Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on December 26, 2002 at 15:47:42

In Reply to: Re: The Two Towers posted by NapTime on December 21, 2002 at 11:27:29:

For me, anyway. It's a lot to absorb in one sitting.

TTT is different in feel from FOTR, obviously less linear in its splintered narrative, much darker and more intense. It also, as PJ warned us, deviates most from the book, more than FOTR or ROTK. TTT is very much a second act, with no real beginning, and though it concludes with several important emotional reslutions, there is no traditional ending as such.

TTT the book is dauntingly difficult to adapt, with a structure that would never work on screen. The first part (over 60% of it) deals with the Aragorn/Rohan/Merry-Pip threads, and the balance is solely devoted to Frodo, Sam and Gollum. But because their story is ends in such a dramatic cliffhanger, it is their story we remember best. (In truth, the first section of TTT is my least favorite part of the book, even after more than 35 years of reading it.)

Having now seen it twice, I'm very pleased with this second chapter of LOTR. I love the grand scale and epic sweep of it. I'm fine with most of the changes. I like the new actors in their roles, even Dourif finds ways to twist Worma. I quite like the way Gollum is portrayed and love the character stuff with him, Frodo and Sam. I'm even OK with Faramir taking them to Osgiliath. And I LOVE the "wraiths on wings". ("They're here"...OOH!)

Some amazing and gorgeous shots: Gandalf and the Balrog falling into the undergraound lake; the Hobbits and Gollum in long shot traversing the Dead Marshes; the dead warriors in the marshes; Eowyn alone on the platform outside the Golden Hall; Arwen at Aragorn's grave; numerous shots at the battle for Helm's Deep; the way that in the first shot of the Nazgul, you can't tell what he's riding until the shot pulls back to reveal the winged fell beast.

The battle at Helm's Deep is an amazing sequence, worth the price of admission alone, and the death of a certain elf warrior moved me to tears (much MUCH to my surprise).

TTT really needs a second look, the level of detail is just too dense. You need to give your mind time to adjust and switch gears. The film isn't perfect, there are a couple cuts from HD to Treebeard that feel awkward, and on the whole I prefer the editing on FOTR. I could pick other nits, but I'd much rather enjoy the movie. But these imperfections do not detract from TTT for me.

The important thing to me is that the effects only enhance the characters and story. TTT and FOTR put some brains and integrity back into popular filmmaking. Three hours never went by so fast.

There is a very good review of TTT at www.flickfilosopher.com. This critic, also a long time Tolkien reader, feels as I do about the movie versions of LOTR, that Peter Jackson is shining new light on LOTR and showing us new things about a beloved tale that we know by heart.

Just call me a fangirl. Bring on the EE DVD and ROTK!

• Flick Filosopher reviews The Two Towers