

His body language is a choreography of ingratiation and distortion. The Gollum was long in possession of the Ring, now entrusted to Frodo, and misses it ("my precious") most painfully but he has a split personality and (in between spells when his dark side takes over) serves as a guide and companion for Frodo ( Elijah Wood) and Sam ( Sean Astin). It also gives us, in a character named the Gollum, one of the most engaging and convincing CGI creatures I've seen. "The Two Towers" is a rousing adventure, a skillful marriage of special effects and computer animation, and it contains sequences of breathtaking beauty. I complained in my review of the first film that the hobbits had been short-changed, but with this second film I must accept that as a given, and go on from there. "The Two Towers" is one of the most spectacular swashbucklers ever made, and, given current audience tastes in violence, may well be more popular than the first installment, "The Fellowship of the Ring." It is not faithful to the spirit of Tolkien and misplaces much of the charm and whimsy of the books, but it stands on its own as a visionary thriller. The task of the critic is to decide whether this shift damages the movie. The last third of the movie is dominated by an epic battle scene that would no doubt startle the gentle medievalist J.R.R. The star is now clearly Aragorn ( Viggo Mortensen), and the hobbits spend much of the movie away from the action. Also starring Academy Award-nominee Viggo Mortensen ("A History of Violence," "Eastern Promises"), Academy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Ian McKellan ("X-Men," TV's "Rasputin"), Orlando Bloom ("Troy," "The Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy), Liv Tyler ("The Strangers," "The Incredible Hulk") and Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Cate Blanchett ("Elizabeth," "The Aviator").With "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," it's clear that director Peter Jackson has tilted the balance decisively against the hobbits and in favor of the traditional action heroes of the Tolkien trilogy. Their destinies lie at two towers - Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor. Tolkien's epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood - "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Everything is Illuminated") and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring - but on separate paths. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - In the second part of J.R.R. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." - J.R.R. Also starring Academy Award-nominee Viggo Mortensen ("A History of Violence," "Eastern Promises"), Academy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Ian McKellan ("X-Men," TV's "Rasputin"), Orlando Bloom ("Troy," "The Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy), Liv Tyler ("The Strangers," "The Incredible Hulk") and Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Cate Blanchett ("Elizabeth," "The Aviator").
