Well, I’ve spent a lovely few days since the publication of my review of the novel version of this story, just taking it easy and not doing much of everything. Next thing I knew, it was Friday night and I was going back to school on Sunday to start classes on Monday. Aaaaargh! So, time to get cracking on this.

Um, but I didn’t. Now it’s Tuesday of the second week of classes. Man, I suck.

Now, don’t jump on me here, but I am going to reuse some passages from my review of the book, in instances where there are no changes and so the descriptions would be exactly the same. Obviously, this review will still consist mainly of original content. And, besides, I can’t be plagiarizing myself, can I? So, let’s jump into the plot setup. Oh, but first, I should also point out that I am taking it for granted that you saw The Fellowship of the Ring. If you didn’t, you absolutely should not see this movie yet. If you did, then I can’t believe that you haven’t already seen this one as well. In that respect, this review is probably pretty much useless. Ah, well. Okay, now for the plot setup.

As you may recall, the Fellowship of the Ring was broken at the end of the movie by the same name, when Boromir was killed, Sam and Frodo took a boat and left on their own, and Merry and Pippin were taken by Orcs. At the beginning of The Two Towers, we find that Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas are in hot pursuit of their abducted companions. After being reunited with Gandalf (Oh, come on, you didn’t think he was really dead, did you? Even if you did, you find out he’s still alive less than a third of the way through the movie.), they go on to aid the nation of Rohan in making a final stand against the hordes of Saruman. Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin escape from captivity and encounter the Ents, ancient beings of untold power. At the same time, Sam and Frodo are seeking an entrance to Mordor in order to complete their mission, to destroy the One Ring. However, they are unable to access this well guarded realm on their own, and the only available guide is the devious and untrustable creature Gollum.

Oh, and it’s Friday of the sixth week of classes. I’ve been crazy-busy this semester, but at least I got a job! Well, now it’s Monday, but that’s not my fault. I got sick, and had to sleep a lot. On top of that, I realised last week that I don’t know where I put the detailed notes I took during Christmas Break, on what all the differences were between the book and the movie. If I don’t find them, I’ll have to just generalize, but that would suck.

Right, so, onto the characters. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen [28 Days, G.I. Jane]) son of Arathorn is the direct descendant of Isildur and the heir to the throne of Gondor. He is well known in Middle-Earth, and he has friends in many places. He is generally respected, and honoured by the monarchs of many nations. He is brave, noble, and determined. In addition, he evinces the same loyalty possessed by every member of the Fellowship. Viggo Mortensen is delightfully brooding and rugged, but he also plays the role with tenderness when it comes to those scenes where Aragorn is thinking of Arwen.

Gimli (John Rhys-Davies [Raiders of the Lost Ark, Sliders]) son of Glóin is a Dwarf of noble blood, while Legolas (Orlando Bloom [They Kelly Gang, The Pirates of the Caribbean]) is a Elven prince from the forest kingdom of Mirkwood. Traditionally, Elves and Dwarves are sworn enemies, so the strong bonds of friendship that connect these two are all the more exceptional. I greatly enjoyed the merry banter between them as they competed for the most kills (Gimli with his axe, Legolas with his bow and arrow) at the battle of Helm’s Deep. I’m telling you, when Liv Tyler puts on pointy ears and starts speaking Elvish, I’m close to ready to make love to her. So you can imagine what happens when Orlando Bloom does it. Rawr. He’s beautiful, and he plays the roll with great passion. John Rhys-Davies does pretty well, considering that his role is pretty much reduced to comic relief in this film.

Merry (Dominic Monaghan [Hetty Wainthropp Investigates]) and Pippin (Billy Boyd [Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World ]) are a bit more prominent in this novel as opposed to the first, but they are still barely differentiated from one another. Even so, they are an extremely resourceful pair. While in the midst of the Orcish horde, Pippin has the presence of mind to leave deliberate marks of his passage for his friends to follow. They are also instrumental in persuading the Ents to join the battle against Saruman. These roles are still somewhat lacking in substance, but not nearly to the extent that this was true in the first movie. They definitely did a good job with the desperate prisoner mentality that was required in the early scenes, and they just flowed with the exuberance of their later scenes.

Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen [X-Men, Gods and Monsters]) has undergone a transformation. No longer Gandalf the Grey, he is now Gandalf the White. His body was broken by the encounter with Durin’s Bane, the Balrog of Moria, but he was sent back (better, stronger, faster than before)--presumably by the Valar (gods)--to finish his task. Gandalf is known in circles wider, even, than those of Aragorn. He has friends among many mysterious and forgotten races, and they are instrumental in the continued success of his various missions. Sir Ian McKellen is Gandalf, no doubt about it. He radiates power, wisdom, and security, and he is incredibly expressive.

Sam (Sean Astin [The Goonies, Rudy]) and Frodo (Elijah Wood [North, Deep Impact]) share a deep and abiding love. No, seriously, I’m not making it up. Whether or not you want to put a homosexual slant on it (And for the record, I do.), it’s undeniable that the two men do feel love for one another. As Frodo’s servant, Sam is exceedingly loyal to Frodo, and puts his master’s safety above his own. When speaking to Frodo, Sam often refers to himself as “your Sam,” showing how close he feels to Frodo. Sam is also extremely tender in his physical contact with Frodo. Both Sam and Frodo are very brave, as demonstrated by their decision to take the ring into Mordor on their own, and by their continued perseverance in the cause. Elijah Wood is just the cutest thing with those beautiful, clear blue eyes, and he continues to convey Frodo’s innocence and determination while facing adversity. Sean Astin makes Sam’s affection for Frodo seem very natural and honest, and his dislike of Gollum is also made evident through his facial expressions and physical mannerisms.

Now it’s Thursday. It turned out to be tonsillitis, most likely caused by strep throat. I’m on ibuprofen and antibiotics. It’s an exciting time.

There are several additional characters who are introduced in The Two Towers. Chief among them is the slinking wraith-creative Gollum (Andy Serkis [The Escapist, Pandaemonium]), so named for the croaking sound he makes in the back of his throat. He was once a Hobbit-like creature named Sméagol, but he was corrupted by half a millennium in possession of the Ring, which he calls the “precious.” Gollum’s cooperation is vital to Sam and Frodo, because he is the only being (other than Sauron’s own servants) who has passed freely into and out of Mordor. However, Sam and Frodo also know that Gollum wants nothing more than to reclaim the Ring for himself, and that he will betray them at his first opportunity. In actuality, though, Gollum’s emaciated body is the setting for a fierce battle between the twisted Gollum and the last shred of is original Sméagol personality. But the Ring’s hold on him is strong, as evidenced by his constant references to himself as “us,” indicating himself and the Ring. In one amazing scene, we actually see the Sméagol personality literally fighting with the cruel Gollum persona. I am given to understand that Sméagol’s facial expressions were actually grafted by computer from Andy Serkis’ own face, and that he did the voice as well. So, Gollum really is the product of Andy Serkis’ acting skills, and not just CGI technology. Therefore, I really do believe that Andy Serkis deserves an Oscar.

Fangorn, or Treebeard in the elf-tongue, is an ancient creature called an Ent. The Ents are tall creatures who resemble trees, and in fact have served for millennia as the shepherds of the trees; that is, they tell them were to grow and where to move. Yes, move. Trees can move. Accept it. Treebeard is the oldest and wisest of the Ents, and like all Ents he speaks, thinks, and moves slowly. However, their slow movement is only relative to their size; an Ent stalking leisurely across a plain is a match for a running Orc any day. Ents are also exceptionally strong, and their fingers are able to shatter stone just as a tree’s roots can break apart a sidewalk. Treebeard is a keeper of vast knowledge and ancient lore, and the fate of Middle-Earth may well depend on whether or not Treebeard sends the Ents to war against Saruman. The voice for Treebeard is provided by John Rhys-Davies, and he does it all deep and rumbly.

Faramir (David Wenham [Gettin’ Square, Pure]) is the brother of Boromir, and the son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor. As depicted in this film, Faramir is almost exactly like Boromir. He wants to use power to crush his enemies, and he gives little thought to other possible consequences. I suppose David Wenham did fine, being all overbearing and pig-headed and such, but I have serious issues with this characterization and I will explore them more fully, later on.

