The Two Towers; One Freepers Review

12/19/02 | Anitius Severinus Boethius

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

How does one begin to discuss a film that is at it's essence not a film in the way most people understand. There can be no mistaking, those who do not have an understanding of who these characters are, either from viewing the first movie or by reading the books, cannot begin to catch up with this movie. In that understanding, this movie cannot and does not stand on it's own. Unlike other "middle installments" (The Empire Strikes Back, The Temple of Doom, The Godfather Part II) this film is not a complete story, and for some non-book fans that will be a serious problem.

The second problem with the film is the unrelenting pace by which things happen. I say that it is a problem, but not in a bad way. It's like having a girlfriend or wife that is so attractive that other men are constantly staring. Or having your stock portfolio increase so much that the SEC investigates. You know, it's a problem, but not one you want to be rid of. The film is fast. Let me make that clear, it is F A S T.

Imagine the Die Hard movies all in 90 minutes. Bruce takes care of Alan Rickman and frees the skyscraper in 30 minutes before taking on rogue Special Forces at JFK and blowing up their plane at the 60 minute mark and then jumping in a cab with Sam Jackson to foil another group of terrorists in the city in another half hour. But don't cut any scenes.

The third problem, and again this is from someone who is very familiar with the books, is the uneveness of the story. This actually is a real problem, and why the film seems a bit choppy at time. Unfortunately, this is the good Professors doing and he left himself an out that Jackson couldn't take. The Frodo storyline is a much more contemplative storyline than the other two and feels much more mellow and sinister. Tolkien worked around this by keeping it seperate in his storytelling; Jackson had no such luxury. A fault with the film, but oddly enough the fault lies in not the director nor the material but rather in the medium itself.

Wow, sounds like I had a lot of problems with the film, doesn't it. Well, no. In fact quite the opposite. The problem with reviewing this film is there is such a cornucopia of real magnificant things that it is easier to recognize that which didn't work instead of that which did. Imagine talking about Ben-Hur without mentioning the chariot race. What a magnificant piece of film making! The Two Towers has so many "chariot race" type scenes that it would be impossible to describe them all and diminish them if you just took a sampling.

Absolutely the best film of the year, and that includes fan favorites such as Spiderman and critics favorites such as The Hours or Far From Heaven. Sadly, the problems with the film will stick out in the minds of many due to the consistantly excellent qualities that permeate this work of art. For that reason, I think that the academy might overlook many of the great accomplishments of this film. That is very dissapointing, because Andy Serkis, Howard Shore (whose score works much better in this film for me than in the first film), and especially Peter Jackson deserve to be holding little gold statues in March.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Here is my spoiler free review. Not spoiler free on purpose, I just couldn't "sum up" any parts of the film. It was magnificent!

DO NOT GO WHEN YOU ARE TIRED, SEE THIS WITH FULL CAPACITY. THIS FILM WILL MAKE YOU USE YOUR MIND DURING THE VIEWING.

[Lil'freeper]

Ping!

[Portnoy]

Saw it last might at the 11pm showing.

All I can say is wow! To the TOlkien Purist, the changes will stick out, but it does not distract from the overall story.

However, the film left me aprehensive about the last installment, The Return of the King. Before I saw FOTR, I didn't know what to expect, keeping my expectations low so as not to be disappointed...and I was blown away. With TTT, the anticipation level was high and it was well worth the wait. Now...my expectation for the third installment is bound to go through the roof, that I'm nervous ROTK will let me down...

GO see this movie....!!!

[evad]

So how does the whole thing end??? Does Froto melt the ring???

Just kidding...gotta go see it and wait for installment three.

[Billthedrill]

A BTT for a good review.

Dang it - I just erased two spoiler paragraphs. I did take exception to two unnecessary (IMHO) liberties taken with the plot, those being the upshot of Entmoot, and Aragorn's little diversion after the Warg attack. It doesn't strike me that either added anything to the story. I won't go beyond that for now in deferral to those who haven't seen the movie yet - come ON, people, it's been out for 24 hours now!

Let me tell the half-dozen or so of you who haven't seen it yet just how seductive it is - I will confess to being sorely tempted to see the movie again last evening. That would have been twice in around 12 hours. It's that good.

[Nephi]

My wife just bought us the extended version DVD of the Lord of the Rings and we thought it really filled in the gaps in theatre release. We commented that it's too bad we won't be able to see the extended version of the Two Towers at the theatre.

[RightWingMama]

PING

[freedumb2003]

From what I have read, that is part of the reason the first installment was rather lethargic -- they wanted that episode to do the heavy lifting in terms of introducing Middle Earth, the races, the issues, etc.

I agree, most movies are stand-alone but this story is too expansive to be told that way IMHO.

Can't wait to see it -- thanks for the review!

