A great fantasy film, but not Tolkien

Rating: Null/10 (20 December 2002)

Warning: SPOILERS
If you're a hardcore Tolkien fan, one of those people who takes the book and a flashlight into the theater with you to make sure they get the dialogue right, DON'T go see this movie. If you want to see a beautifully put-together fantasy film with kick-ass special efx, grand battle scenes, and cute elves then yes, DEFINITELY go see it. I admit I enjoyed this movie, I would even blow $7 to see it again. But as a Tolkien fan, I hatesssss it preciousss! Nasssty Jackssssonsss! Almost nothing happens as it is written in the book; and while I can forgive taking poetic license to create movie thrills, I think it could have been done without completely losing 90% of the original plot! The entmoot and the ents attack on Isengard could have been yet another sweeping battle scene, had they decided to spend more time on the ents and less on Arwen and Elrond. While I have no problem with the scenes involving the elves and Aragorn, they belonged in the next movie, not Two Towers. It would have been a better bet to include Shelob. I also hate the idea of the elves running like scared sheep to the grey havens which they do NOT do before the end of the war. Another peeve is the character of Faramir. A noble, complicated character in the book, he's portrayed as a bullying jerk in the movie. If Jackson was going for the frodo-centric approach why didn't he develop Faramir's admiration for the ring-bearer? I was disappointed with the treatment of Legolas and Gimli's friendship. Legolas delivers one-liners for Aragorn, and Gimli is the comic relief. (give the dwarf some respect!) And where is Eomer? Sure, they have him show up with Gandalf to save the day, but he should be there with Aragorn in the last ditch stand to save the Deep. And why are there Elves fighting at Helm's Deep? This battle is for the glory of Rohan. The pointy-ears don't belong there, stealing the show! Would it have been so hard to have Gandalf return with Erkenbrand as he should? The final bit of aggravating nonsense is Theoden being possessed by Saruman. What gives? I expected pea soup, and his head to start spinning at any moment. The redeeming factor in all this was Gollum. His schizophrenic ring-addiction is captured beautifully! You don't know whether to laugh or cry, rather like Gollum himself. He deserves an Oscar! The bottom line is that Jackson, like all filmmakers, made this movie to sell tickets to movie audiences. He didn't make it for Tolkien fans. That said, it's worth the time and popcorn, but don't hope for anything as faithfully done as Fellowship. This is a great fantasy movie that just happens to use Tolkien characters and is set in middle earth. Is it The Two Towers? No, alas, that it is not.