Rating: 
Summary: An Improvement and a Foreboding....
Review: Although it is not really necessary to stick to the knitting of the script of Tolkein's book, what the extended version displays in dramatic form is how far from the environmental and anti-violence message Jackson's theatrical edition has strayed. Given the advance complaints from Christopher Lee about the hatcheting of the third film, it might just be best to wait until the extended DVD comes out next Christmas. We'll find out soon enough. A question for Jackson: why would you edit the third film anyway? There is no fourth. Do it right, for a change.
As to this film, as with the first, much of the extra footage fills in details or gives more substance that in the theatre release seemed to be passing nods to cognoscenti who may have brushed up on the book just before curtain. However, there are some critical passages that SHOULD have been in: most notably, "Sons of the Steward" segment, the initial capture of Frodo & Sam by Faramir, and most importantly, "Flotsam and Jetsam." In the case of the first, the essential dialectic between two sons of a father already unkowingly corrupted by the lure of the ring addresses everything from the literal implications to the endless psychological and family issues involved in the passing of one generation to another, be it business or early onset Alzheimers. But critically to the third film, this scene lays out what is a very key part of the conclusion of the story and why Middle Earth will be forever changed when it passes to men.
As to Frodo's initial capture by Faramir, they come across a fallen opponent and Faramir delivers an oratory that is right at the heart of the tragedy of war, and this is a story borne of a tragedy in Europe in which young men answered calls and found their death. On top of the contextual part, the actuial acting in these two scenes is among the best in the series thus far. Pity. Do we really need more of the "Guns of Navaronne" type of film-making? Essentially all war movies are the same: stress in anticpation, catharsis in battle, sacrifice in the aftermath. What changes is the quality of the toys used to display it. That is NOT what the story is about.
The Sons scene deleted also gives depth to Framir's confrontation with Frodo and Sam in the cave and establishes the ethical and the metaphysical reason why he, and not Boromir, should survive and have an important future in Middle Earth.
Many of the other characters are given much more detail as well: Eowyn's part makes sense in this film now. She isn't just Renaissance eye-candy. The Ents are less Disney-like cartoons and actually manage to reel off both Tolkien's interest in lyrical poetry and the Heideggerian question concerning technology and the environment in more than broad pastiche.
And that brings us to Flotsam: much has been made of Jackson's omission of the spider, which, honestly, is a mere dramatic device to advance the story (a more nefarious Tom Bombadill, if you will) that can be quickly addressed in #3. But at the fall of Isengaard, there is an essential confrontation between Gandalf and Saruman that defines the entire conflict that knowledge and power can produce among the knowing and the innocent. In the course of this confrontation, an orb is picked up that has enormous ontological consequences as the story unfolds. It ties in with the entire issue of knowledge, power, corruption and innocence. This is precisely how the movie should have ended, and more's the pity that Jackson took the Jerry Bruckheimer route.
That said, and as the rumours begin to fly about the editing of RETURN OF THE KING, the third film is in danger of going Hollywood. I wept at the end of the books, and I suspect I'll just be full of popcorn with Jackson's resolution of the human factors, the exitential confrontations, the mythological interpretation of death and loss.
This edition is truly what the second film should have been. If you love the story, pick this up.
As to the superfluous material scattered over the other 2 discs, it's mostly for the Mac graphically inclined, but the discussion about Tolkien, featuring notably Christopher Lee, and the New Zealand as Middle Earth segments are terrific. Regarding Tolkien, the various talking heads give you an historical context, but unless you're literate enough to understand the dynamics between Tolkien and C.C. Lewis and even Charles Williams for that matter, this might be lost on the casual viewer. Still, I'm glad it's here. Tends to validate Lee's criticism's of Jackson's editing as well. It would be well to keep in mind that when published, it was ridiculed at Oxford as "Bored of the Rings" and actually never really achieved its legendary status until the hippies re-discovered it in the sixties. What began as an academic way of comforting his son in the midst of WW2 inspired so many of us later to be concerned about the very life-stuff of this planet, human and otherwise.
