Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, but I have to be a "purist"
Review: DON'T GET ME WRONG!
I'll still take this movie over just about any other I've seen lately. I've met lots of people who never read the books, and I can understand why they like the movie just as it is. The effects are awesome without smothering the story, Gollum is perfect, and the whole thing does rock.But I do have to agree with a lot of what the "purists" are saying. Fellowship departed from the book in a lot of small ways, but only one of them (Aragorn's wishy-washy self-imposed exile) really altered the storyline, and they were probably done to establish the characters more quickly. The book had a lot of islands in the story (Tom Bombadil) that were removed without a loss. The Two Towers movie went a lot further with the creative license, and I think the storyline is hurt. I agree with keb that Faramir was completely hijacked, as were the Ents. In the book, they deliberated for days about fighting Saruman, but in the end, they _agree_ to. Had they not, no amount of well-intended trickery on the part of the hobbits would have changed their mind. They were meant to have personalities befitting ancient forces of nature: their minds move like a mighty river whose course does not change easily. Then there's how the movie ended. What was that? The book ends with Sam stuck in Mordor by himself, with Frodo a prisoner and in very bad shape. How perfect would that have been as a cliffhanger? To make matters worse, they took the time they saved by ending the movie "early" and blew it on a side plot about Aragorn falling off a cliff and coming back the next day. Not to mention inventing a conflict among Elrond, Arwen and Aragorn about their relationship (and embellishing the attraction between Aragorn and Eowyn). In the books, Elrond doesn't have a big problem with Arwen and Aragorn. He seems to think surrendering her elvish nature to wed Aragorn is fitting; the only involvement the Elves can have in the coming ages. His brother, after all, did the same thing thousands of years ago and became Aragorn's distant ancestor. The elves at Helm's Deep are annoying for the exact reasons laid out elsewhere: the Elves, as a faction, were "done" with Middle-Earth in that capacity. Saruman's possession of Theoden was also a little overdone. The book seems to imply a much more mundane sort of enfeeblement for Theoden; he was getting old and had lost his will to fight. Saruman's main involvement was to send Grima along to insulate him and keep him plied with bad advice. I wish they'd spent a bit more time on the aftermath of the battle at Isengard. The book's rendering of the tension in the air as Saruman trues to BS his way out of trouble with the major characters was really great. I don't think they did it justice.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece of "wow"
Review: Wow! This is the only expression that can escape my lips as I stare awestruck at the ending credits... See, I didn't have the opportunity to watch this in the theaters, but knowing how great "Fellowship" was, I couldn't wait to see this DVD. A couple points to highlight here... 1)It's an absolute work of art! Every scene has the perfect amount of lighting and color, and the locations should all grace the front of postcards. Just watching the likes of Frodo, Aragorn, Pippen, etc. in these fantastic places will make you feel as if you're there with them, enjoying some sites, and dreading others. Amazing! 2)The acting is simply phenomenal! Every word spoken and every implied gesture shows the dedication the entire cast had in the making of this epic. The passion in the voice, actions, and eyes found in every actor, in every scene, cannot be found at this level in even many "high profile" films. Outstanding! 3)Music to the world's ears! The music is exceptional in every scene. Music can make or break even the greatest of movies, but every piece here is made exclusively to portray just the right emotion for each scene. It never overpowers, but perfectly compliments the performance of the actors and visual effects team. Beautiful! 4)Special effects make the heart grow fonder! Well, they do in this case. An incredible amount of time has been spent on the likes of Gollum, the orcs and masses of creatures and characters, random spell and lighting effects, and the color scheming of each and every frame of this movie. The effects become a part of the world, and never overshadow the world they are in. Superb! 5)Little things mean a lot! All of the other details, such as direction, staging, camera angles, choreography(wait until you see the awesome action sequences, along with my boy Legolas in action!), costumes, miniatures, etc. Making a book trilogy as legend as Lord of the Rings into these epic films is a project not to be taken lightly. The books are of such a grandiose scale that not every minute detail could make it onto the screen. Picking and choosing the direction and flow of the sequences, as well as the sequences themselves, in such a way as to do service to this epic is a daunting task indeed. The success of this film, along with it's predecesor(and I'm sure "Return of the Kings" as well...we'll soon see!), could only happen with a massive group effort and incredible dedication to this project. The long hours and effort really shows! The end result is a cherished film adaptation that all can enjoy. Note that these films serve to compliment the masterful work of Mr. Tolkien, and not to replace his epic. So enjoy the visual greatness of the films, and enjoy the minute details of the books in this complimentary fashion. From all perspectives, this is a tale that will invite your very heart to a warm place that you'll want to venture again and again. As for the DVD, yes the extended version will be the cream of the crop, as was the case last year with "Fellowship of the Ring"'s extended version. If you just want to get your fix before the November release date, then renting this version until that time may suffice. I have an ownership problem(I hate renting), so like last year, I'm getting both versions. This is just my complex though; if you do consider getting one version of this movie, get the extended version. If you don't want to wait, then sure...get this theatrical version. In any case, at least rent it...you will not be disappointed. So go ahead, experience for yourself this masterpiece of "wow"!
