less would have been more

Rating: 6/10 (25 December 2002)

first the good news: a) Gollum/Smeagol is really terrific ! b) Helm's Deep: medieval warfare, very good (wish they had not added the bomb)
bad: general: I am very disappointed - not about the omissions (like in the first part there had to be some) but the silly additions ("improvements" ??? on the story), the Kitsch and Schmalz. Seems like a Hollywood producer came in and said "oh, there's too little of this, let's put in a little of that..."
Gimli: a valiant fighter reduced to a stupid clown.
Rohan: a place supposed to be famous for breeding horses - all barren? give me a break!