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Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Scott Manning
December 23, 2002 | Comments (27)


Director: Peter Jackson
Release Date: December 18th, 2002
Rating: PG-13 (for epic battle sequences and scary images)
See it on Amazon

twotowers2 (34k image)If you thought Fellowship of the Ring was an epic movie, you haven't seen anything yet.

The Two Towers picks up right where Fellowship' left off (And thank God, because the biggest complaint with the first installment of The Rings series was that it didn't have a conclusion). Frodo and Sam are still journeying to Mordor to destroy "The Ring" while Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas are chasing a group of Uruk-hai (Pronounced ear-ick-high) who have captured Merry and Pippin.

But that's only the beginning. Saruman has constructed a massive force of 10,000-plus Uruk-hai to destroy every last man in Middle Earth and, meanwhile, there is always the threat that Sauron will obtain "The Ring" and take over the world. Sound intense? It is as the viewer is sitting on the edge of their seat for the entire three hours.

Coming from the perspective of never reading the books, this movie was no doubt better than its predecessor. Fellowship' had built a world of hobbits, elves, dwarfs, wizards, and Orcs. The Two Towers continues this world and adds men to the picture, which some consider to be the last hope for Middle Earth.

The costumes, effects, acting, scenery, and photography were all just as impressive as Fellowship', but Peter Jackson did not stop there. There is an entirely new soundtrack for this movie which is worth buying and twice as many new characters introduced. Although some of the names are hard to remember (let alone pronounce), the faces and personalities are not lost with any of these well-developed characters.

Jackson continues to prove he is a genius as he makes a battle scene with over 10,000 computer-generated soldiers look real in the movie's climactic battle. He also took the concept of Ents, walking and talking ancient trees, and made it work. Upon first thought of the Ents, I pictured something out of the Wizard of Oz. Jackson destroyed that notion as he took these fantasy creatures conceived from a book and made them into believable characters who are just as threatening as they are old.

The greatest actor is not human
The most intriguing part of the whole movie is the computer-generated character Sm'agol. This ancient creature's voice is done by Andy Serkis. Andy's voice coupled with the realistic, computer effects are enough to make the viewer believe that someone needs an "actor of the year" award. But do you give it to Andy or the effects team or both?

Sm'agol has been tormented physically and spiritually for over 600 years transforming him into a schizophrenic psycho constantly talking to himself and scared of everything around him. The most memorable scene of the movie is Sm'agol arguing with himself as he decides whether or not to kill his master. The argument brought forth laughter and chills to the audience as we could all feel the conflict raging inside him. Among all of the new advancements in film made by The Rings series, Sm'agol is thus far the most impressive. Never before has a computer-generated character been mixed so perfectly with real-life humans.

The Star Wars of today
The Rings series is the Star Wars of today. You may be thinking that Star Wars is the Star Wars of today, but this is not the case. Having been to the midnight openings of both Episode II and The Two Towers this year, attendance and freaky people in costumes were in more abundance at Two Towers. The Rings' cult followings were started long before the movies came out and will keep going for years to come for virtually every character found in this series.

Whether J. R. R. Tolkien envisioned his books gaining this much acclaim, I don't know, but this phenomenon is beyond anyone as the The Lord of the Rings will live on much longer after we're all dead.

Getting a 5 out of 5 rating from me is virtually impossible. I usually want to wait a few years to see how influencial the movie ended up being compared to how good it actually was. Not only is this movie amazing, but it is clear that it will influence generations to come.

See this movie. See it twice. It is the epic movie you've been waiting for.

Related Links:
Lord of the Rings Official Site
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Comments (27):
1) Posted by: Phil B Elfman
December 24, 2002 6:55 AM

It truly was a great film. The three will definitely have earned the title "epic" when all is said and done. Seeing Middle Earth brought to life with all it's inhabitants has not been disappointing. You have already said much; so I will just reiterate how awesome Gollum was, that the makeup job on the enchanted King was great, and the performance of, I think, Brad Dourif as Wormwood was excellent. Great casting.


2) Posted by: Katie Torbett (london)
December 24, 2002 11:23 AM

The fellowship of the ring and the two towers was exellent i went to see the two towers on saturday the 21st and i fought it was great better then the fellowship of the ring it was more adventureres.I think the best actor is viggo mortensen because he is a very good person to play as aragorn as he is so actioney and fit to do the job i think he has worked really hard to do something as big as this film you should be very proud of your self. I can not wait till next year for the return of the king to come out i am looking way behond forward for it to come out.from a very very big fan.


3) Posted by: Freddy Del Sol Rayos
December 26, 2002 1:29 AM

It's very beautiful movie " the Lord of the Ring" fans. See this movie...


4) Posted by: miranda sanchez
December 26, 2002 7:19 PM

I think the two towers is beter than the first my fav character is orlando bloom as legolas greenleaf


5) Posted by: Peter
January 3, 2003 12:00 PM

I know it's nit-picking in the extreme but you mangled the pronunciation of Uruk-Hai. It is not ear-ick-high as stated, but something closer to oo-roo-kye although it's difficult to phonetically spell the pronunciation.

By the way, I'm not trying to chastise or put you down, just thought you might like to know. Most likely you just "mis-heard" it when Saruman or Aragorn said it since they say it so quickly - as if it's a common word to them! ;)


6) Posted by: Maureen
January 5, 2003 10:47 AM

I love Lord og the Rings I think it is the best film of all(and there is pretty boys too)


7) Posted by: tracee
January 6, 2003 10:45 PM

i really like the show the two towers it was so great i fell in love with it.and i love orlando bloom


8) Posted by: Jessica .J
February 3, 2003 4:40 PM

When I saw the two towers I was amazed its my favorite movie. In my opinion the best part was Legolas's trick that he did with the horse and I would one day love to meet him in person!