Rating:
Summary: Changes = good!
Review: Most of us have seen this movie, and we either like it or dislike it. The Tolkien purists have been complaining since 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. When I saw 'The Two Towers', I just knew that I'd hear about the changes that took place from book to movie. First off, I've read all three books (plus, 'The Hobbit'), and I love them. Yes, wargs attack the Rohirrim and Aragorn falls off a cliff after the attack. Yes, Elrond sends Haldir and some other elves to aid at Helm's Deep. Yes, Merry and Pippen see Gandalf in the forest. And Gandalf plays 'The Exorcist' for a bit by expelling Saruman's spirit from Theoden. And yeah, Pippen tore off his brooch with his mouth. Who cares? I enjoyed the changes. There were several more, but I don't want this to be too long. I thought that the changes brought something to the movie. The only explanation I have for the elves at Helm's Deep is that Peter Jackson wanted to include them so it would be a little more realistic that Aragorn's forces could hold. Or maybe he just liked elves. Hehe. I can just imagine him, sitting in his director's chair: "More elves!" But anyway, you have to expect SOME stuff to change when a book is adapted for a movie. Sometimes, the changes are good--like in this movie. Sometimes, they're not. Believe me, Peter Jackson could've done a far worse job. The trilogy could've resembled those hideous cartoon movies of the 70's. Oh yeah, and I LOVED the Ents! How cool were they?! My favorite scene in the movie is "The Last March of the Ents". Yeah, baby!
Rating:
Summary: Back to Middle Earth.
Review: All I can say is that this is one of my favorite movies! An epic story with complex characters, gorgeous cinematography, awesome special effects, topped with a wonderul music score. I also enjoyed Sean Astin's short film "The Long and the Short of it". Now I am just waiting for "Return of the King"!
Rating:
Summary: Is it possible to stay breathless for 3 hours?
Review: I told myself over and over for 3 hours ... breath .. breath ... But ... the dynamics of this movie make it utterly impossible. Ever turn present a fresh scene that takes your breath away. Middle Earth creatures once in our hearts and minds, come to life with such accuracy, feeling, and emotion ... it makes you wonder whether your in the movie. Helms Deep was a battle that lores are made of ... and people will recall this battle sequence well into future generations.
Rating:
Summary: Great film
Review: Let me begin by saying this is a superb film. I did prefer the Fellowship of the Ring. I thought the first film was paced better, more emotionally powerful, and a more coherent storyline but I do acknowledge it was much easier to translate to screen than The Two Towers. And I have to admit that my opinion is not shared by many of my peers. The whole film slowly builds tension which ends in a climactic battle scene at Helms Deep. There's a few changes to the story which the purists won't like (mainly surrounding the Arwyn/Eowyn/Aragon scenario), but I think they all work well cinematically. Also a portion of the story has been moved to the third film - so don't expect Shelob in this one. I own both editions of The Fellowship of the Ring and while I enjoyed the extended version, the cinema release I thought was a much tighter film. I can't comment on The Two Towers extended edition, but based on my past experience I'd say - If you're buying because you love tolkein, get the extended edition. And if you're buying because you love film, get the cinema release. Or ideally buy both if you can afford to. I have no doubts the third installment will also be a fantastic film and I sincerely hope that the series gets some recognition from the Academy. Speculative fiction movies have never done well at the Oscars but if there's one series that really does deserve to pave the way, its this one. Hats off to Mr Jackson and team, hope they get the recognition they deserve.
