Rating: 
Summary: ONLY ONE TROUBLE....
Review: There's only one trouble with the special edition of THE TWO TOWERS, the same problem tha "plagued" the special edition of FELLOWSHIP: once you watch the extended version, the normal version becomes useless!:) YOu simply will not watch it again ever, because the extend edition is much, much better!This one nears perfection. Everything gets tight, no loose ends, and prepares the viewer for the third part. Eowyn and Faramir are much more developed; for Tolkien purists, yes, there it is the trees killing the fleeing Uruk-hais. There is more interplay between Eowyn and Aragorn. There is also a little comic relief, there is Aragorn revealing his age and making it clear that he is a Dunedain. But the great new scene, im my opinion, was Theodred's funeral when Eowyn begins to sing. It's majestic! It's a kind of a mixture between arcaic, celtic traditional songs, amazing, enchanting. Also, in the extras, you may agree with them or not, but Jackson and Boyen did not hide from the "hard" questions, explaining their reasoning for changing Faramir's character, for sending a platoon of elves led by Haldir to help at Helm's Deep, for increasing the love affair between Arwen and Aragorn. This DVD is rbeathtaking, the film was much more improved.
Rating:
Summary: Handsome package, great movie
Review: This four disc extended version of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is leaps and bounds above the original theatrical release. This boxed set is definitely aimed at Tolkien fanatics and cinema freaks, but also for anyone interested in the trilogy. As was the case with the first extended edition of The Fellowship of The Ring, we are given two discs of documentaries, galleries, and other assorted goodies. Peter Jackson and co. have given us an exhaustive wealth of information regarding every single detail of their modern day masterpiece. My personal favorites were the docs on Gollum and the one on adapting the story from book to script. The Gollum doc is one that I think everyone will find some kind of reward in watching. This is a character that called upon every single known movie making technique to be brought to the screen, from the incredible and unfortunately underrated acting of Andy Serkis to the CG animators to the motion capture artists. Gollum is a glimpse into the future of movies, and he is, undoubtedly in my mind, the most memorable and affecting character in the entire movie, and will perhaps be of the entire trilogy. The documentary on the scripting was eye opening as well. We go into the thought process of the writers and see why they made the choices and changes they made, all in an effort to craft a better movie. We also get a great history of Tolkien and of the famous "chopping up" of what was originally a single story into a forced trilogy. Watching this, I got the idea that maybe some of the changes were needed to make the movies because the story wasn't a trilogy anyway. The other docs, on various subjects such as the miniatures of the buildings to the wardrobe, are fittingly in-depth and really give us a sense that these people cut no corners and took no easy roads in making these movies. The portion dedicated to the epic battle of Helm's Deep was absolutely astounding, as the cast and crew worked more than three entire months of nights in a quarry on top of the mountains to bring us those breathtaking scenes. Kudos to all the cast and crew, who through the footage and interviews make it clear that they were successful because they all genuinely liked and cared for each other. It was a delight to learn that Viggo Mortenson treated the stuntmen on the same level as anyone else, with no ego at all. On the subject of ego, however, I must say that, through the Cast Commentary especially, Sean Astin comes off as totally pompous. He interupts his fellow cast with long winded and short-sighted declarations and speeches about the world and makes an otherwise great commentary almost unwatchable at times. The other commentaries are also a treat for movie buffs and couch directors. As for the movie itself, the new and extended scenes sometimes felt a bit smaller in scale than the broader picture that the Fellowship extended edition painted. However, it is just great to have the Gondor flashback scene, with Faramir and the returning Boromir, back in the movie. This scene should have been in the theatrical version, and gives a much better characterization of Faramir and Boromir. It is sad that Sean Bean, who plays Boromir so well, seems to get short-changed again and again by the reality of the editing process. No matter, he is a great actor nonetheless. Overall, this package is really a must-have for many of us who are enthralled and enchanted with the world that Peter Jackson has given. This edition is not for everyone, but it was never supposed to be. If you want a more complete idea of what the filmmakers were going for in The Two Towers, this is the only way to go. And did you know that Arwen was supposed to be at Helm's Deep? Oops, maybe I've said too much.
