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.

[Liberal Classic]

Yeah, the blond Gladrim elf guy. I was rolling my eyes, too, but that's not where my proclivities lie.

[Elenya]

Actually I liked Haldir much better after I saw the extended version. The cheers and swoons can also be explained by the fact that his appearance at Helms Deep was such a relief for the audience. The cavalry effect. And the elves armors were SPLENDID. What am I saying... the elves were splendid.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

What kind of elf has a five o'clock shadow? Seriously, the elf needs a shave.

[Liberal Classic]

Oops, looks like I stepped on a toe there. :)

There are too many skinny ladies and petite elf madiens for my tastes, and in lieu of any dwarf women I'll just have to settle for Rosie Cotton.

[My2Cents]

Good question (about Wormtongue's tear). I believe it was a tear of "joy," as your friend suggested. There was nothing in Grima which indicated anything of humanity; nothing redeemable (although, I believe that Tolkien personally believed that no one was beyond redemption). He was utterly corrupt (even more than Smeagol perhaps?). His tear came, I believe, as he was touched by the "thing of beauty" that was Saruman's army. It was, to our sensibilities, a disgusting show of depravity.

[Elenya]

Really? I thought guys liked Arwen and Eowyn. Well, for your sake, I hope we'll see a lot of Rosie Cotton in ROTK... ;o)

[My2Cents]

If I may comment, even in the book, Sauron assumes the ring is in Minas Tirith. The revelation of the ring-bearer in Gondor, among the defenders, would only lead him to assume that in Gondor it will stay. His gaze would be riveted on Minas Tirith, allowing Frodo and Sam to slip into Mordor unawares.

[Billthedrill]

Seriously, the elf needs a shave...

Elf, schmelf, I'm buying a safety razor for Aragorn. You'd figure in a world swamped in sharp pointy things somebody'd show the boy how to scrape his face more than once a fortnight...

[Elenya]

His tear came, I believe, as he was touched by the "thing of beauty" that was Saruman's army.

That's how I interpreted it too. Feeling the sheer power of Saruman's magnificient army would bring tears to the power hungry Wormtongue's eyes.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think Aragorn looked just find the way he was...

[My2Cents]

LOL...I bet everyone does that "Mr. Anderson" line when Elrond greets Frodo. We do it in our household. :-)

[Billthedrill]

Well, as for me I like what Legolas said upon his return to Helm's Deep: "you look awful." 'Bout fell off muh chair...

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, the elves are always splendid... and it was magnificent to see them come.

I wondered a little why he said Elrond sent him, and not Galadriel. Perhaps I don't understand the chain of command in Elf government. Heh.

[Liberal Classic]

Well, Sauron's speculations and machinations aren't well described. I would think he would be under the impression that his ring was in Isengard with Saruman, after Pippen sneaks a peek at the Palantir (sp) seeing stone. He might think this until the flying wraiths reach Isengard to see that Saruman has been overthrown. After that, Aragorn reveals himself to Sauron using the seeing stone. Sauron might think his ring was in Minas Tirith at this point.

This is my only real plot hole I care about so far, and I can overlook it due to the spendor of the rest of the movie. However, if the ring was truly revealed to Sauron so near to his land I would things would have turned out different.

Now, you can make the argument that the ring was not clearly revealed to Sauron through his wraith. If you work on the assumption that the wraiths don't see clearly into the world of the living, that maybe the wraith was "sniffing" out the ring, and getting help from his steed as to where it was. It would seem from the scene on top of Amun Sul where Frodo was stabbed in the first movie, that perhaps the wraiths cannot clearly see even the ring unless the bearer puts it on. If you make this assumption, the plot hole closes considerably.

I am not letting any picky little details get in the way of my enjoyment of the film, and I am looking forward to seeing it again. All the same it is fun to go over the plot with a fine tooth comb. :)

[Elenya]

I'm buying a safety razor for Aragorn.

Take that back immediately! Aragorn is fine just the way he is. I happen to appreciate his wild looks and the fact that he never looks like he just came out of a Vidal Sassoon salon. That's called a real man, which is what Aragorn is supposed to be... So back off!.... :o)

[HairOfTheDog]

It was great. Some of the jokes, like that one... seemed taken right from our own jokes in the hobbit hole!

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

I morphed into Eowyn after 9/11 as a coping mechanism ;)

[My2Cents]

Note that while Gandalf knew that Frodo had set out for Mordor, he didn't know that Sam went with him until one of the three told him. He was exceedingly pleased by the news.

[My2Cents]

I saw the first showing in town, and since my wife is 8 months pregnant, they let us go to the front of the line.

Hey! That's an idea for the opening of ROTK next year! -- Fake an extreme pregnancy!

[HairOfTheDog]

Is the plot hole that you think Sauron would close the borders if he knew it was there? - Hmmm... I think even if he felt it was there, he would think it was in the hands of Gondor... and wouldn't dream of someone coming into Mordor with it. That they would destroy it is not something he has imagined....