the middle section keeps focus

Rating: Null/10 (29 November 2003)

Film two in Peter Jackson's immense trilogy based on the Tolkien novel, which follows the various factions of the Fellowship following their split at the end of film one. Frodo and Sam rely on Gollum (a superb CGI character based on the real movements and vocalisations of actor Andy Serkis) to take them on the last and most dangerous stage of their journey  to take the ring into Mordor. The ring continues to expand its influence and drain Frodo of strength, changing his personality.

Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas save the kingdom of Rohan from enchantment and destruction, culminating in the battle at Helm's Deep (itself a triumph of the work of the Weta Digital workshop, with a believable set of digitally created soldiers and miniatures). And Pippin and Merry find themselves in trouble, first in an Orc attack and then with the weird treebound Ents in the forest of Fangorn. Gandalf also makes a spectacular reappearance as we discover just what did happen after the Balrog snatched him from the cliff in Film one.
Two Towers' is faster paced than Fellowship', as makes sense as the action moves closer and closer to the evil domains and away from the comfort of the Shire. This transition has its effect on hobbits, men, elves, dwarves, and wizards alike. Of the actors, Elijah Wood continues to impress as Frodo, drawn ever onward by an impossible quest. Sean Astin gives the character of Frodo's faithful friend Sam a quiet dignity, while Dominic Monahan and Billy Boyd provide much-needed comic relief in appropriate places. Also impressive are Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen, who let Gandalf and Aragorn develop into key characters in the drama.
For a film that has no real beginning and no ending (but an interesting cliffhanger in the Frodo strand of the story) it holds the attention surprisingly well and sets the scene perfectly for the final instalment of the trilogy.