The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Widescreen Edition) (2002)

I am sure that there are those who are bothered, angry even, that Peter Jackson didn't take a more literal approach to his "Lord of the Rings" films. To those people I would say that a literal word for word translation from text to screen (assuming such a thing were possible, which it's not) would be nothing but mimicry and in no way a tribute to Tolkien's genius. Rather, I would argue that Jackson's superb interpretation of "The Two Towers" beautifully captures the spirit of Tolkien without being slavish in its devotion. Moreover, Jackson successfully grounds his film in a recognizable reality, which serves to further engage the viewer. There are three ways (generally speaking) in which Jackson puts his fingerprint on Tolkien. The first is his interpretation of the text; areas in which without changing Tolkien he is nonetheless able to put his own spin on the text. There are two salient and superb examples of this that come immediately to mind. The first is that Jackson presents Gollum/Smeagol as a split personality. Gollum is a malevolent deceitful being who lusts after the ring, and Smeagol is an almost childlike creature, fierce in his devotion, but easily hurt. I found this approach to be utterly compelling, and a superb way to present Gollum, but at the same time, it is totally loyal to Tolkien's writing. The second example is the presentation of Gandalf freeing Theoden from Saruman as a sort of exorcism. Not only was this a visually intriguing way to present the scene, but it also shows great appreciation for Tolkien as a man. As a devout Catholic, I suspect he would have appreciated the overtones that swirl about the exchange. The second way in which Jackson captures Tolkien is in his portrayal of the characters. Given the constraints of the film format, the director is forced to both condense and flesh out various characters and exchanges. As such, it is critical that he portrays the characters appropriately, but within the context of the movie. There are any number of excellent examples to Jackson's characterizations, but there are a few that come immediately to mind. The first is using Gimli as much needed comic relief, but doing so in such a way that doesn't degrade the character. In fact, it has quite the opposite effect as it lends a certain emotional depth to the stalwart dwarf. Another example is the conflicted Theoden who is almost Shakespearean in his portrayal. Particularly moving was when at Theodred's grave he flatly states, "No parent should have to bury their child" and then breaks down. Finally, Eowyn's unrequited love for Aragorn is nicely captured, and largely without any dialogue, using glances and expressions to convey the story. Finally, there is Jackson's modification of Tolkien in order to both make the story work as a film and ground it in our present day reality. Most surprising among these is the appearance of the Elves at Helm's Deep, as they come to honor the old alliances. While completely absent from Tolkien's writing, I found this to be an excellent and effective modification. By introducing the Elves, Jackson is able to paint a portrait of Allies fighting against a common enemy in the World War II sense. Moreover, the elite Elves and Rohirrim fighting side by side against overwhelming odds echoes Thermopylae, where the grossly outnumbered Spartans saved Greece, and ultimately, Western Civilization, from the Persians. The second approach is more subtle, but completely pervasive as Jackson takes a fantasy war and couches it in familiar terms. For example there is a suicide bombing at one point during the Battle of Helm's Deep. While entirely within the context of Tolkien, Jackson's presentation rather brutally echoes our own dangerous world. Another fine example is Theoden's question, "What can men do against such reckless hate?" which rather succinctly captures the dilemma of fighting terrorism. My only two complaints are relatively small. The first is an entirely unnecessary dream sequence between Arwen and Aragorn which badly distracts from the mounting tension between him and Eowyn. The second is that while Faramir is ultimately true to the book, it takes far too long for him to realize the danger of the ring. Part of the beauty of his character is how he stands in contrast to his brother Boromir, and this is somewhat eroded by Jackson's interpretation. As for the discs themselves, they are everything one would expect based upon the first set, as the sound, picture and score are all superb. Furthermore, I found the additional scenes to be generally excellent. Theodred's funeral, which features a lament by Eowyn, was particularly moving. Also, through the addition of a few key scenes, I found the ending to be far more satisfying. The conclusions to the Battles of Helms Deep an Isengard are less abrupt, and Faramir is better rounded out. The extras are likewise superb and every bit as fascinating as the features from the first set. I'm not one who is easily drawn in by commetary on costumes and make-up, but these discs are so comprehensive it is impossible not to be drawn in by them. Finally, the audio commentaries are likewise comprehensive and interesting. If you are looking for a slavish recreation of Tolkien's work, you would do well to pass on these discs. However, if you appreciate the spirit of Tolkien's work, and fine filmmaking, you would do well to watch this film. Furthermore, you will never find a better value, as the extra's included in this four disc set once again set the standard to which all other releases must strive. Enjoy! Jake Mohlman

