Rating: 
Summary: Yeah! This movie rocks!
Review: All I can say is, Jackson did a great job of adapting the book to a movie. I was totally overwhelmed when I saw it in the theaters just as I was when I saw Fellowship last year. The beginning was sweet just like the first. I like this one just a tad bit more than the first. The fighting scenes in this one were much better than the fights in Fellowship by far. Helms Deep rocked! As did the Gandalf and Balrog scenes, the Warg battle, and the Ents destroying spree. After the first time I saw it, I was amazed, but my overall opinion had yet to come. I mean, there were many things they changed on what happened in the book. But a few days later, I read the reasons for the changes and grew an even greater appreciation for this film. I did decide I liked this one a tad bit more than Fellowship. I mean, afterall there were also many changes in the first one as well. Some people complain on how this movie is not exactly like the book. "OH MAN! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! IN THE BOOK, THEY PULLED BACK ONLY ONCE AT HELMS DEEP! I DON'T LIKE THIS MOVIE NOW!" They also complain about other small things such as the outcome of the Ent Moot. Hey it eventually came to the Ents in battle and that is all that matters. Well it doesn't seem clear to them that MOVIES ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE BOOKS. And if the movie is too much like the book, people are going to complain on how boring it is (not that the book is boring, but movies entertain people in a different way). But then there are the bigger changes such as the Warg Battle, Elves at Lothlorien, Faramir, and Osgiliath. I don't at the least bit disagree with these changes. I think they're just fine. Jackson didn't make those changes to ruin the story. I thought the Warg Battle fit into the movie well. I mean, I guess those people would rather see this on the people's way to Helms Deep walking..walking..walking...walking.. And as for the Elves at Helms Deep, we get more action and hey! Elves are cool! And it also makes it more convincing that such a smaller army could have held out against ten thousand for a night. The changes with Faramir show that all men are corruptable. And Osgiliath was pretty cool too getting to have a preview of Gondor. Gollum was amazing! And his humor was an unexpected welcome. I love the conflict between Smeagol and Gollum. Its both humorous and makes you feel sorry for him. Gimli was great for comic relief. I mean some people act as if hes turned into freaking Jar Jar or something... This was a great movie and wasn't disapointed in the least. The extended edition will make the movie even more better and less fast. I can't wait to see Return of the King..BLAST! Another torturous wait...
Rating:
Summary: The greatest movie...
Review: The Lord of the Rings is the greatest movie I have ever seen!!! The actors are perfect and all the scenes are chaining you. Go to the music theater and watch the Lord of the Rings as often as you can!!!
Rating:
Summary: second viewing--some better, some worse
Review: After seeing TTT a second time I've shaken off at least some of my comparisons to the book and seen things a little more clearly. I'm inclined to think this is a very fine film, though not up to the standards of the first.Even on second viewing, the main action sequence at Helm's Deep is a masterful piece of filmaking that leaves most other battle scenes in the dust. The spectacle never overshadows the characters (though it threatens to do so) and there's a tremendous emotional variety--suspense, horror, humor, and pathos. Aragorn is filled out nicely as a man who doesn't want to wield power, but is forced to do so. Theoden, king of Rohan, has the complex uncertainty of a modern leader who can't decide what is best and, in the end, is afraid to choose. Both these characters are much changed from their pre-modern stiffness in the book, and the changes are good. Frodo, Sam, and Gollum make a fantastic threesome. Gollum is without a doubt the best CGI character in any film yet made, and he brings a creepy depth to Frodo's struggle with the ring. Developing one character by means of another is not realist, and it's not meant to be. It's fantasy, and it succeeds triumphantly where a realistic approach would have failed. Unfortuantely, the Faramir/Gondor plot seems overwrought and badly planned. It holds up the narrative, but for no reason I can see. However, I'm waiting to see how it fits into the third film before passing final judgment. The Ents are still unsatisfying. Tolkein's beatiful, thoughtful, moving protest against the destruction of nature has been trimmed down to a comic sidebar, and it's a shame. Eowyn is still a better character than she ever was in the book, and I only wish she had been on screen more. The voice-overs are still annoying and they should have been avoided by some means or other. Watching this film makes me realize just how good the first film was. FOTR did so many things at once; the camera managed to advance the plot, further character development, and provide action, all at the same time. TTT has a more start/stop feel in parts, and I expect the extended DVD edition to be a more coherent film. Still, the theatrical version does many things well, and it certainly points the way to a satisfying conclusion at the end of this year. Can't wait!
