Very overrated, but still likable - some spoilers

Rating: 7/10 (31 December 2002)

The first Lord of the Rings movie was great, remarkable, innovative and as close as possible to the book. It is a shame that those are the qualities we don´t find in The Two Towers.
First of all, it would have been nice to have some kind of introductory sequence to remind what happened in the first movie. Many people don´t remember, or haven´t even seen it. The only thing we get is a - incredible - scene with Gandalf and the Balrog that was a good touch, since it is a very obscure part of the book. Too bad this was the only modification to the original story that actually helps the sequence of the plot.
In fact, this was the most hated aspect of the movie: its lack of fidelity to Tolkien´s work. Some say that Peter Jackson did this in order to make the history a little easier to understand, and that it is impossible to compile this epic in "only" 3 hours. Well, if you think you need more time, why including unnecessary scenes, like extending the importance of Faramir in the movie? Or that scene where the hobbits have to convince Treebeard to turn back, only to see the destruction of his own forest? I usually don´t mind when changes are made to help the plot, but this is not the case.
Also, some parts should have been better planned, to cause the desired effect on audience. More than once, i heard laughs in a serious scene, like when Legolas throws a shield on some stairs, get on top of it and goes out shooting. It might appear to be just a detail, but perfection is achieved with attention to every little scene.
On to the good side. The special effects were wonderfully made. A perfect example for this is Gollum, with expressions and movements that could hardly get better. Most actors were ok, although not anything special can be said on this area. The plot, even modified by some unknown reason, is still a great classic and will be enjoyable by anyone who have not read the books.

My advice is: watch it, have fun, but don´t expect this to be the best movie ever, as reading some reviews may suggest. I can only hope Peter Jackson learns from the things he have done right on the first and wrong on the second to make the last movie of this trilogy a classic to be remembered.