Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not like the book
Review: I bought the first movie, but have no intentions on buying the second. After watching the first movie I went and bought the books. I didn't read the first book, because I had seen the movie so I started with the second book before the second movie came out. After reading the second book I was greatly disappointed with the movie because it hardly followed the book accurately. Half the time I found myself saying, "That didn't happen in the book!" or "That's not what the book said!" It will be interesting to see how the third movie matches the third and final book. (I don't even want to read the first book now afraid of how different the story might be from the movie.) So my advise is either watch the movies only or read the book only, don't do both or you'll be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Purists are outraged
Review: Purists feel Jackson departs from the book. However, if the viewer is a casual fan, does it really matter? In my opinion, "Yes". It's not the same experience!Some may see the movie and be inspired to pick up the books. In doing so, that person may sorely disappointed when the find out about the following inconsistencies: In the book, Gollum leads the nice hobbitsies deep into Mordor.
In the movie, Gollum only approaches Mordor. Book: Boromir's ghost comes to Frodo in a dream. Movie: Boromir steals the ring from Frodo causing him to fall into a dream-like state. Book: Samwise and Gollum share an intimate moment during a very passionate male on male kiss.
Movie: Gollum forces himself into Samwise after tricking Samwise to take a strange root known as "Spanish-fly" Book: Gandalf and Treebeard engage in an arm wrestling contest.
Movie: Gandalf slices through Mirkwood using a lightsaber?! Come-on Peter Jackson, what are you thinking?!
Rating: 
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: Peter Jackson does it again. This is a masterpiece that will live for ages. THis is the second movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In this movie, we start to get into the real action of the story. The highlight of this movie is the battle at Helm's Deep. To see the swarms of orcs and Uruk-hai throw themselves against the wall while the humans and elves try to repulse them is just one of the greatest screen experiences ever. You won't be disappointed by it. For me I was really impressed by the job done on Gollum. In this movie Gollum is done as a CG character, but it's not at all cheesy. Recently we have been bombarded with lots of uneccesary CG in movies, but you won't feel that way about this movie. Particularly Gollum's facial expressions are excellent and the other character's reactions to him are very believable (maybe George Lucas should take a look at this film). My favorite scene is when Gollum is have an internal conversation with himself. As he plays the different sides of his personality, his expressions change so much that you almost feel as if it is a different character. As I mentioned before the CG isn't as noticable as in other films, and the reason is that you just really caught up in the story. It sweeps you away to another existance. It's a shame there aren't more movies like this being made. It's a real must see. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Once in a generation excellence
Review: Peter Jackson was given the, one might say, unenviable task of converting Tokien's literary epic into a mass-marketed Hollywood production, in a format both condensed changed in some content. It is perhaps the most difficult task to accomplish as a director - trying to portray an already much-loved and acclaimed book onscreen; Jackson, however, has done this with as much taste and ability as is possible.
First though, to briefly list the hardcore Tolkien woes: The Ents, the Elves at Helms Deep (ugh!), Eowyn chasing after Aragorn, Faramir being seduced by the ring, no Shelob...phew. Lastly, as amazing as Gollum looks now, in ten years the CGI will look awful and ruin the whole film. But enough of the bad...
The movie contains the most beautiful cimematography of this generation of film. The wide, Frank Capra-esque shots of rolling, snow covered mountains, forests, and grassy plains are simply beautiful. The arduous set construction pays off with locations that may as well exist in this world, as real as they look, particularly Theoden's Hall, where intricate stone and woodwork can be casually observed.
The score is not the best ever seen in film, but wonderful in its subtleties. It wraps around the picture like a blanket, scarely noticable at times due to its pure cohabitation with the movie. When it needs to, it takes on a descisive thunderous quality, in keeping with the massive scope of The Two Towers.
