could not have been a better sequel

Rating: Null/10 (10 January 2003)

When has adaptation been the only requirement in determining the quality of a film? Last time I have checked, directing, script, and acting were the primary requirements. This commentary is less a review and more a rant as to why a weak adaptation does not make for a weak movie. First and foremost, regardless of how good this movie was people can't help be a little dissapointed. Before everyone was deflowered by the fellowship there was a sense of excitement and awe as to what was to be expected. The fellowship delivered in every respect. Everything was new and exciting, thus with recycled footage, the eye candy does not have the same impact. But this is just a minor problem. Another key issue lies in the ending of the fellowship. People were left wanting more, and could only rely on their sense of imagination as to what would occur the next installment. What this meant was expectations that could never be met, after all, we have been given a most excellent tour of middle earth in the fellowship and now its time to deal with plot. Finally because it was the first installment we were much more forgiving as to how the book was modified, in fact for every change made in two towers I could name two changes in the fellowship.
My first viewing resulted in analysing the s*** out of the two towers and thus I could not enjoy it. The so called mortal sins commited would have to be the weaknesses found in King Theodens and Faramirs character. Theoden was a much more confident king in the book and much more likeable and Faramir was much stronger willed than his brother, Boromir, and does not succumb to the power of the ring nor take the ring to Osgiliath. The next is the chapters ommited i.e. Aragorn and crew heading to Isengard and Shelob the spider bitch. The venial sins commited are due to typical blockbuster formula. Gimli's comic relief, the love conflict between Aragorn, Arwen and Eowyn, the elfs assisting at helms deep and Eomer/Gandalf to the rescue at the end. These follow the typical Hollywood formula and there is no sense in fighting them they always were and always will be present.
When adapting a novel it cannot be done word for word for there are qualities that make a book good which would make a movie bad and vice-versa. After a most excellent war seen the movie had to be ended any furthur action sequence would have seemed less significant and second rate not to mention the viewers need for a break.
People's concern with the so called craming that will have to be done in the third installment need no worry for it is the shortest book and really not a whole lot happens. I mean for how long could you watch Sam and Frodo hide from orcs before climbing Mount Doom? This will most likely be shortened to spend more time in developing Aragorns character. And if one can remember how much time was spent in Hobbiton at the begining of the fellowship, this was merely to suck the purests in if you think they will change the end of the book you are mistaken they will have have to end the movie just as detailed.
As far as the two towers is concerned it was a damn good movie. With the exception of the Hollywood cheese,(Legolas surfing on the shield was utter shite) acting was tight, directing near flawless(given the amount of jumping from story line to story line it could not have been any smoother, and the script was better than the fellowship. If anyone cannot forgive Peter Jackson for modifying the book should go watch Harry Potter and stop p***ing me off.