  The destruction of  Isengard is one of  the best scenes in the movie.

And the battle at Helm's Deep does look really cool.  It brings to mind movies such as Henry V, and classic medieval-style strategy games like Warcraft.  We see all sorts of  Medieval battle techniques -- seige ladders, a barrista, a battering ram.  And it's both a scary, and exciting battle.

Frodo and Sam's journey is also well done -- at least we don't get singing Orcs.  The Gollum/Smeagol dialogs are incredible and almost make you believe you are seeing two different creatures.  I didn't like the "ring-as-a-drug" thing, because that seemed too simplistic.  And I really didn't like Frodo being dragged to Osgiliath, for no other reason that to give Sam another opportunity to say a speech.

Still, the film is gorgeous.  The filming is incredible, and the vistas are also beautiful (or dark and treacherous) and breath-taking.  The music is even better than the last film, especially the Rohan theme, which I just loved.  Overall, I really liked the film.

Recommendation:  See it!
Rating 5 or 5 Stars
Next Film:  Lord of  the Rings:  Return of the King