Rating:
Summary: An Argument both for and against Tolkein Purists
Review: A year ago when I saw LoTR: FotR, I was completely blown away. I'd never read Tolkein but I do enjoy many things derived from his works (Dungeons and Dragons being one of them), and I must say I couldn't get enough. After the DVD came out I watched it nearly every day, and after the extended edition came out I did the same. So, at the Two Towers loomed, I drooled in anticipation. I waited in line for 30 minutes to get into that movie (as opposed to the 2 hours I waited to see The Phantom Menace which, in my opinion, was not nearly worth waiting that long) and when I got in I trembled. After watching sub-par trailers (X-Men 2 being the only beacon of hope; expect ... trailers about a tooth fairy, some Disney movie, Pirates of the Carribean [WTF] and Terminator 3 [keeping in mind that James Cameron's Terminator is moving on now without James attached at all]) the movie jumped right in, and the Tolkein geeks applauded.
Two hobbits continue en route to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, Two other hobbits are carried off by walking trees (a notion that seemed ridiculous at the beginning, but made OH so much sense by the end) and the remainder of the fellowship joins the people of Rohan in a desperate struggle to fend off Saruman's army at Helm's Deep. Frodo (Masterfully played by Elijah Wood) continues to shoulder the burdens of the evil that bearing the One Ring despite the fact that he is tired and looks extremely worn - a notion that Jackson and co. convey perfectly. Samwise (Sean Astin) continues to be Frodo's balance and friend, and in my opinion the best actor in the films so far. The two are joined by Gollum, and I have 2 things to say of this performance. One, anyone who says that 'he looks real' is wrong; he is CGI through and through. Two, the performance that Andy Serkis gives for Gollum is nothing short of Oscar-worthy. Brilliant. WETA and Serkis both deserve awards for bringing a very real and dark life to the screen in Gollum.
Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortenson), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Ryhs-Davies) Pursue Saruman's evil orc soldiers into Rohan after Merry and Pippin. They get tangled in the struggle to save Rohan and her people from Saruman, and the climatic battle is fought at Helm's Deep. One shot before the Helm's deep sequence sums it up for me; when Merry and Pippin are riding atop TreeBeard the Ent, and see the armies leaving Isengard; I let out a loud when I saw the sheer size. The Battle at Helm's Deep was spectacular, and for not a moment were my eyes not glued to the screen (At first light on the 5th day, look to the east - that was awesome).
Now, I am in no regard a Tolkein purist and have never even looked at the books. In defense of and in opposition to Tolkein purists I say the following:
- Reading your reviews tells me that Faramir's character was not supposed to be what it was and that he instead releases Frodo, Sam, and Gollum on their path to Mordor; I think Tolkein's intent to show that there are men that are worthy of nobility, but Jackson and co. want to focus the nobility of men on Aragorn and Aragorn alone, so I think that's why they did it.
- I am not sure why Jackson wanted to hold this until the Return of the King, I think ending the film right after that would have made the darkness and anticipation even moreso for those who have not read the books (like myself). I mean, leaving both the book (as I understand it anyway) and the film versions of FotR not knowing if Gandalf was really alive helped alot, and doing the same to Frodo would have been a boost.
- Finally, I am a published author, currently adapting my works to screenplay to see if I can get a studio to bite. All of your arguments about not being faithful to Tolkein's written texts are founded because you want to see everything up there; but take it from someone who knows, you cannot make a mirror of a book for the screenplay. It just wouldn't work. Studios and screenwriters have to change elements to make it more appealing to the movie-going audience, and they have to either heighten those scenes that add drama and intensity, or they have to change or delete those scenes that just don't serve the story. You can take as long as necessary to read a book, but filmmakers cannot take so long. They have to convey the story that you maybe took a week to read into a couple hours. Trust me, it just isn't possible. So, try not to be too hard on Jackson and Co.; they did a fantastic job and made films that are unbelievably good.
