Not nearly as good as Fellowship.

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2002)

*Spoilers* There is a film called The Dark Crystal, in it, a narrative voice tells "In a different place...In a different place...In the Age Of Wonder" Long have I wondered what it means to be living In The Age of Wonder. Til Tuesday night when I sat at the theater at twelve o'clock eagerly anticipating The movie of the year. Heck, this was the movie I've been waiting for more than any other after truly adoring Fellowship. Well, Tuesday night I truly felt that I was living in the age of wonder, expecting it to be as beautiful, and dramatic as the first one. But after a great opening and great first hour the film diminished to become an exaggerated orgy in effects, Ents, comedians, and lacking every ounce of "wonder". This film has a great number of beauty spots. Firstly, the score never lifts, never touches the way it did in Fellowship. Mr Shore has re-used some of the earlier themes an re- arranged them, but the new tunes are hard to distinguish in between them. Then there's Gimli who is acting as the film´s Comic Relief to the point where it´s actually tiresome. And Legolas is oh-so serious, as to somehow balance it up. And sadly, no, the Battle Of Helm's Deep isn't as grand as we are told. It's a rather overkill in heroism and exaggerations. Ok, we are dealing with a Fantasy film here, but there's just no-way you can throw yourself in an pit of hell raised Orcs and survive, even if you are called Aragorn or Gimli. No-way! Dominic M, and Billy B (Merry and Pippin) are showing that they are tired, I could spot a dangerous crack in there, their acting doesn't push the story or the drama further. Last but not least it's Peter Jacksons changes from the book, the first hour is ok, even great, but later on it becomes apparent that all the decisions to deviate from the book weren't very healthy. I missed several anticipated scenes. All in all, a good film that doesn't come near it masterpiece predescessor. 6 out of 10...really.