Rating:
Summary: Completely satisfying interpretation of Tolkien
Review: I am sure that there are those who are bothered, angry even, that Peter Jackson didn't take a more literal approach to his "Lord of the Rings" films. To those people I would say that a literal word for word translation from text to screen (assuming such a thing were possible, which it's not) would be nothing but mimicry and in no way a tribute to Tolkien's genius. Rather, I would argue that Jackson's superb interpretation of "The Two Towers" beautifully captures the spirit of Tolkien without being slavish in its devotion. Moreover, Jackson successfully grounds his film in a recognizable reality, which serves to further engage the viewer. There are three ways (generally speaking) in which Jackson puts his fingerprint on Tolkien. The first is his interpretation of the text; areas in which without changing Tolkien he is nonetheless able to put his own spin on the text. There are two salient and superb examples of this that come immediately to mind. The first is that Jackson presents Gollum/Smeagol as a split personality. Gollum is a malevolent deceitful being who lusts after the ring, and Smeagol is an almost childlike creature, fierce in his devotion, but easily hurt. I found this approach to be utterly compelling, and a superb way to present Gollum, but at the same time, it is totally loyal to Tolkien's writing. The second example is the presentation of Gandalf freeing Theoden from Saruman as a sort of exorcism. Not only was this a visually intriguing way to present the scene, but it also shows great appreciation for Tolkien as a man. As a devout Catholic, I suspect he would have appreciated the overtones that swirl about the exchange. The second way in which Jackson captures Tolkien is in his portrayal of the characters. Given the constraints of the film format, the director is forced to both condense and flesh out various characters and exchanges. As such, it is critical that he portrays the characters appropriately, but within the context of the movie. There are any number of excellent examples to Jackson's characterizations, but there are a few that come immediately to mind. The first is using Gimli as much needed comic relief, but doing so in such a way that doesn't degrade the character. In fact, it has quite the opposite effect as it lends a certain emotional depth to the stalwart dwarf. Another example is the conflicted Theoden who is almost Shakespearean in his portrayal. Particularly moving was when at Theodred's grave he flatly states, "No parent should have to bury their child" and then breaks down. Finally, Eowyn's unrequited love for Aragorn is nicely captured, and largely without any dialogue, using glances and expressions to convey the story. Finally, there is Jackson's modification of Tolkien in order to both make the story work as a film and ground it in our present day reality. Most surprising among these is the appearance of the Elves at Helm's Deep, as they come to honor the old alliances. While completely absent from Tolkien's writing, I found this to be an excellent and effective modification. By introducing the Elves, Jackson is able to paint a portrait of Allies fighting against a common enemy in the World War II sense. Moreover, the elite Elves and Rohirrim fighting side by side against overwhelming odds echoes Thermopylae, where the grossly outnumbered Spartans saved Greece, and ultimately, Western Civilization, from the Persians. The second approach is more subtle, but completely pervasive as Jackson takes a fantasy war and couches it in familiar terms. For example there is a suicide bombing at one point during the Battle of Helm's Deep. While entirely within the context of Tolkien, Jackson's presentation rather brutally echoes our own dangerous world. Another fine example is Theoden's question, "What can men do against such reckless hate?" which rather succinctly captures the dilemma of fighting terrorism. My only two complaints are relatively small. The first is an entirely unnecessary dream sequence between Arwen and Aragorn which badly distracts from the mounting tension between him and Eowyn. The second is that while Faramir is ultimately true to the book, it takes far too long for him to realize the danger of the ring. Part of the beauty of his character is how he stands in contrast to his brother Boromir, and this is somewhat eroded by Jackson's interpretation. As for the discs themselves, they are everything one would expect based upon the first set, as the sound, picture and score are all superb. Furthermore, I found the additional scenes to be generally excellent. Theodred's funeral, which features a lament by Eowyn, was particularly moving. Also, through the addition of a few key scenes, I found the ending to be far more satisfying. The conclusions to the Battles of Helms Deep an Isengard are less abrupt, and Faramir is better rounded out.
