Lord of the Rings Family Review The Two Towers

Introduction

This is a Family review for the second film in the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. Last December this film celebrated its 20th Birthday so like I did with The Fellowship of the Ring, I decided to sit down and talk about this film with my family which we rewatched just after Christmas.

Me: Hello welcome back to the family reviews of Lord of the rings. I am joined here by my family, My Mum, My Dad and My sister. Ok so let us begin.

Me: I know this film is twenty years old but did you have any expectations for this after seeing Fellowship of The Ring? Did they surpass or were you a little underwhelmed?

Dad: I had a lot of expectations that this film would be at least as good as the fellowship of the Ring, and I enjoyed it very much. My expectations were satisfied broadly speaking despite the fact that is a somewhat more downbeat part of the story.

Verity: I just remember being excited to go to the cinema to see more of it. I also didn’t know where the plot was going unlike the Harry Potter series. I don’t think I had many expectations rather than just wanting to see what was going to happen to them I think. And probably just assuming that it would be just as good.

Mum: I had read the books so obviously unlike Verity I knew where the plot was headed. I had very high expectations because I had been quite overwhelmed by the first part and how compulsive I found it. I would have to say that overall I found the Two Towers, possibly underwhelming is not the right word. It’s very faithful to the book and I think in its own way it is just as good as fellowship of the ring but because its tone is much more sombre felt because of the start of the Fellowship of the Ring you got the joy of the Hobbit life and the joy of meeting other people. I think this really sustained viewers but now the Fellowship has fallen apart/ forced into different segments I found some of the bittier elements of the story rather dull. I thought they did it well but it’s difficult to keep those storylines properly balanced and there were some real highlights to it. But overall spoiler alert The Fellowship Of The ring remains my favourite of the trilogy and to that extent Two Towers was never going to be as much of a success for me.

Me: Thank you. I don’t quite remember; I had only just seen Fellowship of the Ring when Two Towers came out. I was really disappointed and angry that Mum and Dad wouldn’t let me go and see The Two Towers at the cinema. I had to wait until the video came out. I was like, humph! when everyone else got to see it. I’m still bitter about it 20 years later. I remember really liking it I don’t think I liked it as much as Fellowship but I had a different experience as I only had to wait about five-six months whereas everyone else had to wait a whole year to see it. I mean I can imagine the excitement of having to wait for the film for a whole year as opposed to only six months.

Verity: Granny and Grandad bought it for us that year. For easter I think or a half term holiday?

Me: yes, they did instead of an easter egg.

Who is your favourite new character that Two Towers has introduced? And why

Dad: The new characters introduced were essentially Faramir I think and Eowyn. I don’t really have a favourite; I don’t play favourites like that. I think that Faramir was probably the most interesting because of the way in which he was dedicated to doing one thing and realising that the best thing was actually to do the opposite of what he was told to do. Essentially betraying his father and to a certain extent his brother Boromir but nevertheless he did the right thing.

Verity: I like Eowyn a lot because it is always good to have a lady in a male dominated film. I also think although you know of Gollum in the Fellowship of the Ring. I think of him more as a very important character in the Two Towers. I think the way he’s done in the films is very effective and I think it does manage to display someone who has kind of got an equivalent of a really horrendous addiction to something. I think it’s very moving when you see the bits where Frodo identifies with him. Also, how badly people treat Gollum and how much he responds to kindness. I think the way they did him was very well done and I think that Andy Serkis’ performance is very good.

Mum: It’s a bit hard to follow what Verity has said because I think probably overall that the portrayal of Gollum is one of the highlights of the film. I agree with Verity entirely the way they bring across the duality in Gollum. You get the feeling that he is moved by forces beyond his control and the better part of him would like to be good.

Having said that I have to come back to completely sexist conclusion that I like Faramir a lot. I happen to think he is rather nice looking but more importantly I like the character. I feel like he is a character that kind of makes a story better. They are characters for whom possibly not so much is expected but then when you look at them they are somewhat the heroes of the hour. They are people who do the right thing often to their own disadvantage. In Faramir ’s case very much so in how his father treats him is concerned. I think he is a really interesting character and crucial part of the plot. As if he hadn’t done what he did the plot would have stopped there.

