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The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (7 - 9 of 54 Reviews)

A New Standard In Filmmaking Excellence FULL SKULL BABY!

It's hard to know where to begin in articulating a coherent summary of so spectacular an epic as Peter Jackson's rendering of Tolkein's masterpiece. Perhaps the most incisive comment I can make is that, having been a fan of "The Lord of the Rings" since I first read the trilogy nearly 35 years ago, I'm impressed by Jackson's fidelity to the spirit of the original literary work.

"The Two Towers" is a very different kind of film than its predecessor. Don't expect the intimacy of "The Fellowship of the Ring"; the evolution of the story precludes it. The dissolution of the Fellowship scattered the principal characters of the first film into three distinct sub-plots: Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), whose capture by the Uruk-Hai takes them into Fangorn Forest and their ultimate influence on the fate of Saruman (Christopher Lee); Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), who re-unite with a resurrected Gandalf (Ian McKellan) in the climactic battle of Helm's Deep; and Frodo (Elijah Wood) & Sam (Sean Astin), who continue their quest to destroy the Ring at Orodruin (ably played by Mount Doom) in Mordor. That's a lot of threads to weave into the overall tapestry of the story, and it necessarily calls for some fairly abrupt and rapid scene changes. The action is so fast-paced that you will barely have time to catch your breath.

One of the most personally meaningful aspects of the film -- and so far, it has been true of both "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" -- is Jackson's uncompromising adherence to Tolkein's vision of the timelessness of the story itself. The author was determined NOT to write a story that served as an allegory for any of the current events of his time, but rather hoped to address much broader issues that are rooted in the fundamentals of human nature. In so doing, the trilogy has remained relevant to the human condition in a way that transcends nationalities, ethnicities, and the various idiosyncratic cultural zeitgeists of any of the historical periods it has spanned. I find real personal relevance in Aragorn's struggle with his own destiny. It's not a predetermined kind of destiny, as in "fate", but rather the self-determined destiny of one who follows his heart and his own integrity. Ditto for Eowyn (Miranda Otto), whose struggle to fulfill her desire for valor in the service of good is established in "The Two Towers", and will culminate in the final installment, "The Return of the King".

But Jackson's triumph runs much deeper than his artistry in character development; many great films share that characteristic. It is his mastery in the use of surpassing technological innovation as an aid in the storytelling rather than as an end in itself that raises the bar for all subsequent films. His combination of digital, fabricated, and natural scenery in creating the world of Middle Earth is simply breathtaking. The battle scenes are terrifying without being overwhelming in their reliance on gratuitous violence or gruesome bloodshed. [I will allow my daughters (8 and 12 years of age) to watch the films, and I am probably more protective of their sensibilities than most parents I know.] And Jackson's creation of the creature Gollum (Andy Serkis) is without equal or precedent in filmmaking history. Gollum is more than simply "believable"; he is real. His role in the story is pivotal, and it was Jackson's test of fire to create an all-digital character whose range of expression and movement could carry such an important part in the story. It is a masterpiece of moviemaking art.

It will seem incomprehensible to the uninitiated that my only lament about the three-hour film is that it is too short. That's hardly a criticism, for Jackson has included everything that is relevant to the story line in setting the stage for the trilogy's climax in the third film. As a matter of practicality, the film can't exceed three hours for simple economic reasons. A longer film would mean fewer showings -- not good for the profitability of movie theatres -- or a higher price of admission, which would not be popular with moviegoers. So, the filmmaker has had to accommodate those constraints, and I believe it's a job well done.

Still, it's inevitable that one who has read the book will find discrepancies or omissions in the film, but that's not the basis of my wish that the film were longer. Rather, it's more a matter of being sorry that it was over at the end. "The Two Towers" is so captivating, so utterly engrossing a film-watching experience, that I found myself wanting more. What better statement could one make about the success of the filmmaker who wants his customers to come back for the third and final part of this epic trilogy? The consolation to those who want more will undoubtedly be in the release of the special edition DVD, which -- like its counterpart for "The Fellowship..." -- will add significant additional footage to the theatrical version.

