If it were "just" another movie, it would have been great...

Rating: 7/10 (14 July 2003)

Thrown in with the other movies that come out each year, Two Towers was great! It had action, romance, and characters you can truly love.
Two Towers, however, was not "just" another movie. It is the second part, third and fourth chapters of "The Lord Of The Rings." As such, a higher standard was expected than turned out. While I realize that some "poetic" license needed to be taken to make it understandable to the viewing public (plus to keep it under six hours!), I did not understand a lot of Peter Jackson's inclusions that weren't a part of the original story (such as the attack on the traveling Rohirrim), nor did I understand several of his omissions. The "hunky-dory"-style ending, where all was well with the world, if only for a minute, didn't strike me the right way. Jackson could have picked a better place to end the movie, as well... leaving those who haven't read the books hanging on the edge of their seats.
I find it hard to see how Jackson will have time to cover everything he needs to to wrap it up in the third movie... and I am disconcerted to hear rumor that he will be cutting out one of the defining parts of the story that occurs near the end.
Overall, I was expecting greatness, and walked away feeling a bit disappointed. I only hope "Return of the King" leaves me feeling complete about the whole thing.
-NG038