Extended DVD version is excellent and better

Rating: 10/10 (11 December 2003)

This is a review of the extended DVD version.
I will keep this short because there are so many reviews.
The extended DVD release of The Two Towers is a real improvement over the original theatrical release. Note, that this version has more than just new scenes. Almost all of the scenes have been re-edited in some way. The overall effect is that the story moves much better and the story is easier to follow. Even though the movie is longer, the pacing is quicker and doesn't seem to drag as much as the original. Likewise, the additional footage both improves the characterization of the newly introduced characters and restores some plot threads so that other existing scenes now make more sense (like the horse finding Aragorn). It's also easier to tell who is who because many of the newer characters names are now spoken more often.
So, just like with the "Fellowship" DVD, the extended version is really the only version worth owning. I already plan on only getting the extended version of "King" next year.