The extras are likewise superb and every bit as fascinating as the features from the first set. I'm not one who is easily drawn in by commetary on costumes and make-up, but these discs are so comprehensive it is impossible not to be drawn in by them. Finally, the audio commentaries are likewise comprehensive and interesting. If you are looking for a slavish recreation of Tolkien's work, you would do well to pass on these discs. However, if you appreciate the spirit of Tolkien's work, and fine filmmaking, you would do well to watch this film. Furthermore, you will never find a better value, as the extra's included in this four disc set once again set the standard to which all other releases must strive. Enjoy! Jake Mohlman
Rating:
Summary: What,no more helms deep footage??
Review: The extended scenes are well worth it-Merry and Pippin are hilarious,and there is plenty of the world of Rohan.Plenty of Denethor and sons,too.Denethor is a jerk!There should have been more Easter Eggs IMO.And more Helms Deep footage!That battle is the best battle scene in a movie ever made!Of course-they still cut out a lot of film I understand.Including one shot of what Frodo would look like if the ring took him over..very creepy!And hardly any extra Arwen..I still love it anyway!
Rating:
Summary: DVD smooths out story line
Review: The special extended edition adds a lot of scenes that smoothed out the story line for me. I'm not a rabid Tolkien fan, although I remember somewhat enjoying the story as a kid. As a female, the movie in the theater seemed so much just about battle. The DVD developed many of the characters much more deeply and made the story more enjoyable for me. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT!!!!!!
Review: Who would have thought that it could have got any better! This version is great, it gives you so much more insight into the film and the way Tolkien wrote the story. The amount of extra material is fantastic, there are no questions left unanswered. Massive respect to Peter Jackson and crew for sharing it all with us.
Rating:
Summary: So far, the best yet
Review: Before the movie was even released, there were tons of reviews of what may be. Well, I have to say, even though most were positive, they had no clue about what they were reviewing. The extended edition far surpasses anything we have seen thus far. In fact, it is nearly a completely different movie to its theatrical release. So much has been added, so many parts of the book added that were not there (though there are things that are not in the book at all, like the Elves coming to fight in Helms Deep, but I can accept this licence because they did fight their own wars in their area before leaving middle earth; plus, at one time men and elves fought together against the dark lord, and it is only fitting to have them do it again, even if it isn't part of the book). Many open ended questions that left you confused in the theatrical release are now answered. The quality of the film is amazing, as are the special effects and all the other things. However, a good movie requires a great script, and the writers of this movie provided us with a fabulous script (too bad that Tolken's language, and he being an expert in language, is not as beautiful as the script writers often write; some dialogue is exactly from the book, but there are other things that are completely the creation of the writers, and they weave a spell of words that far surpasses what is in the book at times). There are times that lines said by one character in the book are given to another in the movie, but they fit so perfectly one would never question the end result. I had no troubles with my copy; it played perfectly. I decided to watch some of disk three as well the same night, and it was very interesting to listen to how the book "Lord of the Rings" was even written. There are many different things from what you heard in the features on the first extended edition of "Fellowship of the Ring." Therefore, you are not getting a bunch of repeated information. It was interesting to discover the challenge putting the book then to script and making a movie. Some scenes from the book simply won't work in a movie (exciting to read but visually dull) and the filmers noticed this as they filmed. Of course, much was left out, however, in this movie those who remember Pippen and Merry being saved from the roots of the tree will find that that event is now put into this movie, and believe it or not, it is far more effective here than where it occurs in the actual book. There are so many little things added, and even the familiar scenes that seem there would be nothing to change have additions that flesh them out even more. The degradation of Frodo because of the power of the ring is far more noticeable (as it is in the book), and the double mindedness of Gallum is even greater, as is his hate and lust for the ring. Though I enjoyed the second movie when I saw it in the theatre, it seemed too war heavy, or that is about all you could really remember about it -- someone was always fighting. In this version, there is so much other going on, as in the book, that the war seems a part of a whole, not the main point of the whole. The movie also seemed to drag to me, when in the theatre. This version, though considerably longer doesn't drag at all. Like with the extended version of Fellowship, this extended version adds so much more that the story pushes itself along briskly, even though you are watching way more movie. Like with Fellowship extended version, this movie actually seems shorter and more coherent than the theatrical release was. And yes, the movie ends in the same place as it did before (no Shelob's cave at this point, and actually, I understand why; the great climax of the second book is really the victory of Helm's deep; much of the Shelob scene actually happens at the same time the world of men is actually attacking Mordor; the publisher really made a bad mistake dividing the book where he did) but are we ever aware of the evil infesting Gallum. Because of all the additional information we learn about him, and because we see the disintegration of Frodo's moral resolve far more clearly (and Sam is noticing it now, and he is beginning to understand the power of the ring), the closing scene is thrown into far greater relief than before; we know Gallum is seeking the complete ruin of everyone because of his lust for "the precious." If you don't like the Lord of the Rings, well, I am not sure you will like this version either. If you loved it, you will be blown away. If you enjoyed it but weren't completely impressed because too many things were not explained, you will really enjoy this version for you will follow the events more clearly and become involved with the emotions more fully.
