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.
Rating: 
Summary: Redefines Epic Filmmaking!
Review: The Two Towers (TTT) is NOT a sequel to the mind-blowing Fellowship of the Ring, but a second part of a 3 act play. So does it live up to it's high expectations? Yes, the magic is still here, but is much darker (and bloodier) this time. Director Peter Jackson puts up right back where we left and doesn't look back. 3 hours later our mind is once again filled with dramatic, vast images that are instant cinematic history and legend. This is the fabric that geek legend is wove of. Jackson and his team have said they took the most liberties with the story in TTT, and it definitely shows. I'll predict some major backlash from Tolkien purists. I can see both side's arguments and probably lean toward the purists side. There are some changes that obviously put some story angles further up (the Aragorn/Arwen romance) and change some characters (Faramir). The changes still work in the movie and someone who hasn't read the books countless times (like myself) wouldn't think the story doesn't work because it works for both arenas of people. When we left them, the Fellowship was breaking. The hobbits, Frodo and his loyal companion Sam, have ran off to Mordor while Merry and Pippin have been captured by a group of Uruk-Hai warriors. The man Aragorn, elf Legolas, and dwarf Gimli have decided to try to rescue the hobbits that are captured and let the ring-bearer off to his task. Gandalf the Grey had fallen into the abyss and Boromir had perished at the hands of the Uruks. The film kicks into high gear right off with a bang starting that I won't reveal. It then darts back to our Mordor bound hobbits, who are all but lost in the vast wastelands of their trek, but they aren't alone. The creature Gollum finally reveals himself and agrees to lead them to the Black Gate with a promise on his "precious", the one ring. The 3 hunters (man, elf, dwarf) chase their prey across the lands of Rohan where they only seem to meet despair and hopelessness. Gollum is a totally CG character that is more real than you could imagine, but not because of the fantastic work by WETA Digital, but because he has personality and depth as a character. He is the most fully realize movie creature since Yoda. Jackson has captured the wear the ring put on him in the 100s of years he possessed it, but more importantly the inner struggle he faces from his old self, Smeagol. It would not have been possible if Andy Serkis had not capture the essence of the character perfectly with not only the voice, but also with the actions that the digital double was created from. The vast majority of the new areas of Middle Earth we are introduced to revolve around the land of Rohan, where King Theoden resides, but is ever sinking under the arm of the wizard Saruman through his spy, Grima Wormtounge. Theoden's son has died and his heir, nephew Eomer, has been made an outcast while his niece Eowyn tries to save him the best he can. There were characters I really loved in the book and their are just as gripping onscreen. Bernard Hill captures the lost glory of Theoden King who has to convinced Middle Earth is even worth his effort to defend. Miranda Otto perfectly captures the beauty, and most importantly the longing of Eowyn, who is constantly trying to counteract the sliminess of Brad Dourif's spectacular Wormtounge performance. The story also introduces us to the Ents, Middle Earth's oldest living creatures, when Merry and Pippin run from their captors and into (onto) Treebeard, the eldest of the old. The Ents are the tree-herders in Fangorn Forest from ancient tales long forgotten and even they've nearly forgotten that they themselves are part of Middle Earth and are under threat from their neighbor Saruman. Here is where the film really takes off as the 3 hunters encounter the White Wizard in Fangorn Forest, but it is an old friend returned. He tells them their hobbits are safe and they must come with him and save the king in Rohan before all is lost. Ian McKellen once again is engrossing as Gandalf in his return, but is different as his color notes. He is more wise, but more wizard like and less human than before. He knows his ultimate task is before him as does Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn whose character forces you to grasp his nobility and as he excepts his destiny. Orlando Bloom is once again back as our favorite bow & knives wielding Elf while his unique friendship with Gilmi the dwarf continues to grow. Gimli has a series of one liners and wise cracks that truthfully never grow tiring probably because John Rhys Davies is such a lovable character actor. They prove their worth to each other at the battle of Helm's Deep, which can only be summed up as possibly the best onscreen combat I've ever seen. Jackson does wonders capturing both the vast scope of the battle and the human elements making it up. To say the film is film is visually pleasing is quite the understatement. The artistic details within the film's locations is surely unmatched it today's cinema, if ever. The cinematography is awe-inspiring and sweeps you into the vast lands of Middle Earth. They always seem to have the perfect shot, whether close or sweeping zoom and fade, to convey the feeling they tried to get across to the viewer. The visual effects are more than satisfactory with the Ents joining Gollum as imagination come to life, as well as the 10,000 strong orc army at Helm's Deep. The best thing Peter Jackson has done in these 2 films is challenge the audience to expect more out of movies and to prove that there is still much that movies can do. He's energized fantasy fans and general moviegoers alike and that in itself is a miracle. The action sequences are huge and the humanity is there to match it, which is probably what makes these films so pleasing in every which way.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT MOVIE!!!
