Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

2002

3.5/4 Stars

The Two Towers is the second act in the three-part Lord of the Rings cycle. Generally, as the bridge between the introduction and climax, the second act can drag in comparison to the others. While "Towers" is not as stunning as "Fellowship", this is still a very strong film.

This is a darker chapter in the story that has the two villains in Sauron and Saruman growing in power while Frodo and Sam (along with Gollum) step ever closer to the dreaded Mordor. These developments are reflected in the darker tones of the movie and Frodo's increasing "ring sickness". Other characters from the original film are not left idle, as Merry and Pippen go on an adventure with Ents (walking/talking trees) and Aragorn teams up with his elf and dwarf companions in the fight to save Rohan and mankind.

Once again, the film has a mind-blowing level of detail throughout. The woodworking in Rohan and the details in the armor are remarkable. This enhances but does not overwhelm the viewing experience as the acting remains very good throughout. Highlights also include the tremendous Ent seige of Isengard and the surprisingly touching speech Sam delivers to Frodo at Osgiliath at the end of the film.

There are minor complaints that keep it from measuring up to the first film. While the CGI is generally understated and well used in the film (often the viewer forgets it is there), there are exceptions. The "Warg Riders" look somewhat artificial and the Warg battle scene is not a strong point in the film. The sets are less beautiful than they were in the first film (Helms Deep instead of Rivendell), but this is merely a reflection of the shift in storyline.

There is flair added to some of the characters- particularly Legolas and Gimli- that was not in the books and probably did not need to be included in the film. Director Peter Jackson refers to "Leggy moments" where Legolas does something absurd like flip around upside down before mounting a horse at full gallop or surf down a staircase on a shield while firing arrows with pinpoint accuracy. Gimli the Dwarf is used one too many times for comic gags that are not that funny- such as his dwarf toss jokes or his constantly being too short (too see a battle or to wear human chainmail). These devices may be used to make these characters more accessable to a younger audience, although JRR Tolkien would most likely cringe at these scenes.

The movie also contains a "creeping homoeroticism", particularly between Frodo and Sam (but also between Merry and Pippin). While this is not fully unleashed until "Return of the King", many have criticised that this was not what Tolkien had intended. Whether this damages the movie is subject to debate, but there is no question that there are many moments where Frodo stares longingly into Sam's eyes and says something to the effect of: "I couldn't be here without all you have done for me."

Ultimately, "The Two Towers" is an excellent film that does its job in carrying the story from the end of "Fellowship" to the beginning of "Return of the King".