Rating:
Summary: Hey, New Line Pix---DISCS 3 AND 4 ARE DEFECTIVE!!
Review: Although much less than reading the books themselves, watching these Peter Jackson films is still like stepping into another world for a short while. Sort of like being a kid again. Awesome! Awaiting the third installment of the series coming in December 2003. The extended movie gets 5 stars. However:
I just got The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers (Special Extended DVD Edition). I have an DVD player which plays the movie just fine (discs 1 and 2), but won't play discs 3 and 4, which are the appendices of the set. The discs in question are not defective because I'm watching them right now on my PC. OR ARE THEY?! Are these discs encoded with something new that hinders play on some units? Will New Line offer any help with this? My DVD player has never had a problem playing ANY other DVDs (including all four discs of The Fellowship of The Ring: Special Edition) but with discs 3 and 4 of TTT: Special Edition the TV screen is blank (black) while the unit jostles back and forth between titles 1 and 2 of the menu trying to figure out what to do. Apparently, I'm not the only one to experience this. On Amazon.com others have reported the same problems. I've sent a version of this concern to New Line and to www.lordoftherings.net. I should suggest that other consumers having issues like this do the same. Perhaps the problem will be tended to. Haven't heard back so far....
As a loyal fan who owns both versions of both movies, I'll be returning THIS set until someone sorts it all out. Wow, after all of the work that went into packaging, marketing, and the movie itself you think they would've been a little more thorough with something like DVD compatibilty/playability. And after all of that anticipation...just ridiculous.
Rating:
Summary: I'm releived.
Review: Between the time I had ordered my Two Towers DVD I read three of four reviews, saying that they had many problems with the special features disks (looping between first 2 tracks, black screen). They even said thy exchanged it with another set and had the problem again! Added to that was the theatrical version DVD I ordered fom amazon skipped at the end. As you could imagine, when it arrived and I went to watch it I was very nervous. The movie worked fine, the DVD picture/sound quality was excellent, the new scenes seamlessly flowed with the old ones. Then I put in disk 3. The menu came up and I played the first documentary. A releif. The rest of the documentaris played fine also (they were amazing). Thank God. Disk four was fine, and I couldn't be happier. Other people has also said they have problems with the packaging(torn DVD case,etc. Mine was in great condition. And could it look any cooler? All I can say to those who had problems is that you have my condolences. This DVD set is a great value and deserves five stars for everything.
Go buy it! Amd hopefully everything will work!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Movie
Review: Lord of the Rings: Two Towers Special Extended DVD Edition is the DVD movie of the year! I just can't stop watching this brilliant movie-sequel and the excellent cut-scenes it has to offer. People who own Fellowship of the Ring Extended Cut DVD will really enjoy the Extended version of Two Towers. It is WAY better than the original version because the extra-scenes are exciting and are parts that are in Lord of the Rings book trilogy. The music (score), special-effects, cinematography, and acting are wonderful in this movie! I love how much spectacular action, adventure, drama, romance, and suspense is put into this breath-taking movie-sequel. I highly recommend that you buy Lord of the Rings: Two Towers Special Extended DVD Edition! You will not be dissapointed.
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