Just the Middle 3 hours of a 9 hour movie

Rating: 9/10 (16 January 2003)

First of all, this story is a daunting task for any director to approach. Yes, there are scenes missing. Yes, lines get switched around from character to character. Yes, Jackson does create scenes that Tolkien never even imagined. The stories in the movie don't even follow what's in the book at times. But, even through all Jackson's idiosyncrasies, like many of us, he is a fan of Tolkien and his books. All artists want to put their stamp on their creations. If we were in the same situation, we would've done the same thing.
Now that I've gotten that out of my system I can talk about The Two Towers.
We must remember that this is only the middle part of one long epic saga. Imagine yourself walking into the middle of a movie and having to leave before it is done. That is essentially what this film is. Peter Jackson is doing something here that has never been done in film history before. It is a continuation of a great adventure that has long been in the imagination of many Tolkien fans for the last 50 or so years.
I knew even before this film opened that I was only going to get so much from The Two Towers. Aragorn beginning to assume his kingship, Legolas and Gimli setting aside their differences and becoming great friends, Merry and Pippen, though hobbits and little folk, finding the courage to stand against the growing dark forces, the Rohirram, the Battle at Helm's Deep, the downfall of Sauruman's army, the march of the Ents, Frodo and Sam's encounter with Gollum, and Gollum leading them into Mordor. That is what I knew I was going to get in The Two Towers.
To me, it is the evolution of these characters and how they all change from The Fellowship of the Ring to The Two Towers and eventually on through The Return of the King that carry this story. As we will see, all the characters I've mentioned won't even resemble who they were to begin with. They will all have grown. We fans, who have watched from the beginning till the end will have felt like a part of this growth. That is the beauty of this film. That is what Peter Jackson is trying to accomplish.
I believe it is an injustice to judge a movie until you've seen it all. This movie is not yet finished. It is only after The Return of the King that I feel any comments, reviews, awards, criticism, or anything of that sort, will be justified. As for the ending of this great epic, I'd like to leave a line from the movie. "There is always hope." Jackson and co. will not cheat a very loyal audience of anything less than a grand finale.
vwjtex....