Me: Although you have to acknowledge in the books it’s different. In the books he somewhat interrogates them and then is like

“Understandable, have a nice day”.

 They chose to expand on his character a bit and make him more complex. what do you think of that?

Mum: Well it’s been such a long time since I have read the books so I’ll take your word for that as you obviously have a better memory of them.

Rowan: I really like Eowyn I think Miranda Otto plays her very well. I was like you are the best female character of the series. I mean it’s a bit disappointing that she didn’t get to show off her ass kicking skills in Two Towers but I understand they wanted to save it until Return of the King.

Do you have a favourite moment from Two Towers?

Dad: Yes ( long pause)

( family laughter)

Mum: what is it?

Me: care to elaborate?

Dad: My favourite moment is when Gandalf appears at the top of the slope and charges down at the baddies.

Me: Visually stunning

Dad: yes, the cavalry comes over the hill and saves everybody.

Verity: I like when the Ents ruin Saruman’s camp. I like them ruining it and tearing the dam apart. I really like Merry and pippins part in it. I think it’s quite moving, and I like that it’s done in juxtaposition to the battle of Helms Deep. So, you have these two really heart hitting victories that happen. I also like that the Ents are part of nature and they’re joining in this battle that’s taken their people. And I really like the music in that part.

Me: It’s kind of triumphant. It’s kind of like yeeeee haaa (me attempting to recreate that piece of the score)

(Family laughter)

Verity: yee haa?

Mum: How are you going to produce that in text form Rowan?

Verity: I also think that another very beautiful moment is the music with Rohan. I really liked Théoden’s son’s funeral and I thought that Bernard Hill was very good in it. He didn’t get mentioned as a new character because he is quite annoying as a character. But I thought Bernard Hill played him very well.

Me: Where was Gondor when the enemy closed in? Where was Gondor.

Dad: yes, Bernard Hill is quite an interesting character as he is not that strong.

Verity: he keeps making the wrong decisions

Dad: although I’m not sure what he would have done other than buggering off to helms deep.

Verity: But they said that they should stay and fight

Dad: yes, but I’m not sure that would work. Another character I’ve forgotten was Denethor because we are actually introduced to him in the extended edition of the Two towers and you see what an appalling person he is. And you wonder why he is like that. It’s never elaborated but he has somehow decided that his firstborn is glorious and his second is useless and we’ve got no particular evidence as to why he thinks his second-born is useless except his allegation he always lets people down.

Mum: yes, but in the end you are shown that Faramir is the one who stands firm. And does the right thing when it really matters. As Boromir when the crunch comes, he does the opposite. He doesn’t mean to but he’s much more like Gollum and also like Frodo in that he’s someone who finds it difficult to resist the lure of the ring.

Its noticeable that Faramir and Sam are people who are actually more people with more humble roles but they are people who actually carry the role of hero even in the face of characters like Frodo and Aragorn being the more conventional role of hero.

This leads quite neatly into my favourite moment of The Two towers which is not any of the action scenes but it is Sam’s speech about there being good in the world. I think that it is a crucial part of the story about how there is still good in the world and the fact that these things are worth hanging on to. I think it feeds into what I’ve just said about Faramir and Sam being the heroes of the story. If you view the film as an action film then you would say that Frodo and Aragorn are the heroes of the story but if you think about the good in the world which is what overcomes which is what the story is truly about then the characters who I think truly exemplify that are Sam and Faramir. The people who don’t get the glory but do the right thing.

Me: Well, I agree with Mum. My favourite bit has always been Sam’s speech. I always say to myself every time I watch that scene don’t cry don’t cry! And every single time I do. It’s such a powerful moment. I also like everyone’s expressions afterwards. They’re like Wow! A gardener is a poet.

I also have to say I really like a funny scene

“POTATOES! BOIL THEM MASH THEM STICK EM IN A STEW!”

Mum: I think I should comment that that phrase is quite commonly used in our household.

