Rating: Summary: Good times Review: Well, I will add my comments to the already 1437 reviews already posted... Defintely much improved over the theatrical version. Much more is explained and much more makes sense. Though it is over 3 hrs too long to watch in one sitting, I would say it is a worthwhile purchase to any movie collection. Though some parts I found somewhat overly melodramatic, this extended edition as a whole works quite well. Though, strangely I had the most affinity for Gollum. He is the most fascinating and fully fleshed out and, perhaps the most human character in the whole movie, and perhaps in cinema in the past few years. He embodies all of the contradictions in being human, both good and bad, and yet he is neither. I really feel for the guy. I guess we all have a little Gollum in each of us. thumbs up
Rating: Summary: A great movie made greater in the Extended DVD Edition! Review: The story is the continuation of Frodo Baggin's quest for the ring as he is being helped by the tricky critter Gollum and must go to Mordor. This 4-disc extended DVD set is quite a better one than the cut edition, there is 40 minutes of new scenes and new music by Howard Shore. The new scenes add more character devolopment and scenes that make even more sense, it also has tons of documentaries on the making of this remarkable sequel including a look of how Gollum was fully made. There is even audio commentaries, design gallery, a hidden easter egg on Disc 1 and more. So if your a movie lover or anyone who loves LOTR then this set would be the perfect gift.
Rating: Summary: Buy it anyway. Review: You won't get any meandering from this reviewer, it should be common knowledge that THE LORD OF THE RINGS is quite possibly the best filmed entertainment ever. Period. This Special Edition (although a must have item for just the significance of it) is more like a showcase for the scenes that were deleted for good reason. Unlike FELLOWSHIP's Spec. Ed. which contains vital scenes not in the theatrical version and is presented in a perfect cut, TWO TOWERS Spec. Ed. contains more fluff. Don't get me wrong, it's still great to see more of a excellent movie, however the experience is elongated with scenes that take away from the sense of dread that builds thoughout the theatrical version. The scene at the end with MERRY and PIPPEN getting high is almost silly. Hell, buy it anyway, just be sure to own the disc that came out in August as well so both versions can be enjoyed, they're worth every penny.
Rating: Summary: Frodo looks like a damsel in distress. Review: Peter Jackson must think blue is the new black, and decided to make a black and white movie in mostly shades of blue.The movie doesn't give you the same feel that the book does and turns some of it's characteristics into flaws. I still remember a movie critic saying that she didn't understand why Frodo's friend and companion kept calling him "Mr. Frodo". That's a mistake easy to understand, when one realizes that the hierarchy that one naturally accepts while reading the book somehow isn't translated into the picture. When, in "The Two Towers" the king says that a certain type of flower always grows on the tombs of his family I instantly and democratically wonder why only his ancestor's dead bodies are untitled to a special brand of flowers. That thought never even crossed my mind while reading the book. Ian Mckellen is not the Gandalf I envisioned. It is not enough to be old and to look old to get away as an authority figure, no matter how easy Christopher Lee might make it look. Gandalf the character is more of a robust and manly giant, with a gravitas that Ian doesn't have, in this film or any other. I always imagined Cate Blanchet's character more in the lines of someone like Robin Wright somehow (don't ask me why). Blanchet's wig and Spock like ears do her beauty no favors, as neither does the invisible make-up, or the way it was decided she should play the character, making it come across as a thoroughly disagreeable, suspicious looking type you should be weary of, not as a fascinating, angelically divine woman. That said, the moment when she is tempted to take the ring in the first "Lord of the Rings" is superb. There's no such glorious moment for her here. "The Two Towers" is indispensable because of: - A moment of sheer poetry, when Liv Tyler's father explains why she must forget Aragorn. - Wormtongue. Whatever Brad Dourif does is always outstanding. - Gollum, the most amazing piece of acting that I've seen in a long while. If there was any justice in the world, they would have created a special Oscar just for him. - And the Orchs' argument about how it wouldn't hurt to just eat a tiny piece of their prisioner's bodies. It's something no one should miss.
