Rating: 
Summary: Simply Amazing - A Must for True Fans
Review: If you have any complaint about the film adaptation and its comparison to the novels, you must buy this DVD set. Several of the added scenes are incredible and would have made the theatrical release more enjoyable, including the Huorns and Merry and Pippin's discovery of pipeweed.However, the real reason I so highly recommend this set is the commentary on disc 3 titled, "From Book to Script: Finding the Story". This is a piece by the writers, directors, and actors responding to all of the criticism from Tolkien's "guardians", as they put it. You get the sense that they empathize with all of the rabid fans who tear their works apart online. The commentary reasons that these changes are better for the film adaptation, while honoring the novel as a classic that cannot be touched. I was first very disgusted by some of the film's "perceptions" in the Two Towers. Now, while I still do not agree with all of the changes, I have much more respect for the writers and creators of this movie. The rest of the material on the appendix discs is equally satisfying. Of exception is the creation of Gollum and Andy Serkis' tremendous contribution to the film. If you enjoyed the extra discs that came with the Fellowship box, you will love these. From one fan to another, this is money well spent.
Rating:
Summary: Discs 3 & 4 won't work but the film is great!
Review: I loved seeing the new and extended scenes on discs 1 & 2-this half of the dvd set worked fine. This version was a total delight for me and it filled in some blanks and questions I had. Very enjoyable and funny in parts-But discs 3 & 4 will not play as some other people have said. Discs 3 & 4 loop between tracks 1 & 2 as the screen stays blank. I tried playing them on two different dvd players to no avail. Nothing would happen even when I pressed stop-I had to eject the disc to stop it from looping. Could not even bring up the disc menu! I am very sad & disappointed about this. I was so exited about seeing the behind the scenes special extras!!!I will be sending it back to Amazon for a refund (The film part was great so do purchase it for that!).
Rating:
Summary: just great but ...
Review: The only complaint I have about this DVD package is that unlike the Fellowship of the Rings box, the company decided to *glue* the "features sheet" to the back of the box! (sorry, I don't really know how to describe this sheet but when you see it, or own the Fellowship box, you will know what I mean). I ruined my box trying to the remove this sheet and the glue residue :-(.
Rating: 
Summary: Good enough, but less faithful than "Fellowship"
Review: The extended scenes are useful in terms of the story, but most of the new scenes are choppy and sometimes whimsical. The worst was a brief scene where Gandalf tells Aragorn the current state of Middle Earth. It breaks the first rule of a good narrative: "show me don't tell me." One interesting scene involves Denethor with Faramir and Boromir together. It is a creative way to build the characters, drawing attention to their uneasy family relationship and the plight of Gondor; interesting, but wisely cut from the theatrical release. Strangely enough, the first part of the Two Towers story was moved to the end of the first film, while the ending has been pushed out into the the Return of the King. Unfortunately the death of Boromir and Frodo's confrontation with Shelob and his subsequent capture are two strengths of the book and their absence weakens this second adaptation. Tolkien divides the book between the ring-bearer quest and the other story threads. This makes the book somewhat tedious and it is more difficult to follow which events occur simultaneously. Jackson deftly weaves among all of the plots more evenly which pulls the story together very well.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: Just like the extended Fellowship, this is wonderful release, better than the original theatrical version with moments of pure Tolkein wonder in it. The background discs offer amazing insight to the immense labour of love this production took, with so many creative geniuses involved from Peter Jackson, down to the simplest detail of sound production or prop design. Everything was done with a dedication to Tolkien that contributes this epic and wondrous trilogy. The script writers also explain why the character of Farimir was changed and this is one of the most controversial issues in the film vs book dialogue. However, their rationale makes beautiful sense and even though I was not in favour of the change initially, am now convinced that it made the film better. Beautiful, a tribute to the master of middle earth, and a sad commentary that the so called Oscar's voters cannot see fit to salute Peter Jackson for this awesome achievement. Better than the Matrix, more awe inspiring than the original Star Wars sequence, and an absolute no brainer if you are not sure if you want to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Adding This To Cart Is A No Brainer....
Review: 4 discs including 43 minutes of additional footage all in a cool collector's box for around $25. You can read all the long winded 500 word reviews you want to, but you're just wasting your own time. You know you want this so just go ahead and buy it!
