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Writer-director Peter Jackson
delivers another exuberant offering in the follow-up to last year's $300
million adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings books. In
the first installment The Fellowship of the Ring, the dynamic
fantasy-adventure took audiences on a suspenseful ride that both visually
and consciously captivated the masses with its fearless presentation of
good versus evil. In convincing ways Fellowship was raw, imaginative and
beautifully crafted in the manner that Jackson helmed his enchanting and
wondrous saga. The elements were clearly established in spectacular
fashion: the light-hearted spirit and intestinal fortitude of combating
one's soul set against the realm of bloodthirsty darkness.
Jackson proudly pounds his chest, and rightly so, as he ushers in the
second installment of Tolkien's universe in the masterful sequel The Lord
of the Rings: The Two Towers. Intriguingly breathtaking and sensually
stimulating, The Two Towers is even more cinematically sound than the
first outing. As a dazzling filmmaker, Jackson spares no expense as he
diligently serves up a superlative gem that's transfixing beyond compare.
This high-minded adventure is an exploration of exquisite tastes that
mixes an assortment of ingredients meant to provide moviegoers with
eye-popping entertainment. The Two Towers is a lacerating study of the
whimsical, the macabre, the provocative and the visual. Whether probing
into the gritty battle scenes with absurd giddiness or appreciating the
slices of subtle humor that the movie slyly conjures up, Jackson's
pulsating three-hour narrative flows with the gracefulness of a golden
swan in a calming current. In essence, The Lord of the Rings is poetic
chaos for the film fan's expressionistic psyche.
Now provided that one has been introduced to The Fellowship of the Ring,
this enthralling fable picks up where Fellowship left off. So going into
The Two Towers without seeing the original film is at your own discretion
unless you don't mind tackling the state of bewilderment while trying to
adjust to the unfamiliar storyline. With that said, we find our two heroic
hobbits Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) on a
dangerous mission as they try to gain access to the powerful evil ring so
they can destroy it. The duo must reach Mount Doom (also known as the
kingdom of Mordor) as the preferred destination. As Frodo and Sam
enthusiastically continue their ominous journey, they run into a colorful
and wacky creature by the name of Gollum (marvelously voiced by Andy
Serkis). Apparently, Gollum (formerly a hobbit) once had the infamous ring
in his possession at one point and paid a heavy price in the process. Now
he wants to suspiciously aid Frodo and Sam and accompany them to obtain
the unpredictable, threatening ring.
Of course there are other quests that are chronicled as well. Hobbits
Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) is the abducted couple in
need of rescue from the dastardly forces that imprisoned them. Thus, they
are held up by the weird-looking humanoids Uruk-Hai until the twosome
escape therefore ending up in the company of the Treebeards (creatures
that look like "walking trees") wondering what to do with their unexpected
guests. In the meantime, fierce warrior Aragorn (Viggio Mortensen) lodges
a full-fledged war for Middle-Earth sensibilities against tyrannical titan
Saruman (Christopher Lee). Saruman is the deliciously devilish wizard with
a flamboyant nasty streak. He is the punishing puppeteer behind the
menacing Uruk-Hai clan.
With assistance from the likes of blustery warrior dwarf Gimli (John
Rhys-Davies) and other determined allies, Aragorn is eager to thwart the
tenacious tendencies of Saruman's terrorist reign. Also back in the fold
to help out with the massive conflict is garrulous wizard Gandalf (Ian
McKellen), a headstrong personality that lends a critical helping hand in
confronting the likes of the sinister Saruman. And so the struggle
continues for the Fellowship in reacting toward the intimidating two
demonic partners. Obviously the indomitable Saruman is the main culprit.
Joining him is the dark lord Sauron, whose cynical philosophy embodies
everything that's Saruman's twisted ideology. Hence, the connected towers
of terror are regrettably on the same page of a ruthless book.
There’s no denying the fact that Jackson’s mythical masterpiece radiates
so fabulously on the big screen. Decisively stunning, TLOTR: The Two
Towers is a monumental movie fantasy that whisks the viewer into a lyrical
landscape that never disappoints. Although the opulence is apparent in
this grandiose production, some may have reservations about the slight
neglect regarding the human factor of the characters that were focused
upon in part one of The Fellowship of the Rings. Granted, the verve in The
Two Towers favors the action-packed fervor over the complexity of the
players’ makeup. Still, that shouldn’t be a black mark against a haunting
and hallucinatory whimsical epic that provides the sweeping potency of an
adventure that generously incorporates passion in its crackerjack
creativity.
The performances in this film are truly inspired. Most notable is the
specific trio of McKellen’s Gandalf, Rhys-Davies’ Gimli (Davies, by the
way, provides the voice for the Treebeard character) and Serkis’s Gollum.
As the rugged soldier representing the angst of his army and the people
for whom they’re willing to spill their blood for, Mortensen is effective
as the handsome hero out to do battle in what amounts to be a glorious
event fortified with continuous violence that feels almost operatic. For a
romantic angle (amongst the romanticism of clashing swords and armor) the
hunky protagonist Aragorn is blessed with a beautiful byproduct in the
person of desired maiden Arwen (Liv Tyler). Their flirtation is a side
dish that will make some female admirers’ heart flutter. The concoction of
love and war certainly elevates this provocative showcase to its
astonishing level.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a lavish and luminous spectacle
that reinforces the grandeur of momentous moviemaking. Anyone who
professes to be an ardent follower of Tolkien will come to understand
Jackson as a filmmaker who appeases his filmgoers’ expectations courtesy
of an exposition that adds dimension to the calculating machinations of
combat. Stark, elegant, dramatic and viscerally exhilarating, The Two
Towers is an exceptional sequel that gives us permission to yearn for
livelier material concerning the further exploits of J.R.R. Tolkien’s
mind-boggling Middle-Earth tale. This is certainly a celebration in the
making as The Two Towers restores our faith in the genre known as a
sophisticated, elaborate popcorn flick that excels in moving its audience
with the right dosage of manipulation.
Overall, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is in good capable hands and
hopefully the collaborators will maintain the majestic vibrancy and
galvanizing depth that spices up this sorcery-themed fantasy feature. Make
no mistake in the realization that The Two Towers registers delightfully
as a defining technical-achieving dynamo that embraces the extending heart
and massages the pleasing anticipated eye. |