Me: I will say, I would love to marry  Samwise Gamgee but he would have to make compromises as I absolutely hate potatoes

Mum: unless They’re chips and crisps!

Verity: (sarcasm) maybe you need to make compromises. Had you not thought of that!

Do you think Two Towers has any flaws?

Dad: It is the middle part of the trilogy. That is a flaw in a sense. But I can’t really think of anything, I mean there are flaws but it does progress the entire plot. That there is progress towards defeating Sauron by destruction of Saruman. I can’t think of any other plot flaw. I found the whole thing entirely satisfactory.

Verity: I think it is a function of where it stands in the story but if you got rid of it the first one and the third one wouldn’t have the same impact. It does try with all of the storylines to have an end beat with all of them. It still does have plot structure despite the fact that it is a middle film. The only one that maybe doesn’t work quite as well is Frodo’s one.

Dad: But you could say that it kind of goes in a different direction. It demonstrates the stresses and strains to reach the subject and what he is going through. You also know that it is going to get worse for him.

Verity: Sure, but they also had to add in because of Faramir the effect of him being taken to... (Verity couldn’t remember the name of the place)

Me: Osgiliath, which isn’t in the book

Verity: Yes, because you need the big beat of him almost giving in and that works and then they get away again. Whereas the other two storylines have the big beats of the fighting, like the Ents fighting and the big battle for Helms deep. It still works as a film. It does feel compared to the first one pretty sad and gritty. But I do think that there is enough triumph at least in the Ents and Helms Deep storyline to make it work.

Mum: I can’t really add much to what’s been said before, I think it is hard at times with a film to keep the three storylines going and to keep you interested in all of them. I have to admit that at times I am a little bit bored with Pippin, Merry and the Ents. I would have to say that one of weakest things for me about the whole thing is the tree. I just think its difficult partly because of the delivery, it’s very slow. I realise it’s all part of the character, but I must admit I did find some of that a bit tedious. It is however a necessary part of the story though. I think if you reflect on it overall as Verity says it’s the grimmest of the three films. As the first one starts on a brighter note and then moves towards darkness and the final one starts in the darkness and moves towards light. However, the one in the middle, there are pockets of light as Verity has said. Maybe that is one of its strengths because it does manage to keep some humour and some light parts in what is essentially quite a grim storyline. In terms of major flaws, just not my favourite.

Dad: The tree bit is actually quite important. They make all the difference and right until very late on the Ents were saying “we’re staying out of this.” It also adds a bit of comic relief.

Me: I don’t think it is a flawed film, I think it is a very good film, but I do think it does suffer from middle story syndrome. I mean they say although it’s now four, that Toy Story is the best film trilogy because all of them are good in their own way.

Dad: but the thing about that is that they are completely separate stories. They’re not linked in any other way apart from the same characters as the stories have satisfactory resolutions and the second one doesn’t suffer in comparison with one and three. It works perfectly because neither story is dependent on the other.

Me: sorry just bringing it back to Toy Story, because the first three Toy Stories are some of my favourite films. I do think that Merry and Pippin weren’t given a lot to do in this film compared to fellowship of the ring. I don’t know what you could cut. I do think that it does drag a little in the first half and then  it gets more exciting when you see the wolves of Isengard and the battle of Helms Deep. The beginning bits goods but then it gets a bit middley when you’re at Rohan or when you’re with the trees. I understand worldbuilding and character development as the trees in the forest. I do think the story gets a bit talky in the middle parts.

Which character do you think has had the most development by the end of Two Towers?

Verity: From the beginning of the second film? Or from the beginning of the first film?

Me: It doesn’t really matter, but maybe talk more about characters that have been there since the first one but if there is someone that you has had more development even though they have only appeared in the second one.

Dad: I’m trying to think of who has had a good example of character development. I go back to Faramir who we saw very clearly change, well his character wasn’t so much development but it is exhibiting and he made .

Mum: His perception has changed even if his character hasn’t changed. I think you think fundamentally that he has always been someone who tries to do the right and fair thing, but he has had his father’s viewpoint imprinted on him.