Rating:
Summary: Some inconsistencies from the book, but still a great story.
Review: To get a good background of my thoughts, read the reviews by "wysewoman" and "keb36," with which I agree. In addition, Eomer was disowned in the movie, only to later save the day at Helm's Deep, which was a major change along with the appearance of the elves. The Ents' part was also lessened to almost a cartoonish role. Fangorn's role in swallowing the orc army was completely dropped. The Medieval siege engines of the Orcs were great, however, along with all the battle scenes. I agree that Faramir shouldn't have been demoted in his character. The nobility and intelligence shown in the book upon his meeting and questioning of Frodo was traded for a Boromir clone. It took an extra battle in Osgiliath for Faramir to "see the light," but not convincingly. Rohan as a plains where the best horses of Middle Earth are bred lacked a lot in the New Zealand setting. From the book, I pictured a landscape with the steppe grasslands of Mongolia, the plains of Texas and Oklahoma, or the rolling bluegrass of Kentucky, but not the high altitude NZ tundra vegetation in an area of high relief (more than just hills). This is sheep country. This may not bother anyone who doesn't know vegetation and climates. If you haven't read the book recently or don't remember it from when you first read it in 1966, these changes are not great enough to detract from the good story movement, special effects, costumes, and makeup. For maximum enjoyment, forget the book and try to look on the film as a new interpretation of Middle Earth history, with Tolkien's work as just the first. From this point of view, it's an excellent bridge from the "Fellowship" to the "Return," much like Star Wars II (first round).
Rating:
Summary: The best!!
Review: I must say this is the best film I have ever seen...ok I've seen others that I thought was the best ever but that was before the LOTR came out. ;) First the film cuts to the chase by opening with Gandalf fighting the Balrog, which is a very exciting scene to watch! Basically everything begins excatly where it left off, Frodo and Sam making their way to Mordor, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas tracking down Merry and Pippin. Which I have to say is a very funny scene.
Merry and Pippin kinda "grow up" in this one, in the last one they were kinda like goofy children but in this one they fend for themselves and realize that if they don't play some sort of part in this they will have no Shire to return to.
Sam really becomes a stronghold for Frodo as the ring begins to take him. Frodo begins to take pity on Gollum afriad that he will turn out to be just like him.
And Poor Gollum, I have to say I really felt for his character you can really see the inner turmoil and I'm glad he wasn't just created for comic relief, as a matter of fact I've never seen a CGI character as real and complex as he is.
Gimli is the funniest ever! But none of it takes away from the movie at all, his scenes with Legolas were the best and I'm glad more humor was brought to Legolas. In the book he was a bit of a smart mouth (from what I can remember, I haven't read the books in a long time) and he was just that in the movie. And I don't care if this will make me out to be a love sick puppy or not but he is one hot elf!! If you need any other reason to see this movie besides it being "the best movie ever" just go to see Legolas! :)
Aragorn was great as well! I know a lot of ppl were worried about the whole love triangle thing but trust me when I say worry no more, it's not some crazy steamy in your face love scenes it's done very tastefully and it doesn't take away from the film at all.
