Like the first one over-rated, but like the first one, still good value

Rating: Null/10 (17 June 2003)

In fact, this is a better film then fellowship. Slightly better structured, story-wise, the film has a better pace then it's predecessor, with greater challenges facing our heroes, now split into 3 groups. The frantic last 15 minutes are amazingly well done, and the film is littered with visual delights, such as Gollum, Treebeard and, briefly, the Oliphaunt. Acting is up a notch on the first part, probably largely due to additions of Bernard Hill and Miranda Otto. The rousing score is put to even better use here, the final battle at the end, with the ladders, deserving special mention. Cinematography is again sensational. A significantly worthy addition to the series, in which the special effects, oddly far superior to part one, are worthy of recoginition (unlike say, something along the lines of The FAKEtrix Reloaded). 3.5/5