Rating:
Summary: A much better second chapter
Review: Warning--spoilers ahead.The tough thing to accept about The Two Towers is that no matter how you cut it, it's a middle piece with a bumpy beginning and no real ending. The new extended edition is much better than the original because it doesn't try to tie up the loose ends--that would be pointless. Instead, it expands the film in every way, letting the story breathe more. Great character bits abound, and several relationships start to seem more real, especially Treebeard and Merry & Pippin, Aragorn and Eowyn, Aragorn & Arwen. The best addition by far, however, is the expansion of the character of Faramir, who came off in the theatrical version as a brooding commander who only barely succeeds in doing the right thing. In this version, we get to hear more of Faramir's views on war, and we see a well-acted, beautifully filmed flashback that actually shows us Farmair and his brother Boromir with a new character: Denethor, the steward of Gondor whose cruel demands drive both sons to make bad decisions. It's nice to see the character of Boromir expanded, even after he's already dead, but it's even better to see Faramir become more three-dimensional. The theatrical version centered around two characters: Aragorn and Gollum. This version feels more decentered, and for a middle chapter, that makes it much closer to what it needs to be. The battle scenes still amaze, and the rest of the movie is less like filler and more like a real story.
Rating:
Summary: The Complete LoTR: Two Towers
Review: Though an ardent fan of both the LoTR novels and Peter Jackson's renditions, I - like many - felt that Two Towers was a bit choppy and thin compared to the warm up of Fellowship. This extended edition dashes those feelings. The extra footage makes it an entirely new movie. It is now complete, full of depth and wonder. Essential thematic elements from the books - glossed over or entirely ignored in the cinematic release of Two Towers -have been filled in through the previously missing scenes. It is now on par with the introductory film of the trilogy. I only find it sad that an epic such as this must be pared down to placate the average theatre-goer's minute attention span.
Rating:
Summary: Moving up my list
Review: I watched this movie this week after having made the midnight run to get it. The extended and added scenes make the move 100x better than it was to begin with! It is fast moving up my list of favorite movies of all time. Both extended editions add details to the story that get lost in the theatrical releases. Well worth owning. Because of the bonus material on the disks, my wife and I are eagerly awaiting the release of 'The Return of the King'
Rating:
Summary: A Totally New Experience
Review: First of all, the restored scenes are not frivolous. Their addition makes the movie feel complete, as if this is the way the movie should have been screened initially, simply because it answers so many questions, fills in so many plot holes, explains so many puzzles, and seemlessly sets the stage for the next sequel. ***Some spoilers discussed*** The most apparent thing after watching the Extended Version is that the restored scenes have managed to smoothen up the movie, making every scene immediately more relevant and meaningful to the entire story.It not only transformed the movie but it gave so much more pathos to every character in it. Also, tellingly in particular two new scenes provide a wonderful stage for The Return of The King, explaining Gandalf's mission in finding the heir to the throne and Aragorn's rumored parentage in a very fascinating and intriguing account. These stray plot lines will ostensibly be the main plot lines for The Return of The King. The Extended Version creates sympathy for all the characters involved. Very wonderfully, it shows alot of touching moments, and sometimes informative backstories, between characters: Eowyn and Aragorn, Frodo and Samwise, Legolas and Gimli, Faramir and Boromir, Merry and Pippin. The story simply becomes richer with these important additions, adding color, texture, and new layers to the film that was missing from the original. It almost seemed as if with these additions, the movie has sprouted new branches and has become a so much more different in its entirety than its original counterpart. These are not frivolous additions, and sometimes makes one wonder why they were deleted from the original. Sitting through a 4-hour plus epic inclusive of these scenes wouldn't be a chore especially when the scenes deleted were of such a sumptuous and important quality. Interesting to note: there's a very fascinating nugget concerning the lineage of Aragorn that was snipped from the screen version but restored in the Extended. He, apparently, isn't really from the race of men and is realy *** years old (check it out for yourself). The fight scene at Helm's Deep is longer than usual too, ending with a brief glimpse of the Huorns cleaning up the orcs. Also, Merry and Pippin get extended time together, along with Treebeard, which makes for alot of laughs. The sudden explosion of so much colors in the storehouse of fruit was a nice epilogue to what was so much grays and blacks and blues of the previous battle scenes at Helm's Deep and Isengaard. It was reminescent of Bag End all over again. In summary, The Extended Version with 40 mins plus of new scenes is worth the buy. 4 stars for the Original because I felt it dragged in certain parts, especially with Faramir. But 5 stars for the Extended because the restored scenes filled up the plot gaps and lifted the draggy moments into a new level of storytelling. (The story line with Faramir takes on new meaning and deeper import, aiding the viewer to fully comprehend his dilemma, and helps elicit deep emotions when he finally decides to release Frodo. The added scenes immediately show the nobility of Faramir where Boromir failed. In short, the new scenes make Faramir a very interesting new character.) In the Extended Verison, all the holes have been filled, all the puzzling pieces explained, many questions answered. A great watch! Looks very different from the original.