Rating:
Summary: Head and shoulders above all other films of 2002
Review: "The Two Towers," the second episode in J.R.R. Tolkien's magnificent tale, "The Lord of the Rings," gloriously fulfills the promise held out by the first installment last year, "The Fellowship of the Ring." Just as in Tolkien's books, "Fellowship" sets the scene (a huge job), introduces the characters (another big job), and builds the mood, while "The Two Towers" is thrilling story and non-stop action from beginning to end. As a result, hopes now ride high for the third film, "The Return of the King," always my favorite of the books -- and allegedly Peter Jackson's favorite among the films. If this promise is fulfilled -- and very likely it will be -- Jackson will have done something many, many people long thought to be impossible. He will actually have made a film from "The Lord of the Rings!!" Like all directors who adapt books to film -- ALL of them, and for very good reasons -- Jackson has made changes, but as a whole the film is just magnificently faithful to the books. Even Tolkien himself, deeply skeptical of films and Hollywood and all that, would certainly thrill to see the closing shot of "The Two Towers," a magnificently forboding stare into Mordor, where you can clearly see Mount Doom and The Dark Tower, with the horrid Nazgul circling the fiery scene, flapping their vast wings with huge slow strength. And that's one reason people keep on turning books into movies: to add the color, the vision, the sounds, and the music. For many years, I have had my own ideas of what Mordor looked like -- and the film fulfilled those ideas and surpassed them!! This film is well worth seeking out. It is worth making an extra effort to see it. And it has SO MUCH in it, so much of wonder and beauty and terror, that it may draw you back for another look. Highest recommendation!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Cinematically Beautiful, Literally lacking
Review: If I had to really choose between the first and second LOTR movies so far, I'd really have to say this: The first film was better in that it was closer to the events in the book (yes I know Tom Bombadil was missing, that's not the point). The second film, in terms of cinematography and action is pretty much superior. But I like the book better. The critics say that the biggest problem with "Two Towers" is that, as with the book, it has no beginning and no end. The characters are not reintroduced, and the quest is not explained. It's not meant to be. That said: see the first movie or at least read the first book before you see this. I found that the big problem was one constantly had with readers watching adapted films: The characters and some of the places (I.E. The winged Nazgul, the Ents, and Helm's Deep, among other things) were not exactly the way I would have represented them. But, the ways in which they are represented are amazing. Another beef: They tend to focus on three members of the original fellowship: Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn. The parts of the hobbits are just as big, and weren't capitalized on enough. The tone of the entire film is much more dark and hopeless than one normally likes to find in a movie. Finally, a good chunk of the original book is taken out, and left for the third film. But, enough about the technicalities. On to the good stuff: The battle sequences! My sweet Lord, they were AMAZING! Huge arial shots of Orcs that we're certain are CGI, only because they are too amazing and breathtaking in scale to be real. But they are amazingly realistic. Also, on comedic relief: The director knows very well that this is a very gloomy and hopeless story. So, he puts in a good dose of black humor. During a fight amongst a group of Orcs, their leader takes a look at the carcasses killed, saying "Meat's back on the menu, boys!" We have several funny moments having to do with Gimli's height problem. Not to mention the many funny parts presented by Gollum. Yes, we are supposed to be wary of him, but, just take one look at the dopey, very much schizophrenic creature, and he's so weird that you have to laugh a bit. So, though Tolkein purists will have a bit of a beef with some of the storyline (Aragorn, Arwen, and Eowynn: The love triangle that may or may not go away), this is, all together, a pretty awesome film, yet a somewhat disappointing interpretation.
Rating:
Summary: So Many Missing Pieces....
Review: Boiling any quality novel down to the constraints of a motion picture means leaving some important elements out. When I saw "The Fellowship of The Ring" I understood what Jackson was doing and why things had to be changed, other things added or left unsaid. The sheer joy of having such a magnificent and beloved work brought to the screen in such a thoroughly artistic, sensitive, and powerful manner was very moving. "The Two Towers", while visually and technically stunning, really failed to maintain the standards established by the first film. The changes Jackson made are very well-documented by other reviewers, so I won't go into them in detail. But, unlike FoTR, where all changes made sense to me, Jacksons embellishments here seemed confusing. It's almost as though he soomehow got lost in the Dead Marshes and was never able to find his way back out. Just a couple points: The battle of Helm's Deep was terrific, and having Gandalf and Eomer ride down the hill to the rescue was a nice touch (though having the Ents do the job would not have been a stretch for Jackson). But, all we see is the rescuers riding down the hill, then -BANG- we're with Frodo. The next time we see Gandalf, everything's over. It was just too abrupt. Making Faromir into a greedy man like his brother was wrong-headed. Tolkein obviously had Faromir the good guy as a counterweight to Boromir, to show us that there is still hope in men. Jackson seems a bit confused as to whether men deserve any hope. And, lastly, bringing Frodo to Gondor made NO sense whatsoever. What was Jackson thinking? Though, I must admit I *did* like Sam's speech - very moving; but it, also, seemed rather abrupt. Much of the character development seemed an afterthought; many moments (with the exception of Gollum, Frodo, and Sam), seemed to appear out of thin air, then disappear just as quickly. There are obviously some pretty big holes in the theatrical release; one leaves the theatre thinking that there must be at least 40 minutes for Jackson to restore in his special edition DVD, certainly due out in November, 2003. Too bad we have to wait that long for the final verdict on this picture. My advice to Jackson: think long and hard before you re-cut "The Two Towers". Your characters are getting lost in your grandiosity: they are becoming paper-thin, and no amount of silly dream-sequence flashbacks can make them more compelling. And, for God's sake, have Aragorn kiss Eowyn!