Dad: But running through the main characters, you could say that Gollum’s character develops quite substantially. As he’s a nasty little toe-rag to start with and then becomes something better and then reverts to a toe rags. This demonstrates how much of a victim he is. It’s an interesting type of development as development implies that he is getting better but it’s that he reverts and goes through a lot of changes in this film. Why he reverts is very understandable and makes his tragedy more serious. As far as Frodo is concerned, we see him being increasingly effected by the ring but also hit determination. He does also show fury at Sam which we’ve never really seen from him before. And Sam yes you could say that he has developed.  Sam’s character develops as his qualities come out particularly in his famous speech. I’m doing all the work here. would someone else like to take over? I believe everybody develops to a certain or lesser extent with the possible exception of Merry and Pippin.

Me: Well, you could say Legolas and Gimli don’t develop that much.

Dad: Yes, I’d completely forgotten about them

Verity: Yes, probably them out of the characters although I don’t know as Merry and Pippin, they care about what’s going to happen and have more of an investment. I also think they have a better understanding as in Fellowship Of The Ring they didn’t have any understanding of what they were caught up in even when they left Elrond’s. They didn’t understand the danger or the scale of thing that they or their friends would face. They just went along to be with Frodo. So, their investment is them trying to help the battle with the Ents and that Pippin is the one that works out that they need to turn around.

Me: Smort! (Brooklyn Nine Nine reference)

Verity: so, there’s them becoming more engaged in the world. You could say that Gandalf has quite a bit of development because he reincarnates?

(Family laughter)

Mum: Yes, his is the biggest because he goes from being grey to being white!

Me: (sarcasm) What’s going to happen next? Is he going to turn into Gandalf The Tartan?

Dad: but how does he really develop except that he is reincarnated into a more powerful wizard. I mean he’s still Gandalf. He’s still grumpy, he’s not better.

Mum: no, he’s actually less appealing as Gandalf the White as his sense of humour and his approachability has gone. The power has come but his immediate accessibility is more remote.

Verity: But you don’t see him with any of the hobbits in this film. I think you see his accessibility and the softness of the character when he’s with them as there’s a more familial relationship with them. Whereas with the people in this film he’s having to command or lead so there’s not much of an opportunity to see that.

Mum: You said earlier that you think that Legolas and Gimli don’t develop that much but I think whilst they are more minor characters, I do think that there are some effective moments with them. The scene where they think Aragorn has been killed. You do see that sense that for all the banter and the fun and play between the two characters the loss of Aragorn is quite flawing to them. In the fact that he’s someone that they have relied on to drive things forward for them. You do think at that point although before you get the dawning of the light where he is actually alive. I think that it does drive it all forward and that everybody has a forward momentum. Not all of it as Richard said is good development but you’re shown a different side to their characters.

Dad: When Legolas says to Aragorn “You’re late!” Which is presumably being incredibly emotional for an elf

Me: “You look terrible”

 while he looks like a supermodel. It’s like he’s turned into Regina George for a second.

Mum: I think it is one of the successes of the film that they are individuals and each of them matter.

Me: I agree that Gollum has excellent character development even though you hardly saw him in Fellowship. And like Dad said it’s not good character development. I also would say that Aragorn is having a lot of character development in terms of leadership. In the first one he doesn’t want to be king and this one he’s more involved with battles and leading.

Mum: That’s a very fair point. He does accept that this is something that must be done.

Verity: I just can’t wait to be king!

Mum: (laughs) That’s a line I just can’t wait to be king

Dad: His motivation is initially that he is just chasing the hobbits. The significant point at which the banner of Rohan flies away right at his feet seems to be symbolic of how he accepts it.

Me: I would say that Sam has come a long way as well.

How does The Two Towers compare With The Fellowship Of The Ring, in terms of themes and tones?

Verity: I think in this one the nature is more on what war is and what war does to people who engage in it. I don’t think that that is in Fellowship of the ring as Fellowship is more about a quest and team. The Two towers is a film about the spread of war throughout the world.

