 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Directed by Peter Jackson
 King Theoden, Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn survey the interior walls of Helm’s Deep.
How can I sum up this much anticipated second instalment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy? One word: breathtaking!
I was totally blown away by Peter Jackson’s epic masterpiece. The Fellowship of the Ring was the highpoint of my viewing year in 2002 and it’s going to take a pretty special film to top The Two Towers.
This huge project has elevated New Zealand director Peter Jackson onto the filmmaking A-list and deservedly so.
At the close of The Fellowship of the Ring, the Fellowship had splintered into three groups. Hobbits Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and his loyal friend Samwise (Sean Astin) are making the perilous journey to Mordor with the much coveted Ring, unaware that they are being closely followed by the Ring’s previous owner, Gollum (voiced by Andy Serkis).
Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), elf archer Legolas Greenleaf (Orlando Bloom) and dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) are on the trail of the Orcs who have taken hobbits Merry and Pippin prisoner.
Meanwhile evil wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee) continues his work for Sauron, creating an army of super Orcs called Urak-Hai, preparing to unleash them upon the humans and their allies. Resulting, I may add, in the most spectacular battle scene (like I said before… Peter Jackson, you’re a legend!)
Fans of Tolkien’s books will notice a slight deviation in the plot but I’m sure there will be few complaints.
With most of the characters established in the first instalment more emphasis is placed on the battle sequences in The Two Towers. But we are introduced to some new faces, amongst them Bernard Hill as Theoden, the King of Rohan, Miranda Otto as the feisty Eowyn of Rohan who has the hots for Aragorn (don’t we all, girls!) and the yummy David Wenham as Faramir of Gondor. There’s also a deliciously slimy performance from Brad Dourif as Sauron’s spy, Grima Wormtongue.
And be prepared for several magical surprises…
Will good triumph over evil? We’ll have to wait another twelve months to find out!
Funnier than number one, bloodthirsty and totally absorbing, The Two Towers is an awesome movie going experience.
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