The Best Gets Even Better

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2003)

What more can anyone say about this installment of LOTR? It just gets better and better.
For those who have complained about this movie being too long, too confusing, having too much violence, having too much added or taken away from the books, etc: How can I politely say this? Well, here it is -- Quit whining! This is as good as it gets.
It should be understood that the task of capturing a story as huge as LOTR on film is probably the most ambitious cinema project ever attempted, and Peter Jackson has succeeded in a HUGE way. The Two Towers is epic, grand, awe-inspiring, colossal, and did I say epic?
Ok, all hype aside, the only one thing that can justifiably be said to criticize this film really can't be helped. As a stand-alone movie, it can be darned confusing. Anyone who hasn't seen Fellowship Of The Ring will be hopelessly lost and confused. Those who haven't read the books might have a hard time following the fine points of the story. But even people who fit into those categories will be treated to lots of eye candy and spectacular cinemaphotography.
TTT is in the unfortunate position of effectively being the middle three hours of a nine hour movie. Just like the middle child of a family, it has to struggle a bit to get the attention that its siblings do. Fellowship was groundbreaking and emotional; Return of the King will likely be spectacular in bringing the story to closure; but TTT has the difficult job of connecting those portions together while still holding the attention of the average movie goer.
Those of us who are familiar with the books know what is coming next, and how the events of TTT are crucial to setting it all up; while those who don't know the books might well wonder what the point of this movie is.
With that rather long preamble, let me say that this movie has it all: drama, humor, action, emotion, spectacular sets and costumes, great acting, special effects that blow you away yet don't call attention to themselves. Gollum is nothing short of amazing. He is exactly as he is depicted in the books. His voice sends shivers down your spine and you actually feel sorry for him as he is still tortured by the ring. The ents are superb. The riders of Rohan and the city of Edoras are just as I imagined them to be. The battle of Helm's deep is some of the most incredible battle footage I've had the pleasure to watch in any movie of any genre. Etc, etc.
Ok, now for the nitpicking. (Spoiler country ahead!) There were some significant modifications to the story. In the books, the ents didn't have to be tricked into destroying Isengard. Faramir wasn't really a clone of his older brother in trying to seize the ring for Gondor. Elves didn't really show up at the last minute to defend Helm's Deep. The movie left out the role of the Huorns (trees with an attitude) in defeating the orcs after the battle. Aragorn never took a fall over a cliff only to miraculously return. Shelob was left out entirely. (Although I fully expect that part to be included in the next and final chapter, since Gollum clearly set it up with his talk of "She'll kill them..")
I can't say if the modifications made the movie better or worse; I'll just trust Peter Jackson and company's judgment that the changes were necessary in order to adapt a long and detailed written story to a manageable visual one. If every single detail of the books was turned into film, the title might very well need to be changed to "Bored of the Ring." For a purist, the changes might be blasphemy. But in reality, the changes added to the suspense and flow of the movie.
No question about it, this one earns a solid 10/10 !