Mum: It’s greyer and grittier in tone. That’s because as Verity has said the film is about war. Although it is also about the pervasiveness of evil. The fact that the light is able to pierce the darkness enable to carry on. You get a deeper reality than in Fellowship. I think in The Two Towers that you come to realise that it is not just an adventure story. It’s not just a story about achieving a goal and everybody winning. The film does come home to you that even if they win everybody has lost something as a result of all of it. Everyone has suffered. They’ve lost Boromir, they’ve lost people who are dear to them. As Verity says it’s the thing about war and how even if you are a victor at the end when you stand back and think of what you’ve lost as a result. That war is not as clearcut as it seems.

Me: I’d maybe say a theme in the Two Towers is the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Would you say or not.

Verity: yes, maybe although it gets darker in the third one at least for Frodo.

Mum: That’s what I’m saying as for Frodo it’s never going to be alright. He has suffered too much.

Do you agree with the common opinion that this film is the weakest out of the trilogy

Dad: well, I don’t know how you would say it was. It does what it does and what it’s meant to do and that doesn’t make it weak. It just sadly comes back to the idea of middle part of the trilogy. In that it leaves you hanging without a satisfactory ending to the story. Having said that there were satisfactory parts. The defeat of Saruman was very important- that was a major part of the ultimate destruction of Sauron. It depends how you define weak in these circumstances? I’m reminded of the original Star Wars Trilogy that their middle addition is regarded as the best Star Wars film ever. What’s weak?

Verity: Exactly, its how you define weak.

Me: well, most people consider it to be not as good as the first and the third.

Verity: But I don’t think that that has anything to do with bad plotting or bad effects there’s nothing bad about it as a film. It maybe is dramatically less satisfying from a storytelling point of view.

Mum: I agree with both what Richard and Verity have said I just think if you analyse the film (admittedly they’ve taken a few liberties) but overall, it’s very faithful to the book, it moves the story a long and develops the characters. It gives you an insight into where the story is actually going and the overall themes of the story. It takes the story onto a higher level in terms of as you feel more of the pain of the characters and the cost to them. In that sense it holds its own with the other two. The fact that when you ask people which one is their favourite most people say the first one or the third one. I wouldn’t say it’s the weakest.

Verity: I know many people who like number two the best.

Rowan: I wouldn’t say that it’s the weakest, but I don’t like it as much. For me it’s one, three two. How would other people rank it? One, three two?

Verity: Probably, threes a real slog though sometimes. And it is very upsetting at times.

Me: also, three has too many endings

Mum: it does have way too many endings so you could be cruel and say that three has more obvious flaws. but it is satisfactory in that you get your conclusion.

Verity: and what it’s trying to do it does well, I guess.

Mum: I think number one wins because the point with number one that you don’t get with number two or three is that most people watch these films in the one,  two,  three order. If they’re like me, I was completely bowled over by the worldbuilding and the standards of the first one. I was so completely grabbed by it that real sense of being there with the characters. I also really loved the story, and I wanted it to move forward. You can’t sustain that all three because you get it when you watch the first one. Just that feeling of being enveloped and swept along.

Dad: It was the impact of all these new things. The riders all the stuff in the dark. It was utterly fabulous! I didn’t want it to end.

Mum: Yes, I remember Verity getting up to go to the loo and I looked at my watch and thought, Oh no it’s halfway over. We were already an hour and a half in which would normally be the end of an ordinary film. I was like Oh so much of it already. It was a real example of emersion in their world.

Dad: Even though it does kind of tale off at the end. It doesn’t end in a quasi-positive way. As does the Two Towers. It basically ends with the fellowship being destroyed and Boromir dead. All of the characters cast to the winds with no way forward.

Mum: Yes, except you do have like Verity says that there is always an element of the light in the darkness. And the light is Frodo saying to Sam. I’m still here, and I’m glad I’ve got you with me and then they tootle off together.

Dad: There’s no triumph in fellowship though. Whereas with Two Towers there is triumph in the sense that Saruman has been defeated so you could say that two towers has a clearer ending than Fellowship.

Me: Thank you,  for taking part in this family interview.

The End