The Two Towers: A FReeper Review

Self

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Saw the midnight screening myself, and certainly suffering for it now, hehe. Overall, my favorite is still FOTR, specifically, the Extended Version. That movie has the feel of an epic adventure down pat, and I feel that is somewhat lost in the Two Towers. However, the technical scope of this film is quite brilliant, the two technically riskiest pieces, Gollum and the Ents attack on Isenguard, were top notch.

I believe this film will also get the Oscar nominations en masse but probably still won't win Best Picture or Director against stiffer competition from Gangs of New York and such, but it will still get its share.

The highlight of the film for me was seeing the Ents rip Isenguard a new @sshole and the first part of the battle of Helm's Deep. The Black Gate of Mordor was also very impressive. Things I didn't like so much, well, the ending of the battle of Helm's Deep, it would've been nice to actually see it instead of being told by Gandalf that it was over. The escape of Wormtongue from Hedderas, also, too corny and not believable.

OTOH, the Two Towers answers a question posed by my personal viewing of FOTR, namely, whereiseverybodyitis. As much as I love FOTR, it bothered me that throughout that that film I was wondering where everybody was. Outside of the Shire and Bree, Middle Earth looked pretty unpopulated, specifically of Humans and Dwarves. Even the two Elvish locations in that film, there weren't that many Elves on screen to give the feel that these were some heavy population centers. Anyway, that point was answered in the Two Towers, we actually see what's going on in the human world and why we didn't see much of them in the previous film, they're simply outmatched and on the run.

I'll definitely need a 2nd and 3rd viewing to take it all in, to get my final judgement. FOTR is still my favorite.

PS - bonus points for who can tell me where the hell the Dwarves are? I haven't read the books, but in FOTR Gimli and his cohorts came from somewhere, yet he was totally unaware that his cousin and the whole host of Dwarvendom in Moria was wiped out. Seemed unlikely to me.

[DoctorMichael]

Thanks!

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Don't settle for anything less than the Extended Version, about $25 bucks as Costco. I've yet to see anybody say they liked the Theatrical version better. In fact, now that the Theatrical version is out on cable (played all day on Saturday), I got a good feel for how much better the Extended version is. The score is also much improved.

[oremites]

LOL, ok. For the record as a Tolkien geek, I did NOT "Take my mom to prom". It was my cousin......

Your cousin took your mom to the prom?!?! No wonder you have "issues"...

[Senator Pardek]

What about Shelob?!?!

[AmishDude]

What about Shelob?!?!

Opening scenes of Return of the King.

[Senator Pardek]

Blast - I knew it! Are there any screen shots of her on the web? Har!

[section9]

Opening scenes of Return of the King.

Gollum alludes to that at the end of the film.

I saw it today. Out-effing-standing. The charge of the Riders of Rohan is a fitting climax to this film.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[aBootes]

PS - bonus points for who can tell me where the hell the Dwarves are? I haven't read the books, but in FOTR Gimli and his cohorts came from somewhere, yet he was totally unaware that his cousin and the whole host of Dwarvendom in Moria was wiped out. Seemed unlikely to me.

Gimli, son of Gloin, is from the Lonely Mountain, now not so lonely since Bilbo did his thing in _The Hobbit_. Many of the other dwarves are still in the Iron Hills which is a little east and north of the Lonely Mountain.

[AmishDude]

Blast - I knew it! Are there any screen shots of her [Shelob] on the web? Har!

Will my ex-girlfriend do? Yeesh.

[r9etb]

Fascinating post re: Massive. Thanks! This is a pretty good example of the power of object-oriented programming. The real bitch here would be instantiating thousands of these little guys. I'm guessing he probably defined an "average personality" and most individuals were randomly perturbed from it. (I suppose this is a "nature vs. nurture" simulation, subject to the assumptions of the programmer.)

And, of course, it's also possible to define several "average types," running the gamut from coward to hero.

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

[lawnguy]

Regarding the "spoiler" alert, I fail to see how a movie based on a book that most people in the Western world have read at least once can be "spoiled." I mean, most people are already familiar with the plot.

Dude, you need to get out more. The country is full of people who've never read anything, let alone a 3 volume fantasy series.They may've read a wrestling mag once, maybe would be interested in a Johnny Knoxville biography ;)

Turn on MTV sometime, and join me in an overwhelming fear for the future of our country :)

[Mudboy Slim]

"...the film reminds you that the battle against evil is also a battle against temptation and despair. Good will triumph, but only if those fighting for it keep fighting no matter the odds, even if it is certain death. We are shown how the frightened men and boys stand and fight and die at Helm's Deep to protect the women and children; we are shown the frightened faces of the women and children as they know the cost their husbands, sons and brothers are paying. Time and again, the evil ring tempts Frodo toward despair, only to have him pull back from the brink. Even stalwart Legolas almost gives in to despair. Yet courage, valor, and sacrifice (as embodied in the characters of Aragorn and Sam) defeat temptation and despair. Even though the cost is great, the battle against evil can be won. It is this aspect of the film that most affected me, and sets the film apart as truly epic classic."

Excellent amateur review, my FRiend...looks like I'm gonna haveta wait 'til this weekend to check it out!!

FReegards...MUD

[el_chupacabra]

keywords bump

[demosthenes the elder]

I am with you on that. I wonder if MIT's bug lab is interested in trying to incorporate Massive techniques into it's robotic behavioral program?

[discostu]

Wow, Battle Bots Army... the mind boggles.

[4Freedom]

"...,I shudder in anticipation as to what the final film will bring."

I shudder in anticipation of what the 'Director's Cut' will bring.

I saw 2Ts this afternon. All in all this is a great film. Peter Jackson had to make some very tough decisions as to what to leave on the cutting room floor.

I agree, this film won't win best picture. The Academy will probably save that for 'The Return of The King'.

[shaggy eel]

,,, I'm in Wellington, New Zealand. This morning's newspaper shows Peter Jackson on the front page. He's stated that Wellington, New Zealand will be the place for the world premiere of The return of the king, late next year.

[mtngrl@vrwc]

The Two Towers is a **insert your favorite superlative here** movie! My husband and I went to the midnight show last night and were just amazed at this sequel to FOTR! Elijah Wood deserves an oscar for his performance. It was just an awesome movie!