great expectations are not going to be disappointed ( if you haven't read the book)

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 2003)

After watching the `Two Towers' I felt both, fascinated and a little disappointed. On the one hand I was captivated by the scenery, New Zealand is definitely the perfect setting for the Lord of the Rings. Then, of course, the special effects were impressive, especially when the masses of Orcs go marching to Helms Deep to destroy mankind and they seem to fill the whole valley like a dark cloud that is thundering across the sky, covering everything with darkness that's in its way. Also the creature Gollum is just brilliant, because the expressions on its face and his movements are so realistic. It must be a computer animation, though it doesn't look it at all! Another thing I admire is that most of the actors are unknown. Except for Liv Tyler who I personally don't like at all, and Cate Blanchett who is just perfect for Galadriel the Elvenqueen. But apart from them, I don't know the others which is important, because you tend to identify them with the former films they did and it would be irritating to imagine lets say, Bruce Willis as a hero of Middle Earth, fighting against Orcs with a sword when you last saw him, shooting gangsters with a machine gun!
The reason why I'm disappointed is, because the story was changed a little! I really don't care if some parts of the book are left out, because the plot would be far too complicated for a film. But, and they really got me angry with that, there is no point in changing the story! In the first film `The Fellowship of the Ring', Boromir was totally obsessed by the ring and the desire to have power that he even tried to kill Frodo, the ring bearer. In the `Two Towers', Frodo is confronted with Faramir, Boromir's brother who according to the book is not at all hasty in making decisions nor is he drawn to the desire of having power. He lets the Hobbits go by his own will. However, in the film he is just like Boromir not a bit better than him, so he takes the Hobbits with him to Osgiliath were a Nazgûl , a dark rider who has the only desire to get the one ring, is looking for them. The most idiotic scene is the following: Frodo is standing alone facing the Nazgûl riding on a huge flying beast. Then Faramir comes along, hurting the beast with a single arrow and its flying away, just like that! I mean, apart from that modification the film is so excellent! No one would ever believe that a Nazgûl that would rather face destruction than leaving the ring behind, would do so, just because its means of transport is hurt, when the ring is just a stone throw away! Never!
Anyway, I enjoyed the film a lot, for the reason that most of the characters, like Aragorn, Gimly, Legolas and Treebeard are just as I imagined them to be! I'm so curious about how they'll do the last part. It's a pain to know it will take one more year to find out!