Two Towers Review

[The Witch King]

This is quite a difficult review to write.
The Two Towers was spectacular, the scenery was breathtaking, even more so then the first movie, and the special effects were stunning and yet I felt it lacked something.
There was a lot more action and with several storylines running at once it sometimes seemed rushed and overcomplicated, like too much information was being crammed in. The whole movie lacked the emotion of FOTR and the overall mood was darker.
The film deviated from the book in what I thought were unnecessary ways. Like having Elves at Helms Deep and Saruman possesing Theoden.

The highlight for me was Gollum. He was so real and expressive and his split personality made fascinating viewing.
Other great bits - the opening sequence with Gandalf and the Balrog falling through Moria, the dead marshes - very eerie, the sheer scale of the Uruk-hai army at Helms Deep and the Ent's attacking Isengard was pretty awesome.
This was always going to be a difficult movie to make as it was the middle section. I'm going to go and see it again as I think it requires a second viewing.

[The Witch King]

I went again on Boxing day and came out with a totally different view. I thought it was fantastic!
I enjoyed it a lot more on the second viewing. I think the first time round I had a lot on mind, I had been working all day, I was late getting there and I was worried about leaving the dog alone for so long.

I seemed to have missed the whole build up to the Helms deep battle first time around. This time I felt a lot more involved, and I felt more sympathy for Eowyn's cause. And I forgot to mention the winged beasts! Great! ;D

Please post your own reviews of Two Towers here. I'd like to know what you thought.

[Rhiannon]

I'm just back from the cinema watching the original English version (less people crammed in a room for 3 hrs...) and it was a truely terrific experience although it had a few, well, scenes that were either a little exaggerated (like the way Legolas jumps on the horse in the Warg scenes or how Gandalf appears at Helms Deep) or lacking (like the Warg Riders. It's ok to keep them identifyable as Isengart Creatures but they looked too much like the rest of the orcs.) Anyway, Gollum was really great and Gimli has a lot of extremely funny scenes this time, especially during the battle at Helms Deep ;D

And I spotted Peter Jackson... ;D

I'm going to see it again asap.

Oh, Witch King, what happend to Beastie? Looked a little bit ragged like having had a crash landing in a wood;D

[Grubhosh]

I thought TTT lacked the people stuff if ya take my meaning less talking and more how many orcs can u kill in 3 hrs, that aside it was brilliant the CGI stuff was amazing especialy Gollum who was just so cool. I loved the black gate i thought that was even more impressive than Lugburz dunno why. I thought the elves at helms deep were a nice touch. I didn't like the cheasy love scenes with awen. and why did they change the entmoot so that the ents didn't agree to go to war with isengaurd? The exocism of saruman was wierd I couldn't help thinking that saruman should get carpets fitted if he falls over so much ;D. Eowyn was very good I actually was annoyed at theoden not letting her fight . Anyone else think there should've been more of Ugluk? hmm probaly only me Gimli was so funny & I laughed when he was chopping the Uruk-hai coming up the ladder & counting them
I'm going to c it again soon though I'll have to watch for PJ lol

[The Witch King]

I didn't see PJ where was he?

Yeah the black gate was very impressive and I liked Gimli a lot more in this film.
I loved the winged beasts! though I do think the Nazgul were more frightening on horses in the last film for some reason.

I find it odd that bits were changed, especially as they stuck so rigidly to the story in the first film.

[Elidor]

I think I am like, the most unsophisticated person here.

I only liked the second part of the movie when it became more sction-packed. Since I had not seen the first movie, I can't make any comparisions. Gimli was funny. I wish I could swing on a horse like Legolas did. I know it looks kind of unbelievable but it's cool if you can swing on a horse like that. I didn't know the winged beast had such a long neck. Isengard looks like a factory. Did any of you noticed the ent with fire on its head when the water rushed into Isengard? It was very funny. Not many people in the cinema noticed it judging by the sound of the laughter. Oh yea...the background music sounded a bit scottish.

[The Witch King]

Yes I did! ;D
The Ent stuck his head in the water to put the fire out and there was lots of steam.
In a way Isengard is a factory - an Uruk-hai production plant.

[Rhiannon]

The said:

I didn't see PJ where was he?

It's the scene were Saruman talks the people of the old human race into attacking Rohan. Watch out for the man standing at Sarumans right side (your own left) and who rushes right past the camera when they get going ;D

I think I saw a screenshot of this scene somewhere, I'll post it if I find it again.

[Rhiannon]

Ok, found it, along with some other interesting photos

The man in the red circle. Bad picture, PJ is more recognizable in the film

PJ at Helms Deep throwing stones at the Uruk Hai as they try to breach the gate

PJ's kids

Haleth actually is the son of co-author Philippa Boyens

The son of Viggo Mortensen

[The Witch King]

Well spotted Rhiannon!

I'm sure Pj's kids were hobbit children in the first movie.

[Rhiannon]

Yes, they were ;D

[~Dernhelm~]

Yes! Yes! Yes! I finally saw the movie. I gave up upon waiting on the release date (still more than a week here. YAWN!) and got myself a pirated DVD of it. Picture went a little weird at times, but it was definitely worth it. Especially once you get yourself a huge bowl of popcorn to munch on instead of lembas.

I'll begin with what I didn't like, better to end things on a postive note. I have a deep despise for Gollum, and I have to admit that although he was created extremely well there were times when he just got on my nerves. Probably that freaky voice of his and that he reminds me eerily of someone I once babysat! I also thought that the beginning was odd. Somehow pictured it with less flashbacks. Considering the DVD was pirated, I thought they bribed me with FOTR instead for a moment!

The winged beasts were awesome, just the way I pictured them. Though yes, the Nazgul were more frightening on a horse, no doubts there! Wormtongue was a creep, what did he do to Theoden? I was surprised that they had enough pity not to kill him. I wouldn't have been so kind.

I'm glad that the exagerrated rumors about Faramir weren't that true, he found the good side in him later on.

Some of the scenes were heart breaking! Especially when the two Rohirrim children leave their mother. I almost cried... although I'm ashamed to admit it. Aragorn being "dead" really confused me there for a moment, especially with the Arwen bits. I didn't mind them, it was the three times she kissed him on the lips for eternity.

Gimli was much better, for sure! I liked his theory about dwarf women. I started laughing a lot, even when he fell of the horse. Oh my!

Helm's Deep was good, despite the pirated DVD's blurryness! Couldn't help but shout Forth Eorlingas and get quite hyper.

Overall, I loved it. Found it quite "down to earth" compared to FOTR, mostly because it focuses upon humans while the last movie was mainly upon other creatures. But I still can't decide which one is better!

Rhia, cool pics! Where did you find them... Isn't PJ in FOTR too?

[Rhiannon]

Lol, glad you had a chance to watch it... ;D And PJ appears in all of his films: in FOTR he was the man with a carrot in Bree (coming from the right side when Frodo and his friends walk from the gate to the Prancing Pony)

[~Dernhelm~]

Oh yeah! I remember the carrot thing now. Only to bring up the question of when will he appear in ROTK?

[Rhiannon]

We'll know when it's out. But he appeared once in FotR, twice in TTT, so...?