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

Director: Peter Jackson

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Sean Astin as Frodo's stout-hearted companion Sam brought the first film into emotional focus, as they set off for the perils of Mordor together in its bravely anti-climactic last scene. And Sam brings a lump to the throat this time too, as he waxes lyrical about the meaning of their quest: how ordinary folk must endure dark times and search for good in this world. The centrepiece in the Tolkien triptych is more of the same. Much, much more. Those who found The Fellowship of the Ring exhaustingly episodic will not be encouraged by the proliferation of subplots here: Mortensen's Aragorn emerges as a charismatic leader; Pippin and Merryweather get lost in the woods; Arwen is token romantic interest; Gandalf is resurrected only to disappear for most of the running time; while Frodo and Sam are sidetracked by a CGI Gollum with a split personality. A naked, scuttling creature of debasement and deceit, Gollum exposes the insidious corruptive power hanging round Frodo's neck. In size and scale, Jackson has redefined the word 'epic' - but his attention to the small things really gives this series its awesome stature.

Author: TCh 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Niall Cunniffe said...
    Posted on Jul 07 2008 17:25 If you skipped this film and went to watch the 3rd, you would'nt miss much. Maybe the thrilling battle that focuses on the character's emotions, a dramatic relationship of Aragorn and Arwen, a talking tree and the journey of Frodo and Sam. But if you do decide to watch it you will be thrilled, espiecially with the fantastic opening sequence (hem, hem, best opening scene in cinema history) and the end's climax of how the three story's combine in Sam's speech. This film lacks the wonder, the myth and the legend of the first which was rich in history but it is very enjoyable!
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Cast & crew

Director: Peter Jackson

Producer: Barrie M Osborne, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson

Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Brad Dourif full cast

Genre(s): Epics

Duration: 179 mins

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