Posted on 12/19/2002 8:14:17 AM PST by 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.
Be sure to tell me what you think afterwards.
Dan
Thinking about the
"edits" in this film, last night
I noticed a strange
pattern to at least
two of them. In the books, the
Ents were smart enough
to recognize what
was happening, wise enough
to realize they
had to take action.
In the books, Faramir was
smart enough to guess
Frodo quest and wise
enough to let Frodo go.
But -- but! -- in the film
the Ents were chunkheads
and only circumstances
let the two hobbits
sledge-hammer the Ents
over the head about the
danger. Only then
did the Ents fight back.
The film Faramir only
learns what's going on
direct from golem,
and then is unwise enough
to capture Frodo
until, again, chance
circumstances sledge-hammer
him over the head
about Frodo's quest.
These changes cut to the heart
of Tolkien's vision
of these people. Small
changes, yes, but depressing!
And, on another
topic, the "little"
change to the Arwen story --
-- Aragorn telling
Eowyn bluntly
that Arwen has gone away --
totally changes
the deep, transcendent
nature of their magical
bond and love affair.
Bizarre, small changes.
These changes cut to the heart
of Tolkien's vision.
That scene is in "The Fellowship of the Ring", chapter, "The Breaking of the Fellowship". Frodo is on Amon Hen, in the Seat of Seeing, just as the previous poster said.
If LOTR had been a 1950s sci fi flick, they would have tried to destroy the ring with an atomic bomb.
If memory serves: "Hinder me? Thou fool! No living man may hinder me!"
PJ had better deliver on this scene -- but how do they work in the prophecy?
IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING ALONG AND JUST WANT TO SEE THE MOVIES WITHOUT READING THE BOOKS, DON'T CLICK THE LINK BELOW.
BOOK SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
It is my understanding that some kind of telepathy is possible between bearers of the three elven-rings. You find out at the end of the3rd book that they are held by Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf. Remeber, when the One Ring was forged the wearers of the elven rings immediately became aware of Sauron and removed their rings.
I think it would be a stretch of the imagination for Tolkien himself to come to to that conclusion, but by all means, clue me in. I have always thought it was just a well-written and delightful fantasy classic with a message of good prevailing over evil, or is that your point?
I'll bet you pulled the wings off of flies when you were little too. Teehee... just picking on you.
I thought it was charming...and funny. Now the stair surfing thing....THAT was a bit much.
Undoubtedly! Just incredible.
That is what I would have thought as well. I was surprised to see him so up close and personal, and I was shocked by his attack on Frodo. I don't recall that from the books, although it has been a long time since I read them all.
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