Rating: 
Summary: It ain't half hot, mum (NOT!)
Review: I was looking forward to the sequel of Peter Jackson's comedy classic. How long before Frodo would fall over followed by Sam's dutiful reminder of him of his Christian name? About twenty minutes into the film, as it happened. Are the guys slipping? But any fears of a repeat of the uncontrollable and embarrassing giggling I helplessly released during 'Fellowship' proved unfounded. This is because it's hard to smile while your teeth are juddering against each other. Yes, my sister's kid and I had ventured once more into Siberia, that is the cavernous bowels of cinema one at my local multiplex, home of the most demented air conditioning system yet invented by man or hobbit. In fact, I suspected the 'hand' of Sauren at work, in a malicious attempt to poison the audience against good filming. He needn't have bothered, as it turned out. The kid was wearing a T-shirt, thermal top, jumper and a jacket. Despite being under more clobber than Muhammad Ali throughout his entire career, he still requested another jacket be flung on top of him. I, in a gesture of soon to be futile machismo, was merely wearing a super thick wooly jumper. After 30 minutes of towering towers, my nose had gone numb and my hand flailed wildly under the seat for that St Bernard with the barrel of brandy. These arctic conditions clouded my impression of the entire picture. First, Gandalf's epic fight with the fire demon Bolrog at the film's opening. "G..g...give him a free t..ticket to cinema one!" I exhorted in vain to the big G as the ferocious battle raged. Trust me, Bolrog's flames would die quickly. Gandalf rather unhelpfully anounced himself as no longer monickered 'The Grey' but 'The White', which meant he kept disappearing for large stretches of the film due to the icicles hanging down from my eyebrows. Henceforth, as the reels turned, every utterance by the game cast only seemed to speak of our cruel predicament. "So...pale...so cold" said Grima Wormtongue while carressing Eowyn's cheek. "Like the last chill before spring...." Boy, you said it, Chewie. I mean, Grimi. When the gang perchanced upon Theoden, he looked like he had already spent three hours in cinema one. Luckily, Gandalf thaws him out. Hey, how about sending us a bolt, Gandy? We're dying in here! We longed for the stretches of dull, incomprehensible dialogue between Theoden and other middle Earthers in his throne room to meander on and on, as there were torches flickering in the background. At one point the kid started flailing wildly with his arms. Was he incensed by Frodo walking to the left of a rock instead of the right as depicted in Tolkien's novel, or was this a last desperate attempt to ward off frostbite? This relentless cold reminded me of Tarkovsky's marvelous 'Andrei Rublev', a Russian fresco set largely in medieval winter. Tarkovsky would rarely cut, instead opting for a series of masterful and subtle long takes with an eye to background detail that united man with earth to such an extent that the screen appeared to be an open door in which one could almost step straight back in time. Jackson does the opposite, resulting in a muddled, uninvolving picture. Kudos though to Sean Astin, whose performance transcends even the misguided 'a word from our sponser' speech at the film's close. Although it was a freezing day, it was nice to step back out through the cinema doors into the warm. The conclusion I have come to is that you definately need two towers. One for the Elves and the other for several thousand pairs of thermal underpants.
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