Rating: Summary: Great Movie Review: I have read the books and yes the whole Faramir thing really made me mad, but at the end when he lets Frodo and Sam go I was okay with it. I know there were many other changes in the movie but I actually liked it. I was worried that the movie wasn't going to be as suspenseful since I had read the book and I knew what happened, but there were definately suprises. Overall I think Jackson stayed as true to the story as he possibly could. I mean three hours doesn't even begin to cover all the detail that Tolkien put into his work.
Rating: Summary: No, not as good as the first ... it is better! Review: It is difficult to imagine what Peter Jackson was thinking when he embarked on this project. I am one of the millions of people who have grown up with Lord of the Rings and consider it one of the literary masterpieces of our time. With the Fellowship of the ring, he succeeded in capturing the spirit of the book and introduced the spectacular world of Middle Earth.In this film, Jackson continues to capture the spirit of the trilogy, but ups the ante a considerably. The sheer scale of the battles in this movie, the triumph of capturing Gollum and the depth of the characters and their bond to one another is not lost in the incredible cinematography and effects work in this movie. For book fans, prepare yourself for an excursion from the tale you are used to. Fan sites cover this in more detail than I can here, but suffice to say, there are some large deviations from the original story. Regardless of the changes to the middle of the story, the tale leaves everything where it needs to be for the final movie which we have to wait until December to see. If there is a down side to the movie, I think it is the Arwen story. While it will please those looking for some romance in Tolkiens world, I could have lived without it. Go see it ... see it again and then buy the DVD!
Rating: Summary: Best Movie ever made Review: The Lord of the Rings movie is a excellent well done film, both part 1 & 2, Peter Jackson had done a great job on this film! I love it so much that I watch part 1 over 10 tens in DVD. The Two Towers is great also...can't wait til part 3. EXCELLENT FILM!
Rating: Summary: Get on with the 3thrd movie please, I BEG YOU!!! Review: For those who give The Two Towers one star, DO NOT LIKE LOTR! I am one who does, but they left out so many parts I would be thinking they would make a fourth movie, unless they make the Return of the King over five hours. This has the most amazing of special effects, ecspecially in the beginning, but you'll have to see it to see what happen. And all of you Gollum fans watch out! This is a real Gollum! He looks so cool! But it's also pretty hard to believe he's actor led, by Andy Serkis. Frodo(Elijah Wood) and Sam(Sean Astin) meet him at night, and boy does Gollum be nasty! Also Aragorn(Viggo Mortenson, Gimli(John Ryes-Davies) and Legolas(Orlando Bloom) are still searching for Merry(Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin(Billy Boyd). And one of the coolest parts is when The Rohirrim, the horse-lords of Rohan, led by charge against the Uruk-Hai of Saruman, and Merry and Pippin escape to the ancient forest of Fangorn. There they meet Treebeard(who's voice is played by John Ryes-Davies), an Ent that looks so much like a tree, and so real! And the best part of all is, Helm's Deep. It was a fortress that survived many battle, until this one! Along with Gandalf(Who has changed from the Gray to the White, and is played by Ian Mckellen) Aragorn goes to Helm's Deep with his friends. He meets Eowyn(Miranda Otto), neice of Theoden king of Rohan, who reminds him of his love Arwen(Liv Tyler), and boy does that give you the creeps! I had to go delibratly to the washroom so that I could miss the romance part. At the battle was a great surprise, just before the 10,000 Uruk-Hai of Saruman came, but I won't tell you. The battle was the most amazing part of the movie, I wished I could have jumped into the screen and fought. Gimli is hilarious, and has a lot of pride. Legolas is at his best in the movie, sliding the steps of Helm's Deep on a shield, shooting his arrows like lightning (as usual.) And in the end Gandalf comes back with Eomer(Karl Urban), to win the battle. Also the Ents destroy Isengard by flooding the river, and only the Tower of Orthanc is left standing with Saruman(Christopher Lee) stuck inside. And Frodo meets Faramir(David Wenham), the brother of Boromir(Sean Bean), and confronts his most deadly enemy, The Lord of the Nazgul. I was EXTREMLY disappointed that they didn't show Shelob, but, Peter Jackson likes suspense a lot a think. All I can say is, GET ON WITH THE THIRD!
Rating: Summary: Breathtaking... Review: When I love a film this much, it is difficult for me to write a review. I'm afraid I'll lose my perspective and not be able to see the film for what it is. So, I made sure that I saw "The Twin Towers" twice in theaters, and was lucky enough to live in a city where the second showing was the IMAX version. As you can imagine, that was totally mind-blowing!
