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....!!!
Haven't seen "Towers" but "Fellowship" was so beautifully filmed, and (I thought) pretty well / interestingly-cast for the most part, that I found myself enjoying the film for itself, as its own thing. If I look at what is missing and/or "wrong" with these films I get all worked up...so far though, I think that this movie version of the Trilogy is a well-done piece of work, and quite an interesting rendition
I slightly share the same nervousness, but it is subdued by the fact that ROTK has approximately 8-10 showstopper sequences in it. And from what I understand, it's necessarily going to start out with a major event that is actually in the TT book. Which seems to be a very good choice for pacing the third; the tension will be unrelenting. I'm wondering how a few key little elements will get worked in, but for that I'll have to just wait and see.
I told my son that it was odd: after 3 hours, I wanted 3 more hours, NOW, to finish the story! I do think that a little careful editing could have made this story more concise without losing one whit of its impact, but, hey, it's great as is, too.