The cast of mostly B-list actors is excellent. Those that particularly shine are Grima Wormtongue (Brad Dourif), and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen). Dourif is appaulingly haunting; his eyebowless countenance can be likened to a medieval Hannibal Lecter, preying on Eowyn's fears like a butcher-bird. Mortensen is massively confident, but without boasting; he takes the part and makes it his, with a classical maturity. Also noteable is Sean Astin's performance; his flawless rural English accent could so easily have nose-dived. Astin and Wood work to form a memorable onscreen chemisty, a classic good vs. evil struggle, relying on only each other.
Perhaps the most brilliant achievement of Jackson is his creation of a vast, spawling, visually stunning epic that still manages to be a study of character. George Lucas should take note; the horror that was Episode 1 could and should have been like this. The story oscillates gently on Jackson's cognitive ocean; moving from Elrond and Arwen's moving last conversation, to the tumultuous Helms Deep; from the haunting sadness of Gollum, to the Ents' destruction of Orthanc. Directors these days seem to get carried away with their computer-endowed deity status, but Jackson uses it only as a tool to realize Tolkien's vision.
The Two Towers is genius on film, poetry in motion. If those viewing it do not feel privileged, they are but fools, for they know not what they see. Buy this DVD and bask in its aura, put it on a plinth, and feel the radiating warmth. Buy it, buy it, buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Saga...
Review: I enjoyed this film as much or more as the first in the trilogy. Admittedly, it does not follow the Tolkien novels precisely. *shrugs* That is to be expected. Rarely does Hollywood go word for word, scene by exact scene. I was prepared for this and went into the theater fulling expecting some changes and the like. This is a surpassingly wonderful movie. I enjoyed it immensely. Drama, action, romance, suspense, what more can you ask for? Brilliant characters, fine acting, and wonderful scenery make for a thrill to the senses. I am waiting on baited breath for the third installment. =)
Rating: 
Summary: Adaptation Weaker Than the First
Review: I'm a huge fan of these movies and of the books, which I'd read several times before Peter Jackson adapted them to film. The Two Towers is a great film in its own right, but I do take issue with some of the liberties Jackson took in bringing this from novel to script. Of course some liberties need to be granted - after all, the elements that make a book a masterpiece are usually the same elements that make a film terrible. But in my opinion Jackson crossed the line in more than one area where he didn't need to. First, Faramir. His character is completely different than Tolkien intended. Tolkien likened him to a wizard in his wisdom and actions. In the book, Faramir seizes Frodo and intuitively knows he carries the ring. He is never tempted to take it from him and understands immediately the consequences of possessing it. He is in every way, shape and form the opposite of his greedy, power hungry brother, Boromir, who tried to steal the ring in the first film. I think that making Faramir struggle as he does in Jackson's Two Towers dramatically takes away from the character's brilliance and only turns him into a cheap plot device to stall up Frodo's quest instead of letting us witness wisdom and selflessness at its finest. Second, the Ents. These giant trees are supposed to be the wisest of all things living, as Tolkien intended. In his books they arrive at the conclusion that they must go to war for all living things are affected by it. However, Jackson has them decide to abandon Middle-Earth and only after being tricked by the hobbits Merry and Pippen do they decide to fight, and then it's for the selfish reasons of seeing their own kind hurt by Saruman. Again it's my opinion that Jackson cheapens a character and turns them into a lame Hollywood plot device. Lastly, the Elves. Tolkien has them abandon Middle-Earth except for Elrond's sons. Jackson sends an entire army of Elves to aid at Helm's Deep. This was a huge liberty to allow Jackson, since it entirely changes the character and motivation of the Elves. There are many fine points to the film, not least of all Gollum. The blend of CGI and reality make for a one-of-a kind character. The performances are great from all the cast, but I do think that Eowyn was the weakest of the bunch casting-wise. She doesn't even really compare to Liv Tyler and it's not very believable that there would be a love triangle between her, Arwyn and Aragorn. Finally, the music was better than the first film, and I must say it was the first film's biggest weakness. The main title sounded like something I'd expect to hear on ESPN's Baseball Tonight. Very generic melodies. They should've gotten a bigger name to handle the scoring. All in all, it's a great movie of course, but with more blatant flaws than its predecessor. The pace never feels quite right, since we are cutting incessantly from lengthy dialogue scenes between the Ents and the Hobbits to action packed battle sequences at Helm's deep. The film also ends somewhat abruptly. Most of us were expecting to see a spider. I'm sure Jackson had his reasons, but to me it didn't feel right. I'd have to say I was disappointed in this, especially after how amazing the first one was. But of course, I'll be first in line to see Return of the Kind this December.
