[maquiladora]

What do you guys make of this? From a magazine interview with co-scriptwriter Philippa Boyens:

Q: Will there be anything to help a novice find his/her way into The Two Towers, some recap of what has happened so far, or will we plunge right into it?

Philippa Boyens: Pretty much a big plunge, you might say - a rather large plunge! [Both laugh as if sharing a wicked, private joke.] - the deep breath before the plunge. Well, it's a terrible pun; and you'll understand it when you see it, but I think it's one of the most amazing openings ever - pure Peter Jackson!

Sounds like we're in for a whopper of an opening!

[HairOfTheDog]

I did see that!

There was some discussion on TORN about what the plunge is...

That is could be Gandalf and the Balrog, or it could be Frodo... Or it could be Gollum...

What do you think? I don't think they would open with Gandalf... They will save him for the "surprise" appearance.

[Mamzelle]

Just a theory--one of the best ways to provide a recap for the non-hobbithead might be for Gollum to Tell His Story. After all, he'll be a new character even to someone who's seen FOTR six times.

This would review the history of the Ring of Power, if we had a short section of Gollum hissing out his love of the Precious, his rage at the Baggins, and his fear of the Dark Lord. That'd catch the unitiated up, and give the initiated some story, too.