Disappointed

Rating: Null/10 (19 December 2002)

Having thought Fellowship to be spot on, and supportive of any changes made to the book to make a film, I was disappointed by the Two Towers.
My problem comes of course from having read the books, a lot. While the standard of the production remained superb and Jackson did so many things very well (Gollum especially of note), I was surprised and rather dismayed that he made fundamental changes to some of the story, that I really didnt see improved the film at all. Where in FOTR the changes made I thought improved it as a film, some of the changes in TT werent necessary and simply changed from the book and didnt make it any better a film.
Of note (*** SPOILERS... well sort of***):
Faramir is the exact opposite in the film to the book. In the book he passes the test of the ring, because quite frankly he was THE BOY. In the film he captures Frodo, not because of greed of his own but for the kingdom. But still it is a fundamental change in his character. So there was no need to go to Osgiliath, maybe because Hollywood wanted to see shit getting destroyed. And the bit with the Nazgul was a bit silly, because it would have alerted Sauron to the fact the ring was closer to his borders than he thought... something he overlooks in the book, which allows Frodo to slip by.
The elves appearing in Helms Deep. This was ridiculous and really p****d me off. This never happens. One of the fundamental things of LOTR and the War of the Ring was that it was a war of men because the age of the elves was passing. The only reason Jackson seems to have done it was to get the cool design work on the elves into the battle. But I felt the Roharrim were more than a little neglected and turned from a proud race into something a little more village and simple and gruby.
Elrond never interfered with the love between Aragorn and Arwen, although he was upset. The condition of the guy getting the girl was that he be King, so he was going to battle for good, Kingdom and love. Now he is love-lost, and would be closer to a deathwish than hope. Although I did see Jackson doing this to bring a love subplot into it for the film... so OK (but he could have just played on the pain of mortal and immortal love and the anxiety of having to become King rather than making Elrond a selfish and cruel father)
Oh, and the Ents were rather underdone. They didnt break Sarumans damn, but diverted and entire river themselves, because they are the BOYS. Jackson rushed that, but could have had more time if he hadnt been packing crap into other parts.
Another annoying thing was the reference to 'industry'. Many people have thought Tolkien used LOTR as a commentary on industrialisation, although I dont believe he ever admitted it. In the film they SHOVE this idea down your THROAT. Going so far as to use the i word itself and seeing Saruman preparing gunpowder (I thought was very crap).
Well, sounds like I was pretty harsh. Still it was a great film, just not nearly as satisfying as the first. I would give the first 9, and this 7.5. Still even if youre a die hard book guy or gal, go and watch it and enjoy what they did well (Gandalf fighting the Balrog, Gollum, Wormtongue and more) and just try not to think too much about the bad bits.
(Oh and lets remember that while Jackson has been doing this for a few years, and for the most part doing a damn fine job at it, Tolkien did spend his entire life daydreaming and developing Middle Earth from its creation)
Sorry to sound like such a Tolkien GEEK... just got a little carried away