Better than the first, but still flawed

Rating: 9/10 (16 April 2003)

*Spoilers Herein*
There seems to be a fundamental division between those who see this film. Everyone either says decisively that they much preferred the previous one or they much preferred this one. Personally, I preferred this one. The ending is much better than film one, and the new characters (Theoden, Eowyn, Eomer, Gollum, Treebeard, Faramir and Wormtongue) make it much more interesting. However, I'm not sure all the changes to the book worked.
Let's start with the good changes. I think having Wormtongue banish Eomer at the start, only for him to return with Gandalf to save the day at the battle of Helm's Deep was a very good idea, and I think it makes him a more memorable character for those who haven't read the book (I've read it twice by the way).
The platoon of Elves arriving at Helm's Deep, and the death of Haldir was also a good idea, as I think people might be disappointed if Haldir had just faded after the first film, as he did in the books.
Faramir taking Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath wasn't a particularly good idea, but I can understand why Peter Jackson did it. At this point, the battle of Helm's Deep was at its climax and the Ents were wrecking Isengard. I think Jackson wanted to put in a third action sequence (ie. the Ringwraith attack) as if it had just shown Frodo and Sam walking along with Gollum it would have looked pretty silly.
Onto the bad changes now. Just what was the Warg attack all about? And even worse, Aragorn falling off the cliff? That scene belongs in Monty Python, not Lord of the Rings. People have said that Aragorn's fall was so that he could see the Uruk-hai army, but surely Theoden could just have sent a scout or something?
And of course, the most discussed flaw in the film itself: Legolas using the shield as a skateboard. Everyone mentions this, and no wonder. It completely undermines the serious implications of the battle, and simply isn't funny.

I also felt that the dialogue in this film wasn't quite as good as in Fellowship. Gimli boasting about his running ability was mildly amusing, but it was out of place. However, Theoden's poem (Where is the horse and the rider/ where is the horn that was blowing...) worked very well, and to be honest I quite liked Sam's speech at the end.
Generally, the acting was perfectly fine, particularly from Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Brad Dourif, and Bernard Hill. Jackson's inventiveness with the camera is inspired and I know he will make a fantastic film out of The Return of the King.
9/10