Finally, for all the unparalleled technological excellence of the film, the most compelling reason of all to see it is the story itself. If you love great movies crafted by professionals with vision who tell a remarkable story exceedingly well, you simply must see "The Lord of the Rings". It's clear that the trilogy has found a special place in moviegoers' hearts. I saw "The Two Towers" at Edwards Cinema in Brea, California at a matinee showing on December 23, 2002, in a full-house audience of people of all ages. When the initial title "The Lord of the Rings" appeared on the screen, the audience spontaneously burst into applause. I have never seen that happen at any movie I have ever attended, and for good reason - there has never been a movie like this before.

The Heroes of Middle Earth FULL SKULL BABY!
The epic battle of good versus evil continues with the thrilling film spectacle "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". With the Fellowship broken, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) continue their quest into Mordor and form an uneasy alliance with the creature Gollum. As Sauron's power continues to grow, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) aid the people of Rohan against Saruman's (Christopher Lee) massive army. "The Two Towers" is an outstanding continuation of Peter Jackson's award-winning adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien's epic fantasy. The film contains an incredibly engaging storyline with such memorable scenes and interesting characters. The cast is wonderful with Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin and Ian McKellen delivering some powerful performances. The creature Gollum is a stunning visual accomplishment and Andy Serkis's voice work is remarkable. The movie also features some amazing special effects and edge-of-your-seat action sequences including the climactic battle of Helm's Deep.

If you're unable to wait for the 4-Disc Extended Edition in November, then "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" 2-Disc Edition is certainly a fine addition to any DVD collection. The sensational blockbuster is presented in its theatrical 2.35:1 widescreen format. The DVD contains a flawless video transfer with rich color detail. Its 5.1-EX Dolby Digital sound is stunning and very aggressive. It might not be the Extended Edition but this 2-Disc edition features numerous behind-the-scenes featurettes, preview of the upcoming "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King", trailers, TV spots, web featurettes and a music video. Overall, "The Two Towers" is a fantastic DVD and definitely scores an "A".

A Towering Achievement... FULL SKULL BABY!
The second installment of Tolkiens classic trilogy is brought to magnificent life in this, Peter Jackson's forray into the world of Middle Earth. It's worth remembering that this is an ADAPTATION of Tolkiens work, and fans of the book will be quick to spot some key differences...most notably the ending, with postpones Sam and Frodo's arachnophobic encounters until the third movie. While book-spods will probably baulk at the various changes they might at least concede the necessity of modifying the film for the screen.

The Two Towers marks the commencement of open battle between the shattered alliance of elves and men, and the dark forces of Saruman and Sauron, the former played to corrupt perfection by the indomitable Christopher Lee. The army of Orthanc, portrayed in clanking, snarling digital splendor, marches against the rag-tag human army, fleeing to apparant safety at Helm's Deep, an ancient stronghold. Meanwhile Frodo and Sam stumble painfully towards Mordor, helped and hindered by One-ring obsessed Gollum, voiced by Andy Sirkis and realised in more CG perfection. In the third strand of the story Merry and Pippin, in the clutches of Saruman's Uruk scouts, find themselves alone in the Fanghorn forest, with some unlikely allies.

This is an absolutely massive story, compressed artfully into an equally epic movie. Yes, there's been some snips, cuts, changes and adaptations made, but at the end of the day this is still a worthy homage to Tolkiens vision, and a damn fine adventure. The cast list glitters and shines with quality actors...Elijah Wood continues to impress as the wide-eyed Frodo; grizzly Viggo Mortensen is dashing and soulful as Aragorn, with eagle-eyed Orlando Bloom and sturdy John-Ryhs Davies in fine supporting roles. The list goes on and on, much as it did for Fellowship Of the Ring.

With plenty of wonderful special effects, a gripping score and many hours of fantastic special features, this DVD will one day be hailed as a third of the greatest movie of all time. Highly recommended.

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