Some rationalization

Rating: Null/10 (21 December 2002)

After I saw Two Towers on opening day I was definitely disappointed. Plot and characterization changes were getting to me. But after being so completely impressed with Fellowship, I didn't understand how since TT was made at the same time, by the same people, how it could be so different. So I tried to rationalize the seemingly abundant liberties taken by the film makers. Everything made sense once I put myself in their shoes. On the second viewing I enjoyed this movie on the same level as I did Fellowship. Here are some of my justification for the more major changes made:
*Faramir is such a steadfast and comforting character in the book(possibly my favorite character). He's a man we all could serve under, respect, and love. But he is static without much development at all. He would add no tension or conflict to frodo and sams journey. If the ring is tempting to all men, including Aragorn, he would add an inconsisteny as well. Although I dont like this change, I can see why they would decide to do what they did. In the end he does turn true to character although I hope in ROTK he really shows his virtues to the fore.
*When the Nazgul sees frodo at osgiliath-that took awhile for me to justify. It takes away sam and frodos biggest advantage in their trek-that Sauron doesnt know where the ring is. But he does assume it will be taken to gondor and men will attempt to use it against him. Well it has been seen in Osgiliath (in GONDOR) by people who are retreating to minas tirith. It still appears to be heading in that direction.
*Warg riders are mentioned by Tolkien, just not in TT. So its not like they are using something of their own invention. This also gives them a way to bring in the relationship with arwen through flashbacks. And the material used for that is overwhelmingly Tolkien's from the Appendix. I like it a lot.
*Cutting the movie after helms deep and after frodo's and sam's release-well if you look at Book 6 there are only three chapters till the climax of the story-this gives them more to work with in ROTK. Shelob WILL be there. Book 5 is mostly fighting as well, this will give them more variety of material to use. (And ROTK is the shortest book once you take out the couple hundred pages of appendix)
*Rohirrim-many of the details were switched around, but this was probably good in that it eliminated some minor characters and places (Dunharrow) which could add so much confusion to mostly all firstcomers. In the end nothing of overall plot importance was changed. Hopefully Eomer will get to do a little more and Theoden will continue to grow as a leader of men in ROTK.
*It was hard to care about the new MEN introduced in TT in comparison to Boromir. We got to watch him and feel for him through his journey. Cant say that for faramir, eomer, and theoden (not as much though) yet. I want to care for them more. But there is room for this in ROTK. They could be excellently contrasted to Denethor (the only major character yet to get screen time).
A couple other comments: Gollum-WOW! they showed so many various and honest emotions through a CGI character. WOW! Performances-I thought were even stronger in this installment-there were a few ackward moments in FOTR, but can't remember any in TT