Why is the extended edition of The Two Towers such a great movie? There are several distinct elements of high quality here which combine to create something rather marvelous. They Include: THE RAW MATERIAL: J.R.R. Tolkien’s original books constitute an entertaining, whimsical fantasy tale when taken at face value, but they were also consciously written with the intention that they be firmly rooted in pre-Christian northern European mythology, history, and culture. In other words, although this is a fictional story, it resonates deeply of something which is ancient, and real. THE MUSIC: Even before the opening credits have finished rolling, you will come to understand that the musical soundtrack will do an excellent job throughout, anticipating, interpreting, and intuiting the events and emotional context of each scene. It was no accident that composer and conductor Howard Shore won the Grammy Award for the ‘Best Score Soundtrack Album’ for The Two Towers. THE CINEMATOGRAPHY: The South Island of New Zealand presents a target rich environment for an outdoor camera crew. The first images on the screen - a close-up aerial flyover of the spinal crest of a row of glaciated mountain peaks - demonstrates that the director understands this, and that he is going to take maximum photographic advantage of the high ridges, the boulder-strewn plains, and the wide, wild vistas upon which this story unfolds. GREAT SCENES: Gandolph’s summoning of Shadowfax. Aowyn’s singing of the Old English funeral ceremony for Theodred. Aragorn in the stables soothing the frightened horse. Aragorn washing up on the riverbank, dreaming of Arwen as he is rescued by his horse. Sam seeing the Oliphant. The moment when Treebeard changes his mind and decides to go to war after all. When the boys discover the provisions and the pipe weed after the battle, and decide to light up. THE ACTING: The casting for each of the main characters was quite strong. Ian McKellen was a perfect fit for Gandolph. Likewise Brad Dourif was absolutely made for the role of Wormtongue. In addition, there were three distinct groupings where the chemistry between the characters seemed just right - Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin, and the warrior band of brothers Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. THE DIALOGUE: Succinct dialogue where each character gets to express themselves in their sharply unique voices abound. A sampling of my favorites: ‘You shall not pass!’ ‘They’re thieves, they’re thieves, they’re filthy little thieves!’ ‘They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard!’ ‘The forest of Fangorn lies on our doorstep. Burn it!’ ‘Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind?’ ‘Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys!’ ‘What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark? ‘Give me your name, horse master, and I shall give you mine.’ ‘Side? I am on nobody’s side, because nobody is on my side.’ ‘Gandolph? Oh yes...that was what they used to call me.’ ‘Your witchcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!’ ‘There is nothing for you here. Only death.’ ‘Captain Boromir, you have shown your character.’ ...and best of all: ‘You’ve some skill with the blade.’ ‘The women of this country learned long ago that those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.’ ‘What do you fear, my Lady?’ ‘A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accepts them, and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.’ ‘You are a daughter of kings. A shield maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.’ If you haven’t seen this yet, do so now. If you have seen it, go watch it again!

