Good movie, except it's not quite the Two Towers

Rating: Null/10 (27 August 2003)

I've been reading the previous reviews of this movie and I was quite fascinated to find such varying comments and opinions. But, after (buying) watching this movie, I think I understand...
If we ignore the fact that this movie was adapted from a book, and focus solely on it's merits as a movie - then I would say that it was excellent. The special effects, the battle scenes, the acting was all very good. Even the story, compared to the trash that's been produced recently (American Wedding, T3, Spiderman, Dare Devil, STAR TREK NEMESIS, STAR WARS II) was good. I would say there is very little out there in the fantasy genre that is better than this.
However, this movie IS based on a book - A VERY GOOD BOOK. Changes that vary from the book ache that much more. More importantly, many changes that were made were extremely "Hollywood". A little more action, more special effects at the cost of a shallower, less fulfilling story. The story was simplified, altered for no reason other than to try to fit in a few more obligatory "dramatic" scenes that were cliche, un-original. It cheapened the story. And for those of us who have read the book, such departures are like a slap in the face. And missing scenes serve to heighten our disappointment.
So... a good movie but not nearly as good as it COULD'VE (should've?) been. Worth a matinee watching, worth buying the DVD - BUT READ THE BOOK!