It worked out nicely. JFathers wanted to see The Two Towers at the midnight showing, Tuesday night, and I offered to work his morning shift so he’d be able to sleep in. This in turn allowed me to get out earlier than normal so I could see the 4 PM showing Wednesday. Here are some quick review notes:Contributor Frolixo adds: “I think this was the hardest of the books to be made into the film. In the first one, you have a direct story line following the fellowship on their adventure. In the Two Towers, everybody is scattered. This movie really needed to be 4 hours to do it justice (omg Directors cut will kick ass).
JFathers complained the movie was even longer since they started showing all the previews right at midnight. I was bragging how the Star Taylor starts the movies on time but shows the previews in between. But then, dang it, I go there today, sit for 45-minutes listening to Star’s stupid in-house radio station, and then, at four, they started showing twenty minutes of previews. Is this some new fashion trend? It stinks!
My review. I’ve heard all about how the second one is better than the first, so I’ll probably be contrary in saying I like the first one. There was more “adventure” in the first one. Anyway, the movie starts with a bang, skids to a halt for a while, and then starts building momentum to a tremendous finish.
Just as I expected, the deviations from the book really bother me. Frodo is such a puss in the movie; Treebeard does little but wander aimlessly; Faramir is a much stronger and nobler character in the book; the invention of Aragorn’s watery scenic-route “detour” to Helm’s Deep does little more than waste time; and Gollum sounds too much like Donald Duck. Plus, I thought it almost funny how many scenes there are where characters need to be reminded of their names and past lives. (And I can’t resist getting really nitpicky: Tolkien went to such pains to make sure all the actions and maneuvers fit to a realistic calendar. So, why is it always full moon?)
In short much like in the first movie, Peter Jackson’s inventions do nothing to improve the movie and the storytelling would’ve been better if they’d stuck to the book. (At three hours apiece it’s not like they need to condense anything.) And with less invented scenes they wouldn’t need to put all the book’s cool scenes into the third movie (which, hint-hint, would also allow them to retain The Scouring of the Shire!).
That said, the look of the movie is just as good as the first one (of course). The costumes, the sets, the landscapes are all wonderful. The final battle is just as cool as you’ve read. The siege of Isengard is even cooler. But more amazing yet will be the Battle of Pelennor Fields in next year’s movie. And Éowyn is a babe.
Another new trend is the bum’s rush after the show. Following two different showings at the Star, as soon as the credits started to roll the house lights came on and the projector was shut off. It stinks too!
“Gollum was great. I actully felt pity for him just by his facial expressions. Combined with the Ents and the Helms deep, this is the best CGI so far.
“Overall it gets a 9.5/10”