A fan of Tolkien for the last 35 years, I was unafraid of the changes that director Peter Jackson would need to make to continue the story line without burdening it with too many characters. Anxious to see how he handled the split of the fellowship and its parallel plots, I felt that this was one of the strongest elements of the film! Each of the three plots had a sense of urgency, clear transitions existed between them, and, although the support of the Rohan and the Battle for Helm's Deep far outweighed the progress of Frodo and the journey of Merry, Pippin and the Ents, Jackson kept us riveted in all three. Many Tolkien loyalists have taken the changes, especially those involving Faramir, as a departure from what Tolkien originally intended. In contrast, I believe that Jackson and the screenwriters did a masterful job of simplifying, maintaining the good vs. evil theme, and keeping the pace of the movie on target. There are no plot changes that subtracted from the overall thrill of the film experience for me.
There is no question that the cinematography, costumes, compelling and sweeping vistas of the vast plain of Middle Earth don't take a back seat to characterization and plot in the movie. The overall visual experience is one of startled wonder, especially the capture of the gloom and fearfulness of Mordor and the evil that has overtaken Isengard. The music is a perfect counterpoint to the visual senses. Jackson allows his cast of strong players to once again assume their roles, but no one or group of characters, no plot line, no special effects outbalance the setting. It feels as though we are again watching the same genius that compelled George Lucas, when he made his "middle" or "bridge" piece (The Empire Strikes Back) the best of his film trilogy so many years ago. For me, the success of this film revolved around three startling elements:
1. Gollum. Gollum is a masterwork, in a film year that has seen some rapid developments and successes in computer aided special effects. Gollum, in the work of Tolkien, is the central force, a character that embodies the elements of good and evil in his life and in his actions. In the book, the dual characterization of Gollum (evil) vs. Smeagle (good) is difficult to follow, through their discourse. When the visualization is added on film, with a masterful voice (and, I'm told, a huge contribution to the special effects through his own body language) by Andy Smerkis, the character of Gollum (as evil as we know him to be) and the misguided creature befriended by Frodo meld their elements successfully. To say that Gollum is brought to life in a believable, charismatic way, is to understate how brilliantly the character worked on film.
2. The Battle for Helm's Deep. Never has a powerful and evil enemy come to life on the screen in the way that Jackson portray's Saruman's army. The sense of doom that permeates the stronghold of Helm's Deep is felt throughout the audience. The reliance of the world of men on the impermeability of the Helm's Deep fortress is put to the test, and Jackson gives us nearly an hour of incredibly intense battle, punctuated with views of the women and children trapped in the fortress. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas all play their roles perfectly in the height of battle, and the viewer is locked to the edge of their seats with every passing moment.
3. For me, the signature moment of the film is the white light arrival of Gandalf on the magnificent steed Shadowfax. With me, the theater audience cheered and clapped...the instant that he is seen by Aragorn, the surge of feeling and power felt on the screen in that second, will stay with me for a long time.
I think there are no words left to say that won't duplicate what I've already said - 5 stars only because 6 were not available...The Two Towers is a work of breathtaking achievement!
Rating: Summary: Loved it Review: Firstly, this is definitley a guy's movie but everyone loves fantasy so the girls will love it too. I think making a great movie work is all about casting and the casting directors definitley earned their money on this one. Sean Bing did such a great job in the first film and Miranda Otto and Bernard Hill were awesome in this film. However, I am still hoping to see Shelob in the beginning of the next film but on the other hand I hope they don't make it look too cheasy. Did anyone notice the same kid who played the hobbit also played a human child in the new movie. It must be Peter Jackson's kid. I'm also getting a little freaked out by the fact that everyone in this film series has blue eyes.
Rating: Summary: The Saga Continues Review: It was brilliant decision to film the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in one continuous filming. The continuity with the Fellowship of the Ring is seamless. Some liberties and small changes are made but they are minor and the spirit of the books pervade the film. The epic scale is magnificent. One can sense the respect the cast andcrewhad for Tolkien story. In Two Towers there are several different storylines that if handled badly can covalute the narrative. The editors did a great job in keeping the pacing up and the seperate adventures clear and concise. Other reviews have given the outline of the story rather well but special mention should be given to the character of Gollum who almost steals the film. Joseph Campbell wrote on how certain themes in the mythology of almost all cultures are universal. The wandering prince, the battle of good vs evil, the commoner called to perform above and beyond, a band on a mission, etc etc. These themes are in both the Lord of the Rings books and the two movies are masterfully drawn. Because of the universality of its message, the Two Towers and the Fellowship of the Ring will remain popular for generations to come.