You will not be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: spectacular expanded version of Tolkien's Two Towers
Review: Peter Jackson's version of Tolkien's The Two Towers was wonderful on the big screen, but the real edition is here -- with 43 sublime extra minutes, which add greatly to the narrative and aesthetics of the theatrical film. As other reviewers have mentioned, scenes with Boromir & Faramir, the Ents and Eowyn flesh out Tolkien's story. (One extra scene, in which Pippin and Merry fight over Ent Draft, does not ring true, but otherwise these added and extended scenes are fantastic.) In this film the Fellowship has been split up -- Merry and Pippin are being taken to Isengard by orcs with Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas in pursuit, while Sam and Frodo carry the ring into Mordor. And the fun doesn't stop there! There are four discs in all, and the extras are incredible: featurettes galore -- on production, design, Gollum, the screenplay, Weta, sfx and editing; photo galleries; and FOUR commentary tracks. These documentaries are hours and hours of fun. You'll learn what sound effect is made using a swinging cheese grater, watch PJ and his editors making changes right up to the last minute, watch someone storm off the set and see the dedication of the cast, extras, stunt personnel and the entire crew. Everyone seems to have cooperated with the production of this edition, so you'll find interviews and comments by over 100 cast and crew members. There is a lot of material here, but interactive menus and a printed guide help you navigate, and the material really adds to your enjoyment of the film and the process of making it. If you loved Peter Jackson before viewing the extras, you'll adore him afterward -- an inspired, hardworking, genuinely nice barefoot genius!! (Some extras are accessible only to those using a PC with Windows 98SE or later.) The packaging is nice, with a map and line drawings on the case and discs, and new art by Alan Lee on the cover. If you love Tolkien's books or the films, this extended set will make you very, very happy!
Rating:
Summary: far better than the theatrical release
Review: like The Fellowship of the Ring special edition before it, this much improved extended version of The Two Towers has me pondering whether or not to see the final installment of the trilogy, The Return of the King in theaters. i've spent my $ on two edited theater released films, i don't see buying tickets for part 3 when we all know its going to be chopped. i may wait a year for the 4 disc DVD set to be released. anyway, you can't miss with either SE DVD set. both are infinitely better than the original theatrical releases. worth every penny and stands up well for repeated viewings. overall a remarkable achievement by Peter Jackson et al.
Rating:
Summary: Compared With Theatrical Release
Review: The extended version of The Two Towers is richer, flows more smoothly, makes more sense, fills in the blanks on missing motives of a number of characters, most notably Faramir and Eowyn, adds some important details about Aragorn. It provides more depth, background information, humor, and overall character development. Though many of the changes are small, they affected the way I interpreted scenes from the theatrical release, put a slightly different spin on things, making for a fuller experience. Which is not to say the theatrical release didn't hold together well - but the extended version is just a better film. I'd like to add that I notice a number of people have commented on the disappointing editing done in the theatrical release - to be fair to Jackson, et al, I would say: Just remember the theatres make their money by having multiple shows. They probably limited the length of the film to get more showings in per day. It would take planning for an intermission and a greater commitment by theatres to fit in what is essentially a four-hour movie. I don't think that's intentional "dumbing down" for the audience, it is just a business decision a lot of us would rather they didn't have to make.
Rating:
Summary: Capturing the Spirit of Tolkien
Review: As with Fellowship, I really think this extended addition to Two Towers is a great improvement. I enjoyed the theatrical version immesely, but this release is that much better. In particular, the changes to Faramir's character makes much more sense now with the addition of the Osgiliath scenes. While I was initially very bothered by the alteration in his character, now I actually approve. He is the same Faramir that Tolkien wrote with more of a dramatic twist. He is tempted by the ring, but never, unlike Boromir, tries to take it from Frodo. He has to see what the ring does to Frodo before he can really understand its danger and let it go. There is also a lot more Gandalf in this version, more Treebeard, and a bit of an extended ending which adds elements from the book. Overall, I think the additions bring the movie closer to Tolkien's original vision of the story. In one of the documentaries, someone argues that a lot of Lord of the Rings is about fighting despair. I think whoever said that really captured the essence of the book and the film. For all the changes that had to be made, this movie still captures the spirit of of Tolkien's writing. The extras are really something as well. The docmentaries on Tolkien, the script, editing, and filming are all excellent, but the highlight has to be the documentary on Gollum and Andy Serkis. The Gollum figure that comes with this set is very well done (if you can get it out of the box!), but the fifth disk on the creation of the statue(s) is really sort of a let down (less than a half hour long). It felt like an extended sales pitch for Sideshow-Weta. If you get this set, you are really getting it for the Gollum figure.
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