Several characters are also introduced at Edoras, the capital city of the Riders of Rohan. King Théoden (Bernard Hill [The Scorpion King, Blessed Art Thou]) is their leader. He has been placed under the malicious spell of Saruman (Christopher Lee [Gremlins 2, Sleepy Hollow]), through his agent Gríma Wormtongue (Brad Dourif [The Calling, Soulkeeper]) who has been serving as Théoden’s steward, and under this influence he banishes his loyal newphew, Éomer (Karl Urban [Ghost Ship, The Price of Milk]). Gandalf, however, is able to break the spell and restores Théoden to vitality, rousing him to war against Saruman. However, Wormtongue runs to Saruman and makes ready to cause more trouble for our protagonists. Meanwhile, Théoden and his niece, Éowyn (Miranda Otto [Julie Walking Home, What Lies Beneath]), dedicate themselves to the fight against Saruman. Of these performances, the only ones really worth mentioning belong to Brad Dourif and Miranda Otto. As Wormtongue, Dourif was utterly unctuous and revolting, which is completely perfect for the role. Miranda Otto has quite a tradition to uphold, because her Éowyn is the only human female appearing in all of The Lord of the Rings. But she acquits herself well here. It is clear that there is steel within her, and that she will fight for what she believes. Also, the glimmer of her attraction towards Aragorn is made clear, but kept in reserve as most women really would behave.

Unfortunately, my recollection of other aspects of the film is not especially good. A lot of the details are fading, since it has been two months since I saw the film. Man, it’s going to be weird when I finally get around to writing about my trip to England, since it will have been close to a year by that time. But, let’s see what I can do.

The special effects are incredible, just as in the first movie. The Hobbits and Dwarves are made to look tiny next to normal sized people, which is pretty cool. The CGI is still top-notch, as when Orcish armies sweep across the plains in long shots, and when Frodo envisions the fiery battle between Gandalf and the Balrog. The morphing effect when the spell on Théoden is broken is very cool, as are the Wargs. But by far the coolest thing is the march of the Ents. People were very worried that the Ents might come out looking cheesy, but they looked fantastic. I think they may look a little too much like trees, but it’s actually very hard to figure out what they are supposed to look like, based on the descriptions in the novel.

All of the fighting is exquisitely staged. The best maneuver of the movie has got to be when Legolas comes down a stone staircase on a makeshift skateboard and joins the battle. Lord, imagine what that boy must be like in bed! Hand-to-hand combat rages on all sides at Helm’s Deep, with an increasing pace of action throughout the sequence. When the Ents invade Isengard, they are confronted by Orcs brandishing axes and torches, but the towering Ents aren’t fazed in the least, even when they become slightly chopped and burnt. There are also assorted decapitations, and any number of weakling soldiers being ridden down by the charging horses of the protagonists.

The music is fairly understated, which is nice. It’s mostly strings and horns, and if I had seen the film more recently, I could probably even tell you specific things about different pieces of music within the film. Unfortunately, I haven’t, so I can’t.

The costumes were fabulous! Arwen looked magnificent in the black gown and veil that signified the passage of time as her mortal husband dies while she lives on, agelessly. The ragged peasant clothes of the fleeing villagers really contribute to the sense that these people are fighting for their lives. The Elves look snazzy as always in their shiny breastplates, and the Orcish helmets maintain the descriptions from the novel.

Outdoor panoramas again constitute a large part of the film. The opening shot is of proud, majestic mountains, and the verdant New Zealand vistas serve well as the fields around Edoras and as the vales of Ithilien. The set construction is great when it comes to the soaring city of Osgiliath, the hall of Meduseld in Edoras, and the walls within walls of the fortress at Helm’s Deep. There are some nice props as well, as that silver jewelry makes a return appearance along with those leaf-clasped cloaks. Éowyn pulls out a nice sword, although not quite as nice as Aragorn’s. Good artistic direction all around, I suppose.

Aside from my big beef on this whole Faramir thing (I’ll get to it in a minute.), the only other problem I had was a ridiculous nitpicky thing. I did some research and found out that the “éo” diphthong is really supposed to be pronounced like “ear,” not like “ayo.” But everyone went with the latter in the film. Ah, well.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a great film that whetted my appetite for the conclusion, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, due in theatres this coming December. It has strong performances, beautiful cinematography, absorbing action scenes, and fantastic special effects. If you enjoyed The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, then you absolutely must see this film right away.

Secret Subplot (See explanation of Secret Subplot on my profile page.)
It would be much too obvious to go with the Sam/Frodo “love thang.” Even declaring a Merry/Pippin liaison has already been done ad infinitum. But did you know that Gandalf and the Balrog actually dated back during the Second Age? No, really. I mean, they’re both Maia, and they both glow sometimes. And did you see the way they were groping each other in mid-air as they fell through the depths of Moriah?