Review: THIS MOVIE IS BETTER THAN THE FIRST! I loved every moment of it and as soon as I got out of the movie theather I wanted to go right back in and watch it all over again. All the actors are perfect for their part and it kept true to the books.The Elves are elegant and graceful (just as I pictured them).Aragon has a very believable role and I really feel he is out there fighting Orcs.Even though the friendship between Legolas and Gimli is not as descriptive as it was in the book you can still sense the growing friendship between them. The costumes and weapons are also amazing.I could not get enough of the battle at Helms Deep.The Elvish bows and arrows are swift as lighting and the way the Elves use them leave you stunned (especially Legolas)The seen at Helm's Deep also has some funny parts , like when Legolas and Gimli are counting how many Orcs they have killed.The living trees that carry Merry and Pippin are also very cool.ALL in all I give this movie A++++++++++ I can't wait till it comes out on DVD!!!
Rating:
Summary: continues to capture the spirit of Tolkien's work
Review: There is no question that this is the middle movie of a trilogy. As the opening of this movie does not give a recap of The Fellowship of the Ring , director Peter Jackson expects that you have seen the first movie. The Two Towers will not likely make sense as a movie without FOTR, nor is it meant to. This is also one of the weaknesses of the film. It cannot stand alone. The story is a continuation of the first film and is a transition into the third (and final) film. With that said, it is a very fine transition. Frodo and Samwise are headed to Mordor to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are pursuing the captured Meriadoc and Pippin. Gandalf the Grey is missing, having fallen off a bridge in the Mines of Moria. The Fellowship of the Ring did such a good job introducing the characters and the world they inhabit that no further introduction is needed. That's a good thing, because we don't get an introduction, we are tossed right into the action. It has been several years since i've last read The Lord of the Rings (with my single volume edition), so i can't comment on changes made to the movie. All three films of The Lord of the Rings were filmed at the same time, so there is nothing lost in tone or acting or the sets when looking at the three films (or two films, as the third is not yet released). The performances are the same and they continue to ring true for the characters. While the story ultimately centers around Frodo and the Ring, Aragorn is the strongest of all the characters. It is his strength the guides the broken fellowship and it is his strength that is ultimately relied upon. Viggo Mortensen is believable as Aragorn and is actually credible as a warrior. Is Frodo is central to the story, Aragorn is truly the heart of the Fellowship. There is no true beginning and no true ending to this movie. We know that we are simply passing through to get to the finale in The Return of the King . Even so, this film had to get so many things right to make the series believable and to keep the audience's interest for one more year. There is a computer generated creature named Gollum that we meet in the shadows of the first movie. Gollum is the most important character in the book and in a way, is the most important character in the series. This is for several reasons. He drives the action forward at times, it was Gollum that led the Nazgul to the Shire, Gollum that first discovered the ring, Gollum that helps Frodo to Mordor, Gollum that will lead Frodo and Sam into something new in the next movie. Gollum is tied to the ring and that lends him import. Gollum is also a sad creature that was twisted by the power of the One Ring. He was twisted so much that while he still resembles his old self, it is a warped version of Smeagol. He is so twisted that the creature had to be computer generated. And this is where the movie gets it right. While Jar Jar Binks was a minor, though annoying characters, The Phantom Menace did not depend on Jar Jar. Gollum is of vital importance to The Two Towers and had Peter Jackson and Co. failed to deliver a credible Gollum, the movie may very well have failed. Gollum is a major character with quite a bit of dialogue and interaction with Frodo and Sam. Gollum is nearly perfect and while you realize at times that he isn't real...you quickly forget about that and believe Gollum for what he is. I must admit that i have been long a fan of the books, so i am already disposed to like the movies. But these are so easy to get wrong. The animated versions from the 70's are horrible. I wanted so much to like these movies and my expectations have been surpassed in both films. The epic battle at Helm's Deep, the Orcs, dwarf ("toss me....but don't tell the elf"), hobbits, and everything else magical about this series is perfectly realized. This movie is long, around 3 hours. If you dislike fantasy or slightly overlong epics....skip this. If you haven't seen the first movie...rent it. If you like it, go see this. I believe that you will be missing out on a good movie if you do not see this, but everyone has different tastes and this is not one i will put on the list of movies to push to everyone (Memento, Almost Famous). Suspend your disbelief and sit back to enjoy a well told epic story.