Rating:
Summary: Can I give it more than 5 stars? Please?
Review: "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" is the second edition to this trilogy. This action packed movie is one of few that lives up to the original. The action isn't the only detail that attracts audiences. So do the special effects and most important...the genius storyline. Drama and elaborate scenes combine surely pleasing J.R.R. Tolkin, the book author. Peter Jackson, the director, the producer, and the writer, proudly presents his sweat and tears. He's worked nonstop since 1999 perfecting every detail. He leads the crew to make a seamingly impossible task look easy when actually, it's one of history's hardest movie creations. The set and the buildings look real, but the construction took almost a year to complete with just "The Two Towers". Every actor performs every drop of heart and soul as did Peter Jackson in his duties. Elijah Wood proves as Frodo Biggings that he'll perfect more demanding roles in the years coming. Other Oscar worthy performances are noted by Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, and others. They give their characters the necessary emotions for the audience to feel in their hearts. Those interested in this movie are advised to watch "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" first. Otherwise, one will be clueless to many scenes. This is the continuation of the journey to destroy the ring before it takes over the world; therefore, creating widespread evil. "The Two Towers" keeps the audience's eyes wide open waiting for the next intense action scene. Afterward, watch the special features. It includes a sneak preview of the next trilogy chapter, "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" with a behind-the-scenes look. Sean Astin's short film feature is viewing worthy. It stars four "Lord of the Rings" crew members including the legendary Peter Jackson. The WB-special originally aired on November 2002 informs how "The Two Towers" was made. All other features are worth watching. The ensemble will not leave the audience disappointed.... It'll be.......their precious.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive
Review: I really liked this movie. It was an effective sequel to Fellowship of the Ring, keeping the quality of dialogue and SE from the first one. I was disappointed in some of the more major plot changes that were either absent or significantly less from the first one.
For example: The fact that Faramir detained and almost handed Frodo over destroys any shred of Faramir's dignity and repect that was so evident in the book. I also did not think that the inclusion of the elves in the Battle of Hornburg was neccessary.
Besides that and a few other things, I felt it was an excellent movie and made it very easy to understand for those who did not read the books.
Rating:
Summary: BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR
Review: Look...you know it was amazing. BETTER THAN THE FIRST EVEN...and who wants to get the longer version? I mean I agree that parts of it are better, but...you want both trust me! What an amazing film, they captured Golem perfectly. I love the scene where he is talking to himself, god...and what a huge film too, the scale at which this was made is gigantic. I love every scene in this movie, every line. The speech by Sam at the end is maybe the best cinematic speech I've ever heard, the way it's edited...it's amazin. It makes me cry everytime I see it. And such amazing dialogue, this film is monumental, twice what the first one was....THIS IS A MUST BUY!! Please...if you don't already have it, buy it..I know I have.
Rating:
Summary: Beware of the DVD
Review: Just thought I would let you know that I CAN NOT play my DVD in my DVD Rom in my computer (the only DVD player I have unfortunately). I think there is an encryption written into it to prevent copying and pirating to other forms so they can be shared via the internet. The Special Features Dvd works fine though. I also tried it with my friends copy and the same thing... the movie didn't work, but the bonus CD does. The movie DOES work in his component DVD player in his entertainment center though. I would be curious to know if this happens in other forms of DVD players (such as XBox or PS2) as well. Needless to say I was not pleased with my purchase and won't be able to watch it until until I purchase a DVD player for my television. I hope no one else gets stuck with this problem. I wrote to Alliance Atlantis to see what they new or could do about it. Hopefully enough people will complain and something can be done about it. ....... was the address I sent it to, I'd be interested to hear if anyone else had this problem. .......
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