QF2 (See explanation of QF on my profile page.)
Normally, when the gay elements are technically unacknowledged, as is the case in this film, I would give it a QF1. But, come on, The Sam/Frodo romance is so obvious! I mean, everybody knows it. It’s all the Elves talk about over the water cooler at Rivendell. The Ents even have a pool going on how long it takes before they finally confess their love and exchange vows in the Undying Lands beyond the Great Sea. Just accept it. Sam + Frodo 4ever!!!

Differences Between the Book and the Film
Well, wouldn’t you know it? I still can’t find the many sheets of paper I prepared on this subject. Furthermore, I’m down to just ten minutes if I want this to be published in February. So, I’ll be very brief for the time being, and then I’ll flesh this out as best I can, especially if I do find those notes of mine. [So far, I haven’t found the notes. But now it’s midsemester break—the end of the eighth week of classes—so I at least have time to fill in some more details. 3.7.03] Also, part of the problem is that this movie defies my normal subdivisions of “Things Added,” “Things Removed,” and “Things Changes,” because so many things were changed around so completely that it’s barely even possible to identify specific changes. Anyway, for now I’ll just cover a few main things that were changed.

Gimli was made into comic relief. I didn’t appreciate this. The character’s dignity was completely stripped away, and he was put into the most ridiculous situations that hinge purely on his diminutive stature. For example, in the book it is specifically said that Dwarves are an especially hardy race, in terms of athletic endurance. In the film, Gimli defends his windedness by pointing out that Dwarves are “great sprinters.” Later, Gimli even gets thrown! They’re actually making that into a running gag, it seems.

Faramir became a chump. In the book, Faramir is much wiser and nobler than his brother Boromir. Faramir recognizes the importance of Sam and Frodo’s task, and even after he learns that they carry the Ring he sends them away to continue their quest. In the movie, Faramir’s character traits and actions are changed so much that it produces a radical change in that part of the story. For starters, he covets the power of the Ring as much as Boromir did. Of all things, he drags the two Hobbits back to Osgiliath for no apparent reason, just to demonstrate his desire to control them. Ultimately, he does let them go, but not with the protection he pledges to them in the novel.

All of the flashbacks that Aragorn has of Arwen were inserted for theatrical purposes. Arwen never even appears in the second novel. However, this addition was a pretty good decision, I think. In the novel, you pretty much forget about Arwen. However, the Appendices tell you that the two of them had a great, romantic courtship. I think it was good to actually see part of that. Less enriching was the addition of the plot element where Elrond is trying to get Arwen to come over the Sea with him and that other residents of Rivendell. No proposition like that was ever on the table in the book, and it doesn’t really make much sense since one assumes that the Elves were planning on aiding Aragorn if it came to a battle between the forces of Mordor and those of the rest of western Middle-earth.

The whole timeline and setup surrounding Helm’s Deep is different. First off, the scenes that we see at Edoras before the main characters arrive there, do not happen in the book. However, they flow pretty well in the movie, and were probably a good decision. In the book, Éomer has not been banished. Also, after Gandalf breaks the spell on Théoden, the King quickly aggress to Gandalf’s plan of attack, which oddly enough winds up being the same thing he does in the movie, but in the movie he’s doing it against Gandalf’s suggestions. In the book, Helm’s Deep is already being held by a small army, and then Théoden’s men swell the ranks. The women and children go to a different refuge, and their safety is not in question during the battle. Also, the whole thing with Aragorn being chucked over a cliff doesn’t happen in the novel. He certainly wasn’t making out with his horse at any point. Most significantly, there is no Elven army in the novel. This is completely fabricated in the novel, and I have no idea why. Háma dies, not Haldir (who isn’t even supposed to be there), and the army that comes to their rescue at the end of the battle is a lord of Rohan named Erkenbrand who had been missing, rather than Éomer who is there from the beginning in the novel. Also, in the book, it is clear from the beginning that Éowyn hasn’t got a snowball’s chance in hell with Aragorn. As soon as Aragorn realizes that Éowyn has the hots for him, he beings to steadfastly ignore her. There’s none of these fond glances and lingering touches that crop up in the movie.

Finally, the movie ends only about two-thirds of the way into the action of the novel. This makes sense, because the third book is sort of low on action, and the movie will need some of the things from the end of second novel to liven it up a bit. So, by the end of the novel version, Sam and Frodo have already encountered “her,” while it will evidently be one of the first events of the third movie. I’m looking forward to it. Are you?


Recommended:
Yes

Video Occasion: Good for Groups