Amazing but still prefer the first

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 2003)

Well where to start. I have seen this film three times and look forward to seeing the extended edition and ROTK.
I knew the shape of events that were likly to happen, in the film but was a little disappointed at a few things. First off and most importantly was Gandalfs battle with Balrog. I was utterly gobsmaked at that opening sequence, the fall to the centre of the earth the, brave wizard striking down his enemy on the mountian, but the thing that disappointed me was the missing part of it. in the book when they reach the bootom and hit water, the balrog becomes a muddy mess and he and gandalf engage in a long battle which leads to him having to hold on to balrog as he climbs back up. the thing is i had always thought that fight would be cool to wacth, seeing the centre of the earth which might have had the same dark sense of moria, the cool choir music nd the sight of gandalf clinging for his life to balrogs ankle (King Kong ring a bell) all so dark, would have the same feel as ALIEN. the sad thing is i don't think this will be on the extended edition either.
now to the actors, this film belongs to Viggo Mortenson with Wood taking second place,i'm beginning to wonder which character is more important, part three is gonna be one hell of an upstageing war thats for sure. its sad that Liv Tyler is only in two scenes. Notable credit goes to Brad Dourif for his excellent portrayal of Grima Wormtouge.
Helms deep is superb, climaxing with the horses charging down the moutain to the choir boys voice. and some amazing fight and death scenes.
However i still like FOTR better, simply because the characters end up in different groups each one having to realise their destiny and go their separate ways. thats what life is for all of us.