I don't know how else to contact Amazon to correct a huge problem in regard to the LOTR films, but they BADLY need to separate the reviews on the various editions of these films (e.g., the widescreen, the full-screen, and the Special Extended Edition version). The Special Extended Editions are BY FAR the superior choices for anyone wishing to watch these great films and they're well-worth the money, but a LOT of folks don't know about them. With the additional footage, the movies make infinitely more sense, especially to anyone who has never previously read the Trilogy. All three LOTRs films are available in this format, plus, each film is on two discs, due to the added footage. In addition to that, each one is presented in a nice cardboard case, has an informational booklet included, and offers two ADDITIONAL discs which are "special features" sort of information. This is essentially a "collectors' edition" but, as I have mentioned, the movie itself (for more casual viewers as well as for fans) greatly benefits from the additional film footage. So, since once you've reviewed ANY version of LOTRs, one cannot review any other version (Amazon software sees this as a second review of the same product by the same person!), I am placing this information here to the prospective benefit of other Amazon customers (and victims!) *.* Now, on to the story: This is the second entry in the film-trilogy of The Lord of Rings. I'm rating each one separately to yield a more honest opinion of the entire series. I'm rating 'The Fellowship of the Ring' 4-stars, this one 5-stars, and, 'The Return of the King' 4-stars. The film is a fantasy, fairy-tale sort of movie, to inform the uninitiated. The first of the three films tells of Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit of the Shire, and his quest, (along with a 'fellowship' of comrades), to save Middle Earth by destroying the ancient Ring of Power, which is in his possession. He can only do this by traveling to the Land of Mordor (a VERY nasty place) and tossing the ring into the fires of Mount Doom, whence the ring was originally forged by an evil wizard, Sauron, (who is still evil and still around, and who is seeking to locate his lost magical Ring of Power big-time). In this entry, we find that Sauron (of Mordor) and another now-evil wizard, Saruman, (of Isengard) have teamed up to fight the remaining non-evil entities in an all-out power-grab for Middle Earth. Mordor and Isengard each boast a huge heavy-metal-type 'tower', hence the movie title. Of course, Frodo's difficult quest continues throughout the movie. The fellowship, having gotten split at the end of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' now run into all manner of obstacles. Agendas also become mixed and there is much in-fighting amongst the various regional rulers which complicates defeating their common enemies, Sauron and Saruman. As a consequence of all this action, there is a LOT of jumping around in the film from place to place -- BUT, the director pulled off a coup: this story remains coherent, and pretty much stands on its own as a film. I would have thought this impossible and I wondered how they would ever do it successfully. But they did and I'm quite happy about it. Now, the CINEMATOGRAPHY in all three of these films will knock you out -- superbly contrived, second to none. The COLOR SATURATION will bowl you over as well. The script and STORYLINE are not at all hokey and come off as quite coherent, which would have been a very difficult task as readers of the book(s) are well-aware. I much appreciated the fact that the story remains close to the book(s), with few cuts and/or ommissions. Of course, this has made for a lengthy film, but one which will not bore you at all. My final critique of the film is that the same primary theme composition is used for all three films -- man, I got REALLY tired of that filmscore, even though other facets of it are brilliant. It's the up-front french horn one that I'm speaking of. In the end, this is a very fine film, not necessarily for smaller kids, but A-O-K for teens. A last comment, don't waste time or money watching the FULL-SCREEN edition -- I've watched it that way (all three films) and you lose 2-stars when you do! This one MUST be viewed in widescreen only!

I'm probably the billionth person to review this, but I absolutely HATED this movie in the theater! The theatrical release absolutely BUTCHERED the novel, added scenes and events that never occurred, and had me griping for 20 minutes after the credits ended about everything that was left out of and wrong with the film. Fortunately the extended version of the film makes up for most of the problems I had with it, and almost everything I pointed out that was missing either appears in the extended version, or was deferred until "The Return of the King." This is still the weakest of the three movies by quite a bit, but it was the weakest of the books as well. The fact that Peter Jackson took artistic license and made the Ents refuse to go to war on their own, and instead had them manipulated into it by Pippin and Merry still ticks me off, as does the fact that the two Hobbits growing quite a bit after drinking the Entwater isn't emphasized enough. One of them became the tallest hobbit in history, and the other wasn't far behind, and that isn't shown when they get together with Sam and Frodo again. Throw in the battle with the warg riders that does NOT happen anywhere in the series, and Aragorn falling off a cliff so everyone thinks he's dead, which never happened either, and I was pretty steamed with the liberties Jackson's team took with the book, just because they thought it would make for good action and gripping drama. (Ok, Legolas standing on a rise and killing a warg with every shot one after the other was really cool, as was him swinging up in the saddle behind a rider when the bad guys were closing in on him.) But that's NOT in the book! Neither is a bunch of elves showing up to fight at Helm's Deep, and making them like robots instead of hundreds of brilliant fighters like Legolas did them a great disservice. (Of course we were subjected to the same ridiculous portrayal in the last of the Hobbit movies as well.) I could grouse about the differences between the book and the film forever, but I also have to concede that what Peter Jackson managed in his sweeping saga of "The Lord of the Rings" was everything I ever hoped for after I fell in love with the books at age eleven. The director's commentary version of this film explains why he and the really excellent artistic and writing teams he assembled did things the way they did. Once I understood that, I realized the quandaries they faced on what to include and when. Tolkien wrote the novels in distinct sections, but the order they were published in serial form and the order they were assembled into the novels didn't always match. So although the book ends with a cliffhanger, the film doesn't, That's a bit due to Peter Jackson's style - most of the movies end on a hopeful note, even though the first two show that there are great challenges ahead. This movie ended halfway through the last chapter of the book, unlike the other two films. The ending seems cheerful, but we know Gollum is back, and bad things are ahead for the unsuspecting duo of Frodo and Sam. I'm still stunned that so much of what was missing from the theatrical release appears here in the extended version, or in the extended version of "The Return of the King," which was absolutely brilliant and the ending was utterly faithful to the book. The song "Into the West" during the credits was great too. Unfortunately, the song during the credits of "The Two Towers" is forgettable, but it's also in competition with Enya's "Let it be" from "The Fellowship of the Ring," which was the best song of the three. This movie is best appreciated by plopping down on the sofa for a 9 hour marathon of the extended versions of the entire series, and in the capacity, it earns 5 stars. Alone by itself it would only get four, since the other two movies in the series blew me away, while this one had several aspects that annoyed me. The writers could have stayed faithful to the original script and still had a thrilling movie, although only us Tolkien nerds would know the difference...

