A worthy second chapter!

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2002)

I must begin by congratulating the cast and crew- especially Peter Jackson- on a magnificent job. Bringing one of the most analyzed, beloved and discussed book-trilogies to cinema is a true feat. The Two Towers continues what began as a masterpiece and pushes it to legendary status. I firmly believe the final installment will make the series a true classic.
The Two Towers begins pretty much where FotR left off. I'll spare you the synopsis as so many have been given already. The movie does a remarkable job in tying together the widespread events that form the second book of the Rings trilogy, and of course the director had to make several adaptations to make the journey enjoyable and sensible for the viewer. Also, the story becomes less intimate as the characters are swept up into events larger than themselves (though, naturally, their contributions weigh heavily in the outcome).
I say this because purists are howling and gnashing teeth about the numerous story changes. Where they all 'necessary'? Maybe not, but if you judge the movie on its own merits, it is an amazing triumph.
The effects are incredible. Gollum, the much-mentioned CGI character voiced (and motion-acted) by Andy Serkis, is the new standard for such characters. The battle for Helm's Deep is intense and epic in scope. The Ents are enjoyable and a nice take on a Tolkien's vision. Overall, the picture is technically superior to FotR largely because of Gollum.
Pacing-wise, the movie will need a little help that hopefully will be addressed in the inevitable 'extended-cut'. There are scenes between Aragorn and the elves which seem a little disjointed and negatively affect the flow of the story. These scenes are a minor blemish in an awesome overall effort.
See the movie, enjoy it, and make a note to never, ever tick off the Ents!