Rating:
Summary: A complete look at one of the best films ever made
Review: This extended cut is even better than the theatrical release. The extra 45 minutes are well-spent. The additions come in two forms: (1) small shots added into previously-seen scenes, and (2) entirely new scenes, inserted into the story sequence. The new scenes include a flashback from Faramir, showing his conversations with Boromir. It's nice to see Sean Bean back on screen, reprising his role from The Fellowship of the Ring. Another new scene shows the aftermath of the Ent assault on Isengard. The added shots are all good. Gollum gets a little extra screen time doing things like trying to eat Lambas bread, gagging on it, and then snatching a fresh worm from the swamp and sucking it down like spaghetti. It's just 20 seconds long, but it adds much more to the overall story. The four audio tracks and two DVDs of documentary are exhausting and fantastic. As in the extended Fellowship set, the whole crew goes through every stage of filmmaking, from design drawings to editing and mixing the sound. Actors tell their anecdotes for each major scene, Peter Jackson explains nearly every shot of the film, and you get to see how each special effects shot was built and then integrated into the final picture. There are also a few teasers about scenes that were shot and left out, and ideas that were cut before being filmed for various reasons. This movie was a real labor of love for a huge number of talented artists. It shows in this set of DVDs. Few films are this good, and even fewer are given this kind of complete, detailed, entertaining treatment for fans who can't get enough.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful special edition
Review: This dvd is just as wonderful as the extended edition of the Fellowship of the Rings. Fans of the books will be delighted by the extended scenes. As a huge movie fan, I found the special features wonderful, as they go through the whole filmmaking process. Hail to the crew and cast of these movies, who have made film history with this monumental achievement!
Rating:
Summary: A dream came true... and preserved the dream
Review: As a teenager, I discovered The Lord of the Rings. At that time, my friends and I wondered if anyone could ever make a movie that would render the beauty, drama, magic of Tolkien's masterpiece. We believed it would be very difficult to transmit all the subtlety of the book, and we thought (it was 20 years ago) that the technology could not make it look real. When we heard about the project, we received the news with some skepticism. Wouldn't a film destroy the magic that was in a reader's mind ? It does not.
Peter Jackson had achieved what we thought impossible. The movies are remarquable, faithfull to the book and its spirit.
This edition includes additional scenes that will rejoice fans and recent discoverers. Mr Jackson, "chapeau" to you and your team !
Rating:
Summary: rebutting plot hole by previous reviewers
Review: I am writting this as a rebuttal to some of the reviewers' comment that frodo's showing of the ring to the ringwraight towards the end of TWO TOWERS should have alerted SAURON to the fact that FRODO has the ONE RING and NOT PIPPIN/MERRY as it is stated in the trailer of RETURN OF THE KING. HOWEVER Gandalf said to FRODO in the Fellowship that SAURON's minions can detect the RING only when SOMEONE/FRODO puts THE RING on his finger. THAT IS WHY THEY KEEP SHOWING THE EYE OF SAURON when FRODO puts it on. Since SAM PREVENTED FRODO from putting on the RING, the ringwraight does not necessarily know that is the ONE TRUE RING. SO there!!!!!!! HAIL PETER JACKSON & OTHER SCREENWRITERS for crafting a great story
Rating:
Summary: A timeless classic
Review: As with "Fellowship of the Ring," the extended version of "The Two Towers" adds critical dimensions to the theatrical release. Even at over three hours per film, this story is too complex and subtle to be told briefly. The addition of some of the best material that had to be cut for time considerations in the theatrical release make this practically a different, and far better film. Assuming the upcoming "Return of the King" will maintain these established standards, I expect NewLine's Lord of the Rings will take its place as one of the very best film works ever accomplished, and will set a very high standard to be met for the future.
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