"The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers" Review

"The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers"

Directed by Peter Jackson

Starring Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis

 

RATING

10/10

Seeing "The Two Towers" in cinema was an oddly strange experience for me. It was the day before I started fourth grade, and my father took me to see this at the local cinema. Probably because I was feeling melancholic about starting another inglorious year of school. We went for the five 'o clock show, and ended up coming out around eight for my daily bubble bath routine. However, the whole time, for the next four months at least, I couldn't get some images out of my head, and all of them coming from this film. To name a few, the creature Gollum, the awesome battle of Helms Deep, a pack of ravenous dogs, and a walking, talking tree. For months it had plagued my dreams, and that's when I realised how great a trilogy this was shaping out to be.

 

"The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers" is the second part in Peter Jackson's trilogy telling the tale of a ring of power and a group of heroes trying to rid Middle-Earth of its evil. It continues Frodo Baggins' journey venturing towards Mordor, and also traces the rest of the fellowship in the aftermath of the battle that took place in the climax of the previous film. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli track down Merry and Pippin who were taken by the Urukai, and happen to stumble upon a familiar face... Their adventures lead them to the kingdom of Rohan, where a possessed King Theoden holds control. After releasing him from his grip, the fellowship decide to combine forces to protect the free peoples of Middle-Earth against Saruman's ferociously powerful armies.

 

Talking about the technical aspects, there's nothing I could say here that I haven't already covered in my previous review. The visuals are still as astounding as before, and the sweeping shots of the landscapes are superb. However, the second film in the trilogy means that there is plenty of time for character development, and that's what this film is essentially about. It has a lot more dialogue than any of the other LOTR films, and depends on slow-burning revelations over the glossy fantasy fights. Most people who fell in love with the first film might be kinda put off by the tone is decides to take on several occasions in this film, but it provides vital and necessary background for plenty of key characters, even introducing new ones that are pivotal to the climax. Andy Serkis does motion-capture work for the creature Gollum, who delivers one of the most memorable performances in cinematic history. If the Oscars ever decided to award motion-capture work, Andy Serkis would be very high up that list. He is essentially the heart and soul of "The Two Towers", and like The Joker in "The Dark Knight", what really draws you into the film and you anticipate his next scene every time. The cast here is as solid as ever, including Viggo Mortensen who truly accentuates his utter badass persona. With the inclusion of a new cast, there's plenty of widespread interaction with the rest of Middle-Earth, giving it more weight and realism. Perhaps the biggest and most insane scene of the entire film, or what it ultimately builds up to, is the battle of Helms Deep. It's in the running for one of, if not the, best battle sequence of all time. It's directed in such a way, it's almost hard to describe. Jackson uses the camera as not simply a spectator, but a character actually involved in the action. You really begin to feel as cornered and as helpless as the citizens of Rohan in the fortress, and it adds to the risky situation. The battle is clockwork filmmaking, striking all the right chords to lead you into the treachery.

 

"The Two Towers" is probably the least exciting piece of Tolkein's epic (minus the climax), but it does provide fans of the series with plenty of space to breath and personally get involved with these characters. It does have a ton of suspenseful moments that elevate it far above any other fantasy epic, and carries a fine tone throughout the entire film. Andy Serkis as Gollum steals the show, and becomes a staple in the legendary characters of cinema history. The trilogy is drawing close to its exciting conclusion, but for now, its building steam with a grain of salt. Or, er, a packet of salt.