I-I-I say, is that a tawkin tree?
Posted on 12/06/2002 2:40:36 AM PST by maquiladora
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Following last year's highly successful "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," director Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth with "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (New Line), the much anticipated second installment of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy "The Lord of the Rings."
Having garnered 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, last time around, Jackson once again flexes considerable creative muscle. He impressively orchestrates an army of technicians and crew and a cast of thousands, seamlessly blending live action and cutting-edge digital effects in bringing to life a timeless fable of the eternal struggle between good and evil.
With an epic price tag of $300 million for the trilogy, New Line has a lot riding on the film's ability to work similar magic at the box office as its predecessor did.
"The Two Towers" takes up the action where the last film left off. The Fellowship -- a band of nine companions representing the free races of men, elves, dwarves and hobbits -- has been broken. Their quest to destroy the One Ring seems all but doomed. Already, two of their number have fallen: Boromir (Sean Bean) and Gandalf (Ian McKellen), the benevolent and wise wizard, lost in mortal combat with the Balrog, a fire demon, at the climax of the previous film.
In his tower fortress of Barad-dur, the dark lord, Sauron, who forged the Ring ages before, has set his malicious will on reclaiming it, and wielding its power to master all of Middle-earth. Vying with Sauron for control of the Ring is Saruman (Christopher Lee), an evil wizard of insatiable ambition. From his own stronghold at Isengard, the second "tower" of the title, he has unleashed his army of vicious Uruk-hai orcs to seek out his coveted prize.
Splintered into three groups, the ragtag members of the Fellowship remain firm in their resolve to see their mission through to completion, no matter what the cost.
Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), the Ringbearer and reluctant hero, along with his fellow hobbit and trusted friend, Sam Gamgee (Sean Astin), find themselves alone and lost in a desolate wasteland. Chosen by fate to carry the Ring into the shadowy region of Mordor and cast it back into the fires of Mount Doom from which it came, Frodo is already showing signs of wearying under its corrosive weight. They soon discover they are being trailed by Gollum (Andy Serkis), a pathetic, mercurial creature, himself warped by the Ring. His familiarity with the terrain is equaled only by his lust for "his precious" (the Ring), making him a valuable but dangerous traveling companion.
Pippin (Billy Boyd) and Merry (Dominic Monaghan), also hobbits, abducted in the last film by Saruman's orcs, have escaped their savage captors and fled into the mysterious forest of Fanghorn.
Among the forest's eerie boles, they encounter an unlikely ally, an Ent named Treebeard (voice of John Rhys-Davies). An Ent is a sage-like tree shepherd and one of Middle-earth's most ancient inhabitants, whose forest has been decimated by Saruman.
Meanwhile, the remaining members -- the valiant warrior, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), the elfin archer, Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and the bellicose dwarf, Gimli (also John Rhys-Davies) -- track their comrades to Fanghorn.
To their disbelief, they happen upon Gandalf, resurrected and transfigured as an ethereal Christ-like figure. He journeys with them to the besieged kingdom of Rohan, a Viking-like nation of horsemen. Rohan's king, Theoden (Bernard Hill), has been bewitched by Saruman through the manipulations of the duplicitous court adviser Wormtongue (Brad Dourif).
With Saruman's vast army on the warpath, Aragorn and Gandalf must forge an alliance with Theoden and ready Rohan for a massive, climactic battle against the forces of darkness, with the future of mankind and all Middle-earth hanging in the balance.
Though much of the box-office appeal of "The Two Towers" is sure to be generated by the film's spectacular visual effects and epic scope, Tolkien -- a lifelong, devout Catholic -- chose to emphasize the underlying religious concepts as the wellspring of his story's lasting appeal.
While borrowing heavily from classical Celtic and Norse mythology for inspiration, especially the Icelandic sagas, it is orthodox Catholic theology that forms the bedrock upon which the various themes explored are built.
True to the spirit of the book, Jackson incorporates several such themes into the film. "The Two Towers" is a veritable passion play, with Frodo serving as a Christ figure, bearing the Ring, an emblem of sin, like a cross on his own Via Dolorosa -- selflessly exercising free will, willing to sacrifice even his life so others might live.
The Ring symbolizes the Catholic understanding of the parasitic nature of evil. The Ring, in and of itself, has no power beyond its subtle but potent ability to corrupt the desires of all who come in contact with it.
Other Christian motifs recurring throughout the film include the redemption of sinners (Gollum), communion with nature versus materialistic industrialization, death and immortality. Even the Elfin "Lembas bread," which sustains Frodo and Sam throughout their trials, echoes the Eucharist. The story's overall message of hope in strife, and the ultimate victory of light and goodness over darkness are as reassuring to our troubled times as they were when Tolkien wrote it during the horrors of the Second World War.
