"All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits, somewhere in the wilderness"

Rating: 10/10 (19 July 2010)

I've always considered 'The Two Towers (2002)' to be the black-sheep of the "Lord of the Rings" family; still completely amazing, of course, but perhaps less so than the two instalments that bookend it. Whereas 'The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)' is an episodic introduction into the breathtaking world of Middle-Earth, and 'The Return of the King (2003)' is the climax to which the entire trilogy builds, 'The Two Towers' has neither a concrete beginning nor end. On initial viewings, the film seemed to centre on the Battle of Helms Deep, an epic conflict that pits a few hundred men and elves against Saruman's 10,000-strong Uruk-hai army.
If the theatrical cut of 'The Two Towers' lacked the narrative depth of its siblings, then the Extended Edition – which I watched this week for the first time – rectifies any such shortcomings, breathing new life into the lands of Rohan, Gondor, and their human inhabitants. Most significantly, Faramir (David Wenham) is given a back-story that makes clearer his motivations, via an extensive flashback featuring his father, Denethor (John Noble), and brother Boromir (Sean Bean). The newly-introduced characters are no less three-dimensional than their more familiar counterparts: Brad Dourif as Grima Wormtongue, Saruman's grovelling, serpentine apprentice; Miranda Otto as Eowyn, a pro-feministic noblewoman lusting for glory; Bernard Hill as Theoden, the King of Rohan, and possessed by the treacherous hand of Isengard.
Unlike its predecessor, 'The Two Towers' is split into three parallel story lines, but once again balances the epic and intimate, abruptly (but never jarringly) cutting between the epic battles of Aragorn and Co., and the slow, tortured trampling of Frodo, Sam and their slippery little guide (played by Andy Serkis in a rotoscope suit). I recall that, when the 'The Two Towers' was first released back in 2002, Gollum was the main focus of reviewers' attention, and I was pleased to discover that the technology utilised in the CGI-character's creation remains completely authentic and convincing. Serkis, despite never actually appearing on screen, brings an astonishing depth to the character, highlighting Smeagol/Gollum's schizophrenia by subtly altering his voice, posture and mannerisms.
I'm about to take another trip down memory-lane, so bear with me again. When I first saw 'The Two Towers' at the cinemas – in the last week of 2002 – I remember telling a friend that I preferred the first instalment, because it was "more about the ring." While it's true that the second film somewhat relegates Frodo and Sam's struggles to the sidelines, one must consider the bigger picture. 'The Two Towers' takes Tolkien's Middle-Earth beyond the guise of a simple fantasy world, and, with its vast scope and attention-to-detail, almost convinces us of its historical authenticity. I still recall emerging from the blackened cinema satisfied with where the trilogy was heading, but horrified at the prospect of waiting an entire year for the story's conclusion. Well, I waited... but no longer than I had to. At least I'll only be waiting a week this time around.