[artios]

My complaint with the movies is the same compaint I have with the books - too short - I want more and more more and I don't want to wait until next year.

There is no doubt. This is the greatest movie of all time.

[Billthedrill]

Oh, all right - one little spoiler. Frodo puts the ring on and turns evil, putting on a dark cloak and a scuba helmet and leading the clone army on the part of the Federation against the rebel space forces and the Jedi Knights. Gandalf returns and has a great light-saber fight with him on the Death Star...

Wait a minute - did I go into the wrong theater? Dang multiscreen cinemas...

[nhoward14]

OMG... I was teasing my friends with exactly that same story last night!

Especially since Count Dooku is really getting around... causing wars in space, middle Earth, golf courses, etc... :)

[ecurbh]

I will confess to being sorely tempted to see the movie again last evening. That would have been twice in around 12 hours.

That is precisely what I ended up doing. Went to an 11:20 matinee, then again at 9 p.m. I was so swept up in the action, both times only felt like 30 minutes. Your mind is constantly alert during a film like this, in order to catch all the subtle nuances of significance. And the not-so-subtle ones.

I want to see it again tonight.

[SoDak]

Saw it also last night on the last showing of the day. It was simply awe-inspiring. I'm going to the theatre at lunch to get tickets for tonight, if available yet.

[FormerRep]

The second installment of "The Lord of the Rings" was a serious disappointment - both as a film and as an interpretation of the source material.

THE BAD:
There were so many problems, I'll try to be brief.
1. There were several lighting problems in the film that resulted in a 'washed out' scene. There are two reasons this occured - one, noone bothered to bring a light meter, or two, there was something in the background that the editor did not want you to see and could not remove the scene.
2. The scenes with Arwen are 11 minutes and 20 seconds of wasted film. It adds nothing, means nothing, and made most people around me start looking at their watches, the ceiling, or go the bathroom.
3. Gimli was already absurd in his situation. He did not need to be made into a baffoon by bad one liners and prat falls as well.
4. Since when are Elrond and Galadriel telepathic?
5. The characters apparently forgot their personalities from the first movie - Sam was a jerk, Frodo was an arse, Merry and Pippin were totally inconsequential. Aragorn forgot he was supposed to be a leader and Gandalf was grinning all the time (was he high?).
6. The orc army at Helms Deep arrived empty handed - but suddenly were able to produce massive (metal) seige ladders.
7. They blasted the outer walls - which crushed half the attackers - but the orcs numbers were replenished immediately - and the giant rubble was gone!
8. Legolas stair surfing??? Please......
9. I think the horses of Rohan must be made of very sharp materials - when the 6 riders rode out through the orcs - every orc that was even brushed lightly by a horse died.
10. Faromir...who would have thought that he could have been interpreted so badly on film?
- I could go on like this for hours but instead i'll give equal time to the Good-
1. The first 10 minutes is incredible! The fight between Gandalf and the Balrog will be a classic forever.
2. The make up, costumes, and stunts were outstanding.
3. Anthony Serkis' voice characterization of Gollum were perfection - match that with a very believeable CGI and you've got the best character in the entire film.
4. Eowyn was incredible as well. Her acting is unmatched in the film.
5. The ents and the attack on the Orthanc were likewise beyond expectations albeit the were very short scenes.
6. The worgs were very cool.
7. Grima Wormtongue was everything you expected to hate - great acting.
8. Beautiful scenery and flyovers.

Summed up - this film is half the quality of the first. I cannot help but hope that Peter Jackson will get some counselling before he edits the Return of the King.

[PokeyJoe]

You forgot the part about Valdomort picking up that stipper, stage name Queen Amidala, takes her to a motel and makes a baby while looking at a picture of the Elf Queen above her head.

I thought that part was really lame.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Let me tell the half-dozen or so of you who haven't seen it yet just how seductive it is - I will confess to being sorely tempted to see the movie again last evening. That would have been twice in around 12 hours. It's that good.

I saw it at midnight the first day with my 19 year old and a dozen of his friends, then again last night with one of my business partners. It's great ..... but how did Aragorn's sword get back in the scabbard when he falls in the river? ;-)

[cornelis]

A fault with the film, but oddly enough the fault lies in not the director nor the material but rather in the medium itself.

That's a benign interpretation.

[Jimmyclyde]

Should I have a "few" adult beverages, or not?

[abner]

but how did Aragorn's sword get back in the scabbard when he falls in the river? ;-)

I was wondering about that too. I definitely thought that it would have sunk with all of the Iraqi oil.

Aragorn was the only part of the film that I couldn't get past. Every time he was on the screen, instead of seeing the great character that Aragorn is, I saw a "No blood for oil" t-shirt.

[ArGee]

So how does the whole thing end??? Does Froto melt the ring???

No, the evil Sauron gets the ring and survives to become the 42nd President of the United States.

Shalom.