Though aficionados should respond enthusiastically, the film's myriad characters and three-hour length may prove daunting to the uninitiated. While strangers to Middle-earth can still enjoy the film's exciting, escapist tenor and stunning effects, those unfamiliar with Tolkien's work are at a distinct disadvantage. It would be well worth watching "The Fellowship of the Ring," available on video and DVD, before seeing "The Two Towers" -- or, better yet, reading the books.
Having originally been conceived as part of a single story, "The Two Towers" seems more like the middle act of a longer work than a traditional sequel. Despite the film's imposing running time, large portions of the 400-page tome had to be streamlined, resulting in much of the action unfolding at a dizzying pace, without the luxury of the clarifying exposition afforded by the first film.
As in the first installment, "The Two Towers," filmed entirely in Jackson's native New Zealand, boasts breathtaking vistas. In addition to the solid performances and innovative visuals, tech credits for production design, makeup, costumes and music should be recognized come Oscar time. The final installment, "The Return of the King," is due to be released around Christmas 2003.
Due to many gory scenes of battle violence with several frightening images, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
I-I-I say, is that a tawkin tree?
thanks for the ping!
"One of the greatest achievements in cinema history...thunderous climaxes that moviegoers will long remember...the performances continue to be richer and more satisfying than one expects in such a fantastic tale...amazing...dazzling...astounding...it's an amazing thing to behold...Towers is a cinematic flood of spectacular proportions."
-David Hunter, The Hollywood Reporter
"A more impressive film than its well received predecessor...gargantuan... no let-down in storytelling sweep and spectacle...grand but mobile cinematography... haunting...beautifully realized...it's hard to imagine a much better version of this material onscreen...the cast is indisputably impressive."
-Todd McCarthy, Variety Chief Film Critic
"It's downright biblical...awesome...it's not every day that a special effect turns in a splendid performance...an emotionally charged epic...superbly staged."
-Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
 Ring Ping!! |
It is just like when we were kids and Christmas was coming. It felt like it was NEVER gonna arrive!! We're going to see TTT on the 19th, when both our older sons are home from college; only 12 more days!!
From heresay, a bunch. Also, my friend just got the special edition (three and a half hours long!) that he says adds a lot of detail that they couldn't include in the film.
Oscarwatch's Brian Duffield has submitted his review. Check it out, and take note of the comments at the start and at the end! WOW!
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Whether you liked Fellowship or not, it does not matter. The Two Towers is one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time, and it should not be missed. Everything brilliant about Jackson's Fellowship returns here (minus Sean Bean of course), and more is added. Top of that list must be Andy Serkis as Gollum, the ring-junkie we got just a glimpse of in Fellowship. One of the best performances of the year, Serkis easily steals the spotlight from the excellent Elijah Wood and much-improved Sean Astin. And the fact that he is a CGI creation should not matter. Andy Serkis clocked more hours on Rings then any other actor, and his performance is mesmerising (especially a very disturbing scene where he talks to Smeagol, the hobbit he once was).
Story-wise, it continues straight from Fellowship. Frodo and Sam must go to Mordor to destroy the Ring; Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Gimli (John RhysDavies) and Legolas (Orlando Bloom), are searching for the kidnapped hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd). The first thirty minutes and so cramed and packed with information that some people may be un-nerved, but rest assured, the pacing soon regains normality, but you're still in for a wild ride.
The movie looks better then Fellowship. The scenery is heart stopping. The cinematography by Lesnie is improved upon. Howard Shore's score is a wonderful continuation on Fellowship's Oscar winning composition, but it grows and suits the film even better this time. The CGI is also improved, mostly in the flawless Gollum, the greatest CGI character of all time, and the amazing final hour, which I will get to shortly. At times, the CGI could be better (on the warg battle particularly), but the story whisps you along so well you just fail to care.
It is hardly rehassed material as well. Ian McKellan delivers another great performance, this time as Gandalf the White, almost a different character then the one we see fall down into the Abyss at the start of the film. Most impressive I felt was some creative ideas mirroring the Aragorn/Arwen relationship, which includes a sorrowful future glimpse into the future, with Arwen standing beside her lovers grave.
But the stealer of the movie is the final hour. Easily one of the greatest battles, if not the greatest battle, of cinema history, Helm's Deep is tragic, violent, exhausting, and simply breath-taking. An attack on Isengard follows, which almost tops this 30 minute masterpiece. Words simply don't describe what Peter Jackson and his crew have done for these two battles. You feel like you are there, dodging swords, arrows, axes, and falling boulders.
I cannot give high enough praise to this film. It is the year's best film, and a milestone in cinema history.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is not a fanboy, this is a film critic! This is incredible!
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