Rating: 
Summary: Glorious Effects but Left Wanting More
Review: No doubt, this movie should be a 5 stars for the effects alone, and the tremendous job of crafting a movie of this scale, Peter Jackson should get a special oscar for this. However, 3 hours of travelogue grew a wee bit weary after awhile, and seeing there was no doubt how the ending would turn out, the Two Towers ended a bit flat for me. Perhaps the first movie gave viewers an element of discovery about Middle Earth, and that's what made for a stronger viewing. The Two Towers is more a marathon. Still, see it on the big screen, and a definite stocking stuffer for next Xmas.
Rating:
Summary: I'm hooked
Review: My friend drug me to this movie. She has come to find out it may have been a mistake. I hadn't even read the books. But needless to say I am hooked. I have spent way to much money on the movie as well as books. I was dissappointed at a few things that were left out after reading the books. But overall I loved the movies. I can not wait untill Dec when Return of the King comes out. Jackson did an amazing job with the effects. The cast is excellent I don't know who could play the carachters any better than who they chose. I also cannot wait until the Two Towers comes out on DVD. Thanks everyone for opening my eyes to other worlds. (even if they are only in my head!)
Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: When I heard that this was going to be more emotional and have more themes of family and friends than Fellowship, I seriously doubted anything could top the scenes in Hobbiton. I was drastically wrong. For a good portion of the movie, I was in tears. Several times, I forgot that Treebeard and Gollum were animatronics and CG and thought they were real. The Battle at Helm's Deep had me at the edge of my seat and I tried not to cheer TOO loudly when help arrived (both times). Osgiliath was amazing and they did an excellent job showing how much the ring was effecting Frodo. I loved the scene with the Easterlings and Southrons (Oliphaunt people. I got that wrong, didn't I?). Miranda Otto was beautiful portraying Eowyn and brought her character to life. All the scenes in Edoras (make that Rohan) were captivating and I was upset that Eomer didn't have a larger role. The scene with the wargs was FANTASTIC! Showing Eowyn's concern for Aragorn and the wolves themselves were great. The opening had my jaw to the floor and the ending was PER-FECT! Some people are upset that Peter Jackson moved her to ROTK, but Sam and Frodo don't have a lot to do in ROTK, it was a better cliffhanger, more people will read the books this way, and the movie should have ended on a happy note anyway. Some of the moments irked me, though. I was annoyed that Arwen had to show up, but she did sway my pity to her during one bit. Gimli was funny, but the comedy was overdone a bit. Like I said above, Eomer should have had a larger role. Faramir shouldn't have been evil (made sense in a way what they did), and I am FURIOUS over what they did to Haldir (I'm still crying about it). Mostly it was a bad thing to do because those who didn't remember him from Fellowship or hadn't even seen it, didn't get to know him that well, and this is Haldir. You just don't do that. Merry and Pippin didn't get enough time, nor did Saruman. However, when you watch the movie, you'll forget everything I mentioned that was wrong (except Haldir, IMHTVO). This is a movie that will grab you, hold you, and won't let you go until it's over. Trust me, you'll forget about the time as you watch it. Once you see the Black Gates, the wargs, and the army at Isengard, you're theirs. Trust me. Go see it. I can't give it enough praise.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy tribute to the classic book
Review: I absolutely loved this movie! Sure, when I saw it at midnight, my brain was half dead, but then I saw it a couple more times when I was fully awake and it was great. Attention Tolkien purists: You will not like this movie if you can't stand any changes made from the book. If you're not a big Tolkien BOOK fan and you just want to see a good movie, here are some basic guidelines to whether you'd like it or not: If you really don't like violence, don't see this film. None of the violence is graphic, but it's rated PG-13 for "Epic battle sequences and scary images". If you liked Fellowship of the Ring for the beautiful Shire and Rivendell and cute hobbit-children, you'll be surprised at how much darker The Two Towers (TTT) is. If you're a parent and you have kids under 13 who are absolutely begging to see this movie, screen it first. Especially if your kids are sensitive to creepy ghosts and people getting