Helm's Deep Rocks!

Rating: Null/10 (12 February 2003)

TTT is at times flawed and yet at other times magnificent. Spoilers follow. If I had a wish list I would have liked to see the characters speak a bit more. Yes, it is an adventurous epic action film but much of Tolkien's brilliance occurred when the characters spoke philosophically and with great wit. Saruman seemed more like a stick character rather than an articulate ,cunning wizard , and master of deception. Instead, Grima Wormtongue had too much to say for a lesser charactor. By the way, Grima was finely acted. In fact most of the ensemble cast did great with what little script they had to work with. Special mention needs to go to Aragorn , Eowyn, Arwen, Gimli and Legolas. I would also have liked to have only seen the top half of the ents. Their lower trunks looked silly and were the least effective of the special effects.I also felt that the Balrog scene was a bit too fantastic and SFXy. However, inclusion of Gandalf's battle with the Balrog tells a lot about middle earth and its cosmology.
But on the other hand this complex story was made followable and dramatic. The plot differences between the books and movies were effective and even kept Tolkien readers in suspense . But the battle of Helm's Deep and the luminous arrival of Gandalf , Eomer, and the Rohirrim was a breathtaking scene. The camera angles and movements rendered this massive battle sequence gritty and real yet sublimely surreal. Watch the Rohirrim charging down the mountainside and notice the way the cameras are seeing the action. Helm's Deep rocks!