No Entmoot needed to love this film!

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2002)

Now that 2 of the 3 movies have been released, it is clear that the movie-going public is witnessing a unique addition to the art. Years from now, when the LOTR cast and crew are old or gone, these films will still be on any movie lover's short list. There are old favorites now, single films or a series, but I cannot think of any that I would mention in the same sentence. If the various awards' groups don't come up with some special honors for these movies then they don't know jack about their own art or what pleases the public.
Anyone who nitpicked the first movie about wandering from Tolkien's story will have even more to chew on this time. It all made sense in the end, though it was sometimes diquieting. There's also a couple of additions to the movie that you won't find in the books, all to the good. The pacing is frenetic, with 3 storylines going on at once. They could be called The Three Musketeers, Lost in the Wilderness, and the Magic Forest. There's much more action in the Two Towers, with the battle at Helm's Deep an awe-inspiring spectacle that must last about 30 minutes. I don't think I've ever seen anything like the Ents' assault on Isengard! The film-makers did such a good job with Gollum that he is possibly the most engaging character in the film, his twisted mind notwithstanding. I can't wait to see the DVD extended version!!