Rating: Summary: One of the Greatest Sequels of All Time. Review: The Fellowship has been Broken and it has been Separate by Three. Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) are on they own, going to Mordor to Destory the Ring. Merry (Domonic Monaghan) & Pippin (Billy Boyd) are going to find:Frodo, Sam, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom) & Gilmi (John-Ryhs Davies), once they try to escaped from the Uruk-Hai Warriors. Aragorn, Legolas & Gilmi are going to the Castle of Rohan to Warn the People. While Gandolf (Ian McKellen) is still alive but now is a different person. Everything is slowly turning to dark, when Saurman (Christopher Lee) is starting a War with the Uruk-Hai Warriors to destory Villages and the People are against them. Frodo & Sam get unexpected help from Gollum (Voiced by Andy Serkis), which the both don't know that Gollum has a spilt personality. Worntongue (Brad Dourif), who once serve the good King Rohan (Bernard Hill) decides to help Saurman to Serve Him. While the Ring is still a long way from being Destory. Directed by Peter Jackson (Meet the Feebles, Brain Dead, Heavenly Creatures) made a Outstanding Sequel that is Better than the Original. This is a Brillant Masterpiece, Based on a Novel by J.R.R. Tolkein (The Hobbit), which is adapted by the director, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens & Stephen Sinclair. This film is also a Biggest Blockbuster than the Original Film. Wood gives another wonderful performance, same goes for Astin, Mortensen & the Computer Generated-Gollum. There's some new caracthers to this sequel, which are Eowyn (Mirando Otto), Emoer (Karl Urban), Famarir (David Wenham), Warmtongue (Brad Dourif), King Rohan (Bernard Hill) and the Computer Generated-Treebeard (Voiced by John-Ryhs Davies, who also plays-Gilmi). From the Original Film:Arwen (Liv Tyler), Elrond (Hugo Weaving) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) appears in Small Roles as in the Original. Winner of Two Oscars, which are Best Visual Effects & Best Sound Editing. (The Film was also Nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Sound & Best Picture.) Expect a Extended Version of this year in the month of November. See this great Sequel, which is One of the Best Sequels of all time. Super 35. Grade:A+.
Rating: Summary: I implore you to read the books! Review: As a long time fan of the books I knew that it would be difficult if not impossible to make them into a movie(s) version. The technology is there to do it, but Peter Jackson and his screenwriters did not do the story justice. Yet if this will bring people to the truth, if this will get people to read the books and appreciate the genius of J.R.R. Tolkien then it will deserve the one star I give the movie(s).
Rating: Summary: Outdoes its predecessor Review: After growing up on Star Wars, I was wary of the middle epic in a trilogy. Episode V of Star Wars always seemed flat and discouraging. However, I left the theater after The Two Towers walking on air. Simply put, The Two Towers was magnificent. I battled my way through parts of The Fellowship of the Ring because of the noise, the violence, and the constantly changing scenes and ideas. You had to get used to so many characters and landscapes and homes and cultures--literally an entirely different world--while at the same time following an incredible plot. With TTT, however, I truly felt like a part of the fellowship. I knew the characters, knew their mission, and knew the bad guys by heart. People may say that TTT has no beginning and no end, but that is exactly how it is meant to be. It ties in perfectly with the Fellowship and ends suspensfully for the much awaited Return of the King. This movie followed the book fairly well, although I personally was furious over the confusing part Eowyn played. Admittedly, I like her far better than Arwen, but she was not meant to be so important or personal in the book. Also, everyone is complaining about Faramir. My father simply says that Faramir was a spoiled brat in the book anyway, so the same message gets across in the end. I'm not excusing Jackson for messing up a character, but let us wait and see what he does with Faramir in the end. And of course Gollum was terrific. We'd just begun the first scenes with him and my dad (who has read the trilogy 16 times over) turned to me with a huge smile on his face. Yes, Gollum was perfect. My dad thought Wormtongue might have been the best actor in the movie, for his small part was so magnificently played that he shone. Theoden was OK; not strong, but he wasn't supposed to be. I also thought Sam did a terrific job. He's so simple and yet so honest and true... and so wise. The last scenes almost brought tears to my eyes when Frodo and Sam imagine young hobbits asking about their adventures in the future. Legolas was great; flipping onto that horse is an art only possible of an elf. Skiing down the stairs of Helm's Deep on a shield was a little corny, but he still did a great job. Aragorn also appeared as a very strong character, but all the love scenes with Arwen got on my nerves. His strength and the king within him are unfolding. And Gimli was wonderful! The comic relief in such a long and furious movie was welcomed with much laughter all over the theater. Gandalf did a great job, although I miss his intimacy from the Fellowship. He is a perfect picture of Christ, rising from the dead, casting out the evil spirit of Sauron (aka satan), and always coming to the rescue in a glory of splendor. Frodo did an excellent job as well; thumbs up to Elijah Wood. He had a hard part to play and can never come across as the most colorful character in it. Yet Wood doesn't seem to care; he is more concerned with acurately portraying Frodo Baggins, and he does an excellent job. Basically, this trilogy is the movie of the decade, if not the movie of our century. Well done, Peter Jackson. What about The Hobbit?
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