Rating: Summary: This is the way to watch The Two Towers! Review: This extended edition is superior to the theatrical release. The extra forty minutes or so really do add a lot to the story. Too bad we can't see it on the big screen yet. This extended edition also has four disks that are full of not only the movie but many other features on the making of the movie and aspects of the story. While we all wish there were some magical way to see in movie form the experience we had while reading the book that would require each of us to make our own movie. I am very pleased with what is here and glad for this trilogy being told in such a grand way. Sometimes the movie drifts a bit too close to being a sword and sorcery epic for my tastes, and The Lord of the Rings is definitely NOT that. Yes, it has magic, and battles, and enchanted figures. But it is a story about some big human issues first and last that is told on the backdrop of magic and swords. It is a beautiful story and has had a powerful impact on the lives of many who read it. I think the movie does as good a job with these wonderful books as you can expect from Hollywood. Maybe someday they will do them better, but of the attempts in my lifetime, this is the best. Now, they could have provided the theatrical release as well, but I think they want you to buy that separately if you want that. However, there is a handy booklet that points out the extended and new scenes. But it really isn't possible to reconstruct the theatrical release from this package. But I can't think of why I would want to. Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: Explains a lot.... Review: Needless to say, the extended version of Lord of the Rings "The Two Towers" is breathtaking and the new scenes really add and explain a lot and make the story richer. I have read the books, and I am not a purist, but even I was saddened at the change in Faramir. I thought it ruined the character, however in the extended version, you can see they did not at all. He rather had a "journey", and though many will say you should tamper with books, some things just don't work the same in movies the same way they do in books, and Peter Jackson and the writers knew this. It is explained in some interesting extras as well on adapting Lord of The Rings to the Screen. I would say that if you are a fan of the books and you hated the theatrical version of the movies, get "The Two Towers" extended edition, it has 43mins extra footage(all great and useful footage), and a lot of good audio commentary and extras that explain a lot about the changes from book to film and the making of the film and Tolkiens own vision and such. Its really a whole new experience.! God Bless ~Amy
Rating: Summary: Pretty Good Review: This DVD is okay... but i really expected it to be a lot better! I would probably buy this thing if i want something kool for the holidays... (to give to my worst enemy!). Try not to bury the DVD after you watch it... it's only a DVD
Rating: Summary: More of everything you love Review: The extended version is much, much better than the theatrical version. (And I thought the theatrical release was pretty good.) The added scenes add so much to character development and plot. Faramir's character especially. The battle scenes at Helm's Deep are even more graphic and the documentaries are alot of fun to watch.
Rating: Summary: Once again, better than the original Review: It's difficult to say anything other than "wow!" when seeing this version of the film. It explains everything that is left in question by the theatrical release and tones down Faramir to a closer rendition of the character in the book. Basically, he's not so much a bad guy. I can't say much more than that I love it and it's worth every penny to own. Also, look for the secret bonus from the MTV awards, it's hysterical!
Rating: Summary: Two Towers is Lord of DVD's (so far) Review: As a Tolkien fan who first read the LOTR over 15 years ago (and has re-read it every year since) I found the extended version of the movie to be infinately more satisfying than the theatrical release. The first thing I noticed and really enjoyed was the fact that they fleshed out Faramir in this version and we are told on disc three why they changed his character around. This really helps those of us who don't like change (purists) see what the film makers were thinking. In the movie Faramir grows from someone who wants to use the ring into someone who realizes its evil. The second thing which I enjoyed was the love story between Arwen and Aragorn and the fact that we now get to see what is going on between them. If you read the appendicies of the books you know about the love Aragorn has for Arwen, and you know how it ends, but you don't get to see how it grows and what obstacles it must over come. Finally, the bonus material explains WHY they ended where they did. I was disappointed we didn't get to see Shelob and I was worried she might end up on the cutting room floor. Of course that couldn't be further from the truth. If you want to see the movie as it should have been, then get this dvd. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
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