Well...

Rating: 9/10 (11 January 2003)

I absolutely adored FOTR, even with my impossibly high standards due to my reading the entire series twice. Jackson not only was faithful to the plot but also created a movie that was enjoyable on its own. Then, the sequel came to theaters. After hearing many rumors of how the plot was going to be altered, I admit, I was apprehensive as I sat down in front of that large screen. My fears were soon justified. Yes, the visuals were stunning. Yes, the CGI was beyond anything I could have imagined. Still, the character development was noticeably lacking. Legolas got a little more screen time than in the first movie, but nothing significant, and poor Gimli was reduced to comic relief.
Then, Jackson made really unnecessary additions to the plot. Between Aragorn's repeated fantasies about Arwen, and the incident where he almost perished after falling from a cliff, not to mention the kidnapping of Sam and Frodo by Faramir, who was supposed to be wiser than his late brother, I was wondering if the book had been so boring that they had to create an entirely new plot. There were also numerous plot holes. Why were Merry and Pippin brought before the newly-revived Gandalf, and then in the next scene it was like it never happened? Even with elvish abilities, why did it take such a short time for the Lothlorien elves to arrive at Helm's Deep? For that matter, why were they there in the first place? I realize that artistic license must be taken to bring any book to the big screen, but the unnecessary changes only served to hurt the movie as a movie, book aside. I'm hoping that the final film of the trilogy will return to the original plot and give the characters the depth they deserve.