I love this extended version! Lot of cut scenes that I wanted to see. Super recommended for any LOTR fan.

I've used my review from Fellowship of the Ring here because it certainly applies to this installment, as well. Every person who worked on this trilogy clearly took such care to be authentic, true to the material and lovingly craft their individual piece in the broader picture. You can see, hear and feel it in every scene from the sets, to the phenomenal score and sound design, to the special makeup effects and the carefully used CGI, to the craftsmanship of the costumes, armor and weapons, to the epic cinematography and real life location choices, the direction and last but certainly not least - the acting. These films are a masterclass in quality and devotion to a timeless and enduring classic that was so brilliantly and meticulously created by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's clear that these films were careful to capture the spirit and intention of this story and honor it in such a beautiful and heartfelt way. There are so many fans of this story because it's such a human story. It's such a relatable story in so many complex ways but what isn't complex is that we ALL connect to these characters. Regardless of who you are or where you come from. This is a tale of the human experience. It shows us love and compassion, evil, greed and moral corruption. It shows us perseverance and endurance, sacrifice, loss and tragedy. It shows us humor and innocence, and it shows us a sense of duty, morality and honor against overwhelming odds. These films and the story they tell are windows into the very best and the very worst of all of us. These stories are masterpieces of what it means to be human. While some changes were made for the big screen adaptation, they were NOT at the expense of J.R.R. Tolkien's vision and story. No need to revise or add in modern politics, or have this world "reflect our current world." That's the point. You cannot improve upon J.R.R. Tolkien's work and it would be insulting to think you could. That's why these films are so beloved and so enduring.

Presiding over a scene resembling a Bosch-like hell, renegade Wizard Saruman, (Christopher Lee), intones menacingly, "The old world will burn in the fires of industry. The forests will fall. A new world order will rise. We will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear." Saruman, in league with the evil, dark Lord Sauron, is bent on the destruction of mankind, beginning with the people of Rohan and leading to eventual control of the entire world. They want the One Ring of Power in order to succeed with their plans. "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" takes over exactly where "The Fellowship of the Ring" left off. The transition from the first film to the second is so seamless that the idea to make all three films, parts one, two and three, at the same time with different release dates seems to have been an excellent one. The members of the Fellowship parted at the conclusion of the last movie. This film opens with Frodo Baggins (brilliantly played by Elijah Wood), the Ringbearing Hobbit, and his loyal companion Samwise Gangee, (Sean Astin), making their way through the grim landscape, over cold, misty mountains and through the Dead Marshes toward their goal to destroy the Ring. Demented, obsessed Smeagle, the Gollum, trails them and then, discovered, leads them toward their fate. Gandalf the Gray is left spiraling down a seemingly infinite abyss, fighting the terrible fire monster, Balrog. The man Aragon, (Viggo Mortensen), the elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) after meeting up with the resurrected Gandalf, now called The White, go to the aid of the besieged Rohan people. Saruman waits for word of victory at Orthanc Tower in Isengard, while Sauron's fiery eye searches for the Ring and its bearer from his tower and fortress at Baraddur, in the terrible land of Mordor. The climatic battle at Helm's Gate is probably one of the most stunningly impressive battle scenes I have ever watched. The special effects used in "The Two Towers" are absolutely amazing. I have never seen fantasy characters brought to life more brilliantly than in this film. Smeagle, the schizophrenic Gollum, is just as nasty, pathetic and sad as I imagined him from Tolkien's wonderful description. The orcs, the Balrog, the Ents, all come alive on the screen, wonderfully imaged and as good as one's own inner eye could imagine them. There were stupendous creative forces at work on this production. And the photography and scenery are breathtaking - absolutely spectacular! What a visual treat. There is some departure from Tolkien's original text, but, for me, the film kept true to the spirit of "The Two Towers." It is almost impossible to make an effective motion picture from a long and complex book, where all the details remain the same. A particularly poignant scene, worth noting, is the passing of the magical elves from this world. All in all, I really enjoyed every minute of this 5 star film. I have read Tolkien's Triogy at least three times, and never thought it would be possible to do such a wonderful film rendition. Kudos to Peter Jackson and his crew!