Rating:
Summary: The best epic ever put on film.
Review: The Two Towers achieves the same excellence in filmaking as the first film did. It is truly unbelievable this guy Peter Jackson and what he did with these films. And what is even better is that the last chapter, The Return Of The King, will be the best of the three, if that is even possible. Masterpieces, simply masterpieces.
I feel really sorry for those who can't appreciate and enjoy the most fascinating films in cinema history because of "that wasn't in the book!", "Faramir did not do that!", "The Ents saved the day, not the cavalry!", etc., etc. .
If you like cinema, just enjoy these breathtaking works of art.
Thank you Peter Jackson and thank you New Zealand.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: The Two Towers is one of the best fantasy movies of all time. It has everything you could ask for in a movie. Action, adventure, romance, fantastic scenery, great directing, acting, and a fantastic story adapted from one of the most loved novels of all time. It continues The Fellowship of the Ring ending perfectly as if it's just continuing one big movie. And the ending of The Two Towers keeps you grinding your teeth for next installment. Fantastic battles in the movie are some of the best battles I've ever seen and the intimate story is one that really touches hearts. The story of from going from a good quiet life in the country to saving the world in strange and dangerous lands has never been told better than the Lord of the Rings series and when you watch it you truly feel like you've gone a long way from home and are feeling the pain thats being endured by the characters. If you think twice about buying this, you're crazy, because there is no movie even similar to this fantastic piece of art and there will never be anything like it:)
Rating:
Summary: Great entertainment!
Review: This movie is amazing to watch. It's a little confusing with three storylines, and lots of changes from the book, but I can live with that. Great stunts by Legolas -- as when he mounts a horse and shoots arrows while sliding down the stairs -- it's almost worth buying the DVD just to see those. Like the Fellowship of the Rings, it is an excellent production, flawless except for one thing: when Pippin was about to be trampled by a horse, his hands were already free, yet a few moments later, he was shown crawling, his hands still bound, toward an orc ax to cut his bond? This movie is worth seeing at least once, and the DVD is worth buying. The extended version is coming soon with more good stuff, and you can wait for that, or get both versions. A lot of people complain about the departures from the book, but no one, I think, is disappointed having seen this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Mindblowing Effects, Great Entertainment, Dream Come True...
Review: I have always been a big fan of SciFi and Fantasy genre movies. I saw the movies before I read the books. I think that was the way to go because I loved the movies and then the books had so much more detail and slightly different twists in the story but basically the same. Here are the things that struck me most in the Two Towers:
- Graphics were great as usual.
- Gandalf returns more powerful that ever.
- Aragorn walks in thru the double doors at Helm's Deep
- The Warg battle had great CGI - Gollum rocks (Andy Serkis was great as the talent behind gollum
- The Battle Helm's deep was overwhelming. I love seiges.
- Gandalf rides downhill to kick some Uruk and Orc butt !!! Overall, though there were many additions and many deletions to certain story elements within the books, I think as far as making a movie and captivating a movie going crowd as well as the not so fussy majority of the tolkien fan base, Peter Jackson did a helluva job. The plot of the moive was well thought of and I welcome the changes that saved us from too much detail as in the books. I like reading the books and imagining things and thats where detail helps, not in the movies. But the movies have a great amount of detail too and the Extended Edition always satisfies that desire for a little bit more. I plan to own both the theatrical and extended versions of all three movies. I wish they would have made the Hobbit also...... now I'm aksing for too much :-) I would give this movie and the extended a hundred stars if I could, but I guess five will have to suffice for now..
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