9) Posted by: Jess J
February 3, 2003 4:42 PM

I hope that if Orlando Bloom was able to read these that he would consider meeting me....!!!!!!


10) Posted by: Sofia
February 14, 2003 9:43 AM

I love the book, and that's why while watching the movie I was surprised that some scenes are taken out of nowhere, the professor didn't write anything like this. All in all the movie is good, and I enjoyed watching it. What really makes me sick is that the whole world is just making too big of a thing out of it, for like 2 past years. I don't think Tolkien needs promotion, it's classical and people should understand the book and love it and feel it. I see like 9 year old children trying to read it just because the movie is popular, and I don't think that is good. And the movie is definitely not "epic". The book is.


11) Posted by: Online Casino
March 6, 2003 7:22 AM

I loved the book, the movie just brought it to life. Awesome stuff.


12) Posted by: Claire
April 12, 2003 12:25 PM

The Two Towers. Where do I start? It seems that whenever I begin a discussion about this movie I go speechless. I can't think. I'm frozen in the film. You know what happened to me the other day? I started crying! In the middle of my kitchen! In front of my parents! (oh, and by the way, I'm sixteen). Wonder why? I was making them listen to the soundtrack. We were listening to Helms Deep. And I started crying when the violin came on. It moved me so much. Just, those notes...the way they drift in your ear...and the scenes! Oh! The Helms Deep sequence...well, of course the battle was spectacular. But, the music.... When the violin is playing, it is showing the women and children, and the young boys preparing for battle. And these boys are like twelve, if not younger! It is so sad...
But my favorite character in LOTR would have to be Aragorn. His inner struggles are just...dumbfounding. And the fact that he and Arwen are doomed, is just even more terrible. The two male actors that I could marry are Sean Biggerstaff (a.k.a. Oliver Wood from HP), and Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn). Sean Biggerstaff is a bit of a snot, though. Anyways, Viggo is amazing. He is a poet! An artist! A photographer! Just the kind of man I hope is looking for me...but, he is old. I mean, it would never work out between us :). I've just decided I'm going to marry his fifteen year old son :). Then, I'll just go visit my father-in-law everyday :-D. Sigh...(j/k, j/k ;) )


13) Posted by: John
June 16, 2003 6:40 PM

lord of the rings touched me in many different ways
Legolas Greenleaf isnt just good-looking for you girls, he's captured good spirit and very noble.
Frodo is one of the greedy ones in The Two Towers. HEY FRODO! listen to Sam and you'll survive your long, tiring adventure to Mount Doom.


14) Posted by: ashley
August 15, 2003 6:51 PM

the lord of the rings is an amazing trilogy book-wise, and i feel that peter jackson's interpretation of the books through the films has been fantastic so far. i was actualy more impressed with the 'fellowship of the ring', only because 'the two towers' strayed from the book's story too much. i do think that the film was excellent though, and with the help of amazing technology, the special effects help all the more. the introduction of the new characters was good and i was especially moved by the performance of miranda otto (eowyn) though i'm a little bit bias b/c she is my favorite character. worst part of the film though... too much arwen!! (sorry to those who oppose that statement) i know they had to include her more in the films (obviously) but i find the film dragged on w/ her too much. other than that the films have been great thus far and i truely look forward to seeing 'the return of the king'.


15) Posted by: kelcy campbell
August 28, 2003 3:03 PM

OMG o looooooooooooooov lotr it is the best. i am a huge fan i have red all the books and seen the movies a hole bunch of times. i am having my room painited so it looks like hobbiton. and i am lerning how 2 speen read and write elvish. it is sooooooo fun. but i am still having trouble with the speakin part buit i can read and writr no prob.


16) Posted by: william
September 23, 2003 10:20 PM

does anybody know the name of the big elf that comes to helms deep with all the other elves, he is the elf the argon hugs when he sees him i cant find his name. someone please help me out and email it to me please!!


17) Posted by: Scott Manning
September 23, 2003 11:03 PM

William,

His name is "Haldir".

Scott


18) Posted by: william
September 25, 2003 10:16 PM

Thankyou for letting me know but are you sure your talking about the one iam because i watched that part over and over again and the credits and me and my friends came with the name "grishnamh" is this right or is it haldir?


19) Posted by: Lothenon
November 9, 2003 1:15 PM

His name is Haldir :)
Grishnakh is an Ork.


20) Posted by: kelli kuykendall
January 4, 2004 6:10 PM

who is haldir


21) Posted by: chelsea
January 4, 2004 6:16 PM

I love the two towers cause of the elf (haldir)


22) Posted by: Red Bird
February 11, 2004 12:25 AM

Sauron Rulz !


23) Posted by: katie simmons
May 24, 2004 5:45 AM

l love u legolas becarse u r so cute.


24) Posted by: Lord
December 8, 2004 3:44 PM

I love LOTR. They were my favourite books as a child, and I still love them and the films. I still have a respect for Tolkien as a historian, mythologist and linguist.


25) Posted by: Shirlisa
December 30, 2004 1:21 PM

I love the lord of the rings the second movie because of Galadriel and that elvish scene were shes talking to lord Elrond. On and I think Elrond likes making Arwen fell bad or is that just e.


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