Release Date:
12/18/2002
We can see why Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson would, as reported, endeavor to pursue an Oscar nod for CGI-generated Gollum, the ring-corrupted character showcased here in The Two Towers: the character seems the one Jackson most identifies with in terms of dramatically obsessive dedication to a single precious cause. Jackson’s cause is his epic undertaking in the trilogy itself, the breadth of which must be taken in again and again—and, obviously, again this time next year with the release of series’s final installment, The Return of the King.
Two Towers follows the motley crew of now wearied hobbits, elves, kings, soldiers, wizards, and more as they slash and thrash their way through the war-torn Middle-earth landscape. Clocking in at 178 minutes, Jackson could have stood to do some slashing himself, perhaps of some of the breathtaking, but too numerous sweeping scenery shots with the Cheez Whiz soundtrack laid over them. But what would an epic be if it weren’t epically long? Gandalf (Ian McKellen) is back—hope that wasn’t a spoiler for you, geek boys—and as badass as ever, though not quite Yoda-badass, if you know what we mean. Liv Tyler luminously works every second of her far-too-little screen time playing the elf princess Arwen. Cate Blanchett (elf queen Galadriel), another favorite, barely appears, which is worthy of dropping our rating of the film by at least half of a star. Karl Urban, as a human warrior and king’s nephew, joins Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) and Orlando Bloom (the elf Legolas) in the “lethal, but…nice hair!” department. And, of course, the furry-footed hobbits played by Elijah Wood and Co. return for second helpings of ass kickings. All of which adds up to an afternoon’s worth of fantasy ga-ga.Somebody please buy Peter Jackson a beer.
Two Towers follows the motley crew of now wearied hobbits, elves, kings, soldiers, wizards, and more as they slash and thrash their way through the war-torn Middle-earth landscape. Clocking in at 178 minutes, Jackson could have stood to do some slashing himself, perhaps of some of the breathtaking, but too numerous sweeping scenery shots with the Cheez Whiz soundtrack laid over them. But what would an epic be if it weren’t epically long? Gandalf (Ian McKellen) is back—hope that wasn’t a spoiler for you, geek boys—and as badass as ever, though not quite Yoda-badass, if you know what we mean. Liv Tyler luminously works every second of her far-too-little screen time playing the elf princess Arwen. Cate Blanchett (elf queen Galadriel), another favorite, barely appears, which is worthy of dropping our rating of the film by at least half of a star. Karl Urban, as a human warrior and king’s nephew, joins Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) and Orlando Bloom (the elf Legolas) in the “lethal, but…nice hair!” department. And, of course, the furry-footed hobbits played by Elijah Wood and Co. return for second helpings of ass kickings. All of which adds up to an afternoon’s worth of fantasy ga-ga.Somebody please buy Peter Jackson a beer.