killed and disgusting monsters called orcs, this is not a good film for them to see. I've heard that most parents see the PG part of the PG-13 rating and not the 13. If you like comedies and not dramatic epics, this is not a good movie for you. If you LOVE fantasy action/adventures, you'll love this movie. If you can't stand creatures that don't exist in real life, this is not a film you'd like. If you're a person in the category that I call Tolkien purist, where you can't stand anyone changing Tolkien's glorious epic, then you'll be horrified at some of the changes. I'm a super-ringer (Tolkien FAN, not purist), and I was a little miffed with Faramir's changes, but it's still a great movie. If you loved FOTR (Fellowship of the Ring), love the books, but don't mind changes made, GO SEE THIS MOVIE RIGHT NOW!! And also if you've read The Silmarillion, you'll adore some references to the Undying Lands, Valinor, the Valar, and the elves passing over the sea. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who hasn't seen FOTR. That would just be crazy, because you wouldn't understand a thing. If you're a little out of the Tolkien loop, and you're wondering what happens in this movie, a bare bones summary is "The quest continues to destroy a ring with the power to enslave the world". A little more thorough description is that Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are chasing orcs who have captured Merry and Pippin. Frodo and Sam continue towards Mordor, and are joined by Gollum. A, L, and G meet up with the people of Rohan and join them in fighting a huge battle at a place called Helm's Deep. The rest I won't spoil. Please go see this movie! It's a breath of fresh air after some of the junk that Hollywood comes out with....
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: For the second time, Peter Jackson, works wonders in bringing JRR Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ to life, and the Part II: The Two Towers is even more stunning than the first. As a long-time fan of the books, I was very skeptical that the big screen could really do these works justice, but Peter Jackson, and everyone else who worked on this amazing project, has proved that it certainly can!
The hideous and destructive evil of the Orcs, Wargs and Black Riders is made even more frighteningly stark, and it is with a sense of wonder that we are introduced to the people of Rohan; the Ents and the horrible, crawling, scheming Gollum. For me the highlight of the film is the Battle of Helms Deep, where a 10 000 strong horde of Orcs, Uruk-Hai and Hillmen from Isengard besiege the people of at this ancient fortress, and the ensuing battle shows the great courage and determination to survive of the besieged and their allies. Seeing the innocent, beautiful faces of the children of Rohan, hiding with the women in the fortress, and then being flashed to the cruel terror of Saruman’s forces is a contrast I will never forget. And it is with a sense of grand triumph, that we see Gandalf and the cavalry of Rohan charging down the hill to break the siege; and the army of angry Ents destroying Isengard The message in the film is what makes it so remarkable and encouraging at this difficult time in human history.
Here is placed a monumental battle between good and evil, without any of the relativism or moral blur that blight our age.
The free world is under threat by dark and evil forces that have a demonic drive to destroy all that is good, just and beautiful. And the question that faces us all today is asked King Theoden of Rohan: ‘How do we deal with such reckless hatred’.
Aragorn, the only answer that points the way to the truth, gives the clear answer: ‘Ride out and meet it, head-on’.
Rating:
Summary: Epic, music, animation, battle: perfect evening...
Review: The story in and of itself is glorious: I became a LOTR addict after starting to read "The Hobbit" a couple of years ago, and now I begin to see where the central theme of Tolkien's work seems to converge (someone please correct me, if I am wrong): there is good even when you don't think there is... there is such a thing as a tomorrow, as a sunrise and a ray of light after the rain. As for "Two Towers" I won't add too much but this: the epic with Celtic music by Howard Shore in the background, simply stupendous, magnificent, grandieuse. As for Computer Animation, praise for the work behind Gollum: seamless, melds in with the Hobbits in a way that more than makes believe. Finally, the battle for Helm's Deep is simply breathtaking. Not going to waste more of your time: go see it and pick up a copy when it is available on DVD!
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