More powerful than expected...

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 2002)

A long time Tolkien fan, I arrived at the theatre with a bit of apprehension (or was it excitement?). The Fellowship of the Ring had not disappointed me, and was wonderful. So it was with hope in my heart that the same would be provided by Two Towers as I awaited the curtain to go up on this second installment. It surpassed my expectations.
To say that Rohan was an indescribable splendor on screen would be an understatement. The residents of Canterbury, NZ are lucky indeed to have such a pristine and beautiful place in their backyard. Peter Jackson did a wonderful job bringing the people of Rohan alive as I felt they were not in the books.
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas are developed well here and their actors put on an unforgettable show. Astin's character of Sam shines as does Wood's Frodo.
But Smeagol/Gollum! If this portrayal of character (not just the animation) doesn't win an Oscar, I don't know what should. Superbly done.
My only criticisms may be the treatment of Arwen, Elrond and Galadriel as they seemed a bit out of synch with the rest of the movie. Also, Faramir seemed a bit harsh compared to his character in the book. Some of my friends and colleagues found the Ents disappointing, but I did not.