National Review's Rod Dreher Reports on The Two Towers

National Review Online ^ | Dec. 4, 2002 | Rod Dreher

[The Iguana]

Rod Dreher (always a favorite around here) slips in a bit over at "The Corner about his junket to see The Two Towers - lucky dog:

"THE TWO TOWERS" [Rod Dreher]

Saw it tonight. I give it a B, but if I hadn't read the book first, I'd probably give it a strong A. It's three hours long, but that time flies by. The film barely stops, which you can understand inasmuch as they've got a hell of a lot of plot to get through. "The Two Towers" was my favorite of the trilogy, in part because I absolutely loved the Ents, and their world. There are Ents here, of course, but they get very short shrift. I realized while watching the movie that my favorite parts of the book were the poetic moments, when I was able to relax and take in the wondrously imaginative world Tolkien had created. In the film, it's all go, go, go -- which still makes for a pretty impressive film, but I could have used less action and more thought. If it sounds like I'm having trouble criticizing the movie, well, I am; I'm knocked flat by the fact that a movie version of "The Two Towers" that looks as good as this one got made. I think it only disappoints when compared to the book, a comparison as unfair as it is inevitable. Posted at 02:32 AM

P.S. TTT [Rod Dreher]

The fate of Saruman is far too hastily executed, if you ask me. But Gollum is pretty great. He looks like Steve Buscemi crossed with an elderly komodo dragon. Posted at 02:37 AM

MORE TWO TOWERS [Rod Dreher]

I've been at the junket this morning, and am pleased to report that the abbreviated treatment of Saruman's fate at movie's end was not the final word on the wicked wizard. Peter Jackson, the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy director, made it clear that they jumbled a few events around from the book for the sake of film storytelling. Though he was dealt with for good in the second book of the trilogy, we almost certainly will see more of Saruman in the third movie. Same with Shelob, whose appearance concludes Book Two, but who doesn't appear in Film Two (which makes narrative sense, actually -- her debut at the end of Book Two was a publisher's addition). Also, Jackson said a number of the slow but satisfying scenes he cut to keep the narrative running at a breakneck pace (which mars the movie, I think) will be present on the DVD director's cut. So Ent fans like me will see more of our arboreal heroes then.
Posted at 02:42 PM

[HairOfTheDog]

Actually, I had not heard the Titles for the six! Or if I had, I had forgotten.

"Return of the King" as a title also ignores the final feat of Frodo and Sam. War of the Ring would have been better, I agree!

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Did you pick up the version with the 40 minutes of extra footage? I really loved it - it took a great movie and added yet more depth and allowed it to flow even better. I sincerely doubt that the 's' in 'xs' stands for spare time, but if it were at all possible for you to read the books you would find it worth your while. It's like the difference 'tween seeing Michelangelo's David in a encyclopedia or viewing it in person. And trust me, I'm no fan of the genre, but great literature is great literature. And LOTR is awesome literature.

[The Iguana]

Incidentally, I read that when the trilogy idea was forced upon him, he was against calling the third part "The Return of the King," feeling that it gave away too much. Instead he would have used "The War of the Ring."

I have always thought that Tolkien was right.

[Mamzelle]

Here's more confusion about the Two Towers title...I once thought it referred to Minas Tirith and Ortanc!!

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes... that is the other common mistake! Confusing as it is, the right aswer is Cirith Ungul and Orthanc, I think Tolkien said it only in the Letters, and in the preface of some of the editions of LoTR.

[The Iguana]

There really is no "right answer."

Tolkien, in his Letters, noted to Unwin that the title was vague and could be interpreted to apply to any of five possible "towers": Minas Tirith, Minas Morgul, Cirith Ungol, Isengard, or Barad'dur.

Of course, he didn't care much for the title anyway after reflecting on it.

Jackson chose to focus on Isengard and Barad'dur. That's as valid an interpretation as any, and probably best for the dramatic arc of the movie.

[BradyLS]

TORN was a good site last year. I thought their coverage of TTT very week by comparison. My favorite section last year was the spy reports where you could see some movie-making magic (sets and the like) at work. Surely, there should have been something of the sort to fill space this year, but the reports were dedicated overwhelmingly to star appearances and product premieres. Bleh. Fawning over the stars I can deal with. "Exclusives" on the latest knick-knacks drove me out.

[BradyLS]

I once thought it referred to Minas Tirith and Ortanc!!

At one point, Faramir and Frodo talk about Minas Morgul and Minas Tirith as "staring across at one another like two grinning skulls." I thought the title referred to that: The Tower of Sorcery and the Tower of Guard.

[paul544]

They are into selling for sure. Getting too big for their britches. www.tolkien-movies.com for me.