Reviewed by: Gary Darling

Since the end of the beginning of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, I have been waiting like a lovesick schoolboy for the next installment. I loved the first installment like so many of us did. I had high hopes that Mr. Peter Jackson would be able to continue the thrill ride that had begun with the first movie and boy did he ever.

"The Two Towers" picks up where the other left off. The fellowship has been splintered apart. Frodo and Samwise have continued their journey to Mt. Doom and have picked up an unwilling guide in the deformed Gollum/Smeagol. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas have continued their hunt for the two kidnapped hobbits, Pippin and Merry. Plus, we are given the reason why Gandalf the Grey has returned as Gandalf the White. All that and more in just the first hour of this just under 3-hour epic.

Now I won't go into more of the plot as to not ruin this for others but the battle sequences in this film are really a spectacle to behold. Peter Jackson and his effects crew WETA really went into over time to completely capture the true terror of the orcs attack on Helms Deep. This is definitely the highlight of the movie. I was completely in awe of this sequence. My eyes never blinked and I was thrown into the middle of this pivotal battle.

Another highlight of this movie is definitely the character Gollum. He is a very unique character. He is captured by the hobbits as he tries to recapture his "precious." As the journey continues and Gollum or Smeagol (his true name) is befriended by Frodo, you see a change in the character as he visually fights his other self in a scene that makes you forget that this character is not real. Now I have heard others bring up the house elf from "Harry Potter" in their description of Gollum but I think that is a little misleading. Gollum is much more complex and much more intriguing. Plus I never lost sight that the house elf was CGI.

This is a very visually captivating film much like the first one but not quite as personable as "The Fellowship of the Rings." As well, it shouldn't. It continues the story along and sets the tone for the final chapter. It is dark and unfriendly and makes you sit at the edge of your seat. It makes you take sides and look around at your allies in the fight of good and evil and makes you distrust people you should trust.

As the credits rolled and I realized I had to be to work exactly 2 hours from the end of the midnight showing. I wished it was a year later and I was able to watch the final chapter right then. I was once again brought into the world of hobbits of wizards and hobbits and in the end; I did not want to leave.

 

Special thanks to Movie - Vault