Well here it is, the moment all LOTR fans have been waiting for: the release of the second part of J.R.R. Tolkien's/Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. And to sum up what I thought about the movie in one sentence: The Two Towers is a magnificent sequel to an equally magnificent film (The Fellowship of the Ring). And, for all those long-time Tolkien fans who thought Peter Jackson went far too astray from the books, this movie stays very faithful to the book, minus some unnecessary dialogue/scenes, that would have bogged the film down. Though, I should mention, some end sequences that were in the original publication (Book) have been moved to the last film; The Return of the King. The first thing I would like to talk about is the mood of the film; the Two Towers has very dark and depressing feeling to it (which I like) that really expresses the dire situations the characters are in. The film really has a very foreboding presence to it. It really makes you feel as though you are there, at Helm's Deep, waiting to fight, waiting to die. And thins rings true to all the scenes, whether your with Frodo and Sam on their impossible journey, or with Merry and Pippen, trying to free them selves from the orc's grasp. Whatever scene it is, it makes you feel as though you are apart of the movie. A feeling I thoroughly enjoyed. The Computer Generated Images (CGI) are amazing. They blend in with the rest of the scenery so well, it almost seem as though they're real images rolling across the screen. All through the film this holds true, even in the battle scenes in Helm's Deep where a huge amount of Animation was used, it still looked real! And, when you talk about CGI in the Two Towers, you have to, of course, mention Gollum. The CGI the filmmakers use to make him is also spectacular, making him have that almost-real look to him. Gollum is one of the most life-like CGI characters I have ever seen on film. The cinematography is, as the first film also was, the best I have every seen; the exuberant colors, the razor sharp tint of the actors eyes, the exciting camera angles that make this movie all the more breathtaking. And the plot of the film is (of course) amazing! The Lord of the Rings book saga is probably the best literature written in the 20th century. And all of that masterful storytelling is carried over on to film. I thought I should also mention the comedy in this film, mainly delivered by Gimli, the dwarf. His comedy really lightens up this very dark film without making it corny. `So,' you might ask, `Is the Two Towers, the second film better then the first?' (The Fellowship of the Ring) To state it simply... No, in my opinion, The Fellowship is a tat-bit better the Two Towers. But I certainly couldn't argue with anyone who said other wise...

Superbe pack des deux Tours et la statuette de Gollum est vraiment belle

Okay so i totally LOVE the Lord Of The Rings They are - clean, funny, and entertaining. The two towers is my favourate of the three because it had the best battle scene, its not for kids under 12 because the Orks and the wild men are creepy, but for older it has amazing morals. if your a christian and you know your bible really well then you can tell that it is kind of bible based, even if you are not it still is a fantastic show, great buy!!!!

The quest continues on in Part Two- Lord Of The Rings- The Two Towers. Frodo and Sam push on, just the two of them. Following close behind them is Sméagol. The scenery is beautiful and breathtaking especially the mountain scenes. Merry and Pippin are rescued by Treebeard and his forest brothers. Gandalf The Grey is now Gandalf The White. The battle at Helm’s Deep is absolutely epic and amazing. Gandalf The White brings reinforcements to Helm’s Deep. Treebeard and brothers destroy Isengard.

この作品は3部作で大作で好きです。ロードオブザリングは持っていたのですが高画質で観たいのでBlu-Rayも購入しました。この作品も面白いです。

DVD arrived in good shape ,worked well