Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Wonderful movie!
I just had to write a review of this movie after reading other reviews below. Most people seem angry that any so-called "purists" should be upset about changes from the book, but I disagree. I think there is nothing wrong with being annoyed by what I consider to be some serious, and inexplicable, departures from the original story (the Ent storyline, the elves at Helm's Deep, etc.). However, at the same time I would agree with everyone else by stating that the movie is not the books (obviously) and is good enough that it can be loved in its own right. The Two Towers is an amazing movie. It is well worth seeing AND owning. I myself don't like it as much as The Fellowship of the Ring, but it's a close race. Two Towers is one of my favorite movies and I've seen it six times, despite my Tolkien-purist mindset! It really is incredible. I still wish I could magically make it a little more faithful to the book, but what are you gonna do? I still love it! No one can perfectly adapt a book into a movie, so you have to give Peter Jackson and crew props for doing a fantastic job. Few movies are as enjoyable and as well made as The Two Towers. It has beautiful cinematography, incredible special effects, moving emotional scenes, and great action! Gollum in particular was a wonderful accomplishment. He looked completely real about 95% of the time, and his (or rather, Andy Serkis') acting was just as good as any of the other actors. They all did a great job. The cast is perfect, not to mention extremely talented. So, overall the screenwriters could have done a tad better (in my opinion), but this effort was not too shabby! In fact, it wasn't shabby at all! And Return of the King is bound to be even better (with fewer changes from the books, from what I hear).
Rating: - The Two Towers at it's fullest
The Two Towers is a very complicated story. Fitting it into three hours can make some scenes seem a little rushed to those who have read the book (such as myself). That is my only problem with the theatrical edition. I really don't care about any of the changes (except maybe Aragorn falling off the cliff) because I understand why the makers made the changes, unlike "Tolkien Purists" who have not a clue the challenge of transfering a huge book with such a complicated plot to a 3 hour movie. Anyway, to the point, it was around 30 minutes added to the Fellowship on the Extended Edition. But this year, we are in for a bigger treat as 43 minutes will be added on to The Two Towers in the Extended Version. This edition will make the movie so much better as it will feel less rushed. I will, however, rent the theatrical for all the features that will not be included in the extended extras.
Rating: - A Rebuttal for a "Devout Purist"
To a "devout purist"-I'm sorry that you feel the movies are not accurate in their portrayal of the books. A movie cannot have "every minute detail" that a book does. It's impossible. Words read on a page create different pictures in each readers mind. A movie adaptation portrays what the general consensus of the scene "looks like" or probably looked like. There is no way to recreate what the book has because there is nothing visual to base it on. Audience members do not want to sit through a 15 hour movie. I can't imagine anyone who would. And don't try to tell me that you would, because that's untrue. There is no way I, or you, or anyone else, would sit in a dark room for 15 hours watching a movie. 15 hours now, we're talking here. Any idea how long that is to be sitting? I could fly from D.C. to Hawaii back to L.A. and still not be satisfied or comfortable. Since you yourself admit that you "know nothing about filmmaking," why then be so upset about the movie showing both storylines at the same time? Not only does it keep the pace of the movie even, get this, it's easier for the audience to see how the two come together piece by piece. Your last point is utterly ridiculous. So what if Pippen used his mouth in the movie to take off the brooch. You let that one little thing ruin for you? Oh my goodness, Pippen used his mouth instead of his hands and now my world is turned upside down - cats and dogs are living together, the Angels won the World Series, and Coke has a new flavor. Gosh, if something like that is going to bug you, why not burn your clothes if you get lint on them? "Had it been more faithful to the book, it would have been good and would have been a success and would not have been the failure that it is." Failure? Failure you say? What was the final take from the box office? Uh-huh. And what was the final take from overseas? Ah, I see. And yet you still insist that the movie was a failure? I think you're in the minority my friend. "I have read the books 37 times . . ." Well if you enjoy it so much, why not read it for a 38th time and spare the rest of us the task of blocking out your obviously overzealous outlook about a book. It's just a book, not a manual on how to live your life. A movie such as this is for entertainment. Try and relax next time and enjoy a movie.
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