Review of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) by Jonathan B — 05 Jan 2013

Peter Jackson set the bar high with The Fellowship of the Ring and with The Two Towers, he more than matched it. Of the trilogy, I think that this is my favourite movie as I love the segments set in the kingdom of Rohan with its troubled ruler Theoden, magnificently portrayed by Bernard Hill.

This is a sweeping epic of a film with every dollar on the screen creating a truly immersive experience. The climax of this movie is the Battle of Helms Deep, the fortress that the people of Rohan take refuge within.

It is a staggering action sequence that just builds and builds. This movie also features the first proper appearance of Golem after the fleeting glimpses in the first film. This is still a magnificent CGI creation and Andy Serkis imbues the character with a malevolence and slyness that is amazing to watch.

The rest of the cast from the first film return and are put through the mill. Sean Astin really comes to the fore as Sam in this, proving himself to be a very capable actor. As the second in the trilogy, this film bridges the other two perfectly and pushes the story onwards, giving the characters plenty of depth and development.

This is one of those movies that is both long and complex but is just a joy to watch and bears repeated viewings.