[Vinyaampawen]

I just came in on this topic and, since it has gone on for 4 pages, I have not read everyone's response. I love the movie! <BR> <BR> In terms of a story line I felt The Two Towers was edited better than the Fellowship. The first movie that came out of the Fellowship left so many important things out that were in the book and were put back in the extended version of the Fellowship movie I just bpought. For example, the elves giving of gifts to the hobbits and the others, the elves leaving Middle Earth, the development of the relationship between Gimli and Galadriel and Gimli and Legolas. These were important scenes and relationships in the book that did not appear in the first movie. <P> The special effects were fantastic in The Two Towers as well as the Fellowship but I believe The Two Towers were even better. The director, Peter Jackson, changed and lightened up the tenor of The Two Towers. In the book The Two Towers is about nothing but war and suffering. In the Two Towers movie there is hope, love, and friendship. <P> The scene between Faramir and the hobbits was *very* different from the one in the book, but none the worse for wear, I think. The process of the ring taking over Frodo is accelerated compared to the book, but Im sure Jackson knows where hes going with that. Theodén, the King of Rohan, was more fatalistic in the book. From I can recall Pip and Merry got to meet Gandalf earlier than what was portrayed in the movie. And there were other changes, but none too drastic. <P> The battle scenes were exquisite, of course; Shadowfax was magnificent. Grimtongue was just as slimy as in the book and Gollum was wonderful. Though it is obvious he is CGI generated, I still think the technique is getting better and better. The ents were priceless. All in all a very good No. 2. :-)<P> I thought it was interesting in each of the groups of Middle Earth and the fellowship: (1) Samwise and Frodo; (2) Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and the men of Middle Earth (Theodan, Faramir, Eomer and Eowyn); (3) Merry, Pippin and the Ents; and then (4) the elves, Galadriel and Elrond, at least one member of each group was the one who inspired the conscience, courage and hope of the others to fight for a better world because it was the right thing to do. Samwise was that for Frodo. Aragorn for the men, Legolas and Gimli, Merry and Pippin for the Ents, and Galadriel for Elrond and the rest of the elves. These characters inspired and pulled at the others to raise their swords in battle against the evil of Sauron, Saruman, the orcs and the urukhai. For as you said, the movie was inspiring giving hope to those who feel there is no hope and those ideals apply to mankind and the universe even today. <P> From what I remember of the book the people of Rohan did not get re-inforcements from the elves but I thought it was a great touch. In the movie Theodan complained about the fact that he had fought many a war and times had changed. Men did not have the allies they once had (referring to the elves and the people of Gondor). Legolas complains in elvish to Aragorn that the men of Rohan are farmers not trained to take on the forces of Saruman and Sauron and that surely all of them will die. Aragorn then says "Well then I will die with them!" telling Legolas with that statement that they have no choice but to fight. Legolas finally realizes that Aragorn is right. Then the elves appear with Haldir as their leader explaining to Theodan there was a time when elves and men fought together and he and the elves were there to do it again. The re-inforcements of the elves, trained fighters and warriors, brings hope when hope was flailing. <P> I am sure it was not lost on those of you who remember 9/11 that the title of the movie, The Two Towers, was of great significance. As an American it is interesting to wonder if The Two Towers had been released a year earlier if it would have brought hope to those of us who suffered when the thousands of people were killed in that attack. The hope that arose from the defeat of the dark forces of Middle Earth is something that we need in today's world. <P> Anyway...that is my $.02. <P> Vinyaampawen