DVD Movie Review: Lord Of The Rings 2, The Two Towers

Synopsis:
This Special Extended Edition on Platinum Series of the epic worldwide phenomenon features 43 minutes of never-before-seen footage; providing fans with even more character depth and story detail.

Picking up where the first film left off, Peter Jackson's THE TWO TOWERS throws the remaining members of the Fellowship into the scattered chaos of Middle-earth, now fully under siege by the forces of Sauron. While Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) journey to the dreaded Mordor, Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) are held captive by orcs, and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) search for their abducted companions. Soon Frodo and Sam are joined by the sulking and duplicitous Gollum (portrayed by the voice and motion-captured acting of Andy Serkis), who becomes their guide through the barren lands leading to Mount Doom. Meanwhile Merry and Pippin encounter the looming Treebeard (voiced by Rhys-Davies) and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli find themselves in the land of Rohan, accompanied by an old friend. As the tale continues, each scenario becomes more perilous, and fierce battles erupt at both Isengard, home of the treacherous Saruman (Christopher Lee), and the massive Helm's Deep.

After masterfully setting up the world created by J.R.R. Tolkien in THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, Jackson continues the trilogy with the increasingly dark and battle-filled TWO TOWERS without skipping a beat. Although the director takes a few more liberties in adapting the second installment, he skillfully cuts from one scenario to the next, creating a tightly woven tapestry with the various storylines. Joining the impressive cast this time around are Miranda Otto as Éowyn; Bernard Hill as her father, King Théoden; Brad Dourif as the aptly named Grima Wormtongue; Karl Urban as Éomer; David Wenham as Faramir; and Serkis under the remarkable CGI facade of Gollum. An intense epic that features one jaw-dropping sequence after another, THE TWO TOWERS more than carries its weight as the crucial centerpiece of THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

Cast: Bernard Hill Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Bruce Hopkins, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Craig Parker, Dominic Monaghan, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Ian McKellen, John Rhys-Davies, Liv Tyler, Miranda Otto, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan / Director: Peter Jackson

Prices and where to buy it:
You can buy the DVD Lord Of The Rings 2, The Two Towers at Amazon.com

Critic Quotes and Reviews:

• "The supreme film adventure of our time."  Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
• "The storylines are woven together skilfully, the magnificent swooping aerial shots are breathtaking, and the overall experience is awesome."  Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
• "Spectacular in every sense of the word, even if you don't know an Orc from a Uruk-Hai."  Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

DVD Information:
Format: DVD, Widescreen
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Runtime: 214 minutes
Screen Aspect: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
Sound Quality: English Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound, Stereo Surround Sound
Subtitles: English [CC], English
Media Quantity: 4 DVD Disc

Other Information and Links:
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 2002
DVD Release Date: 1/17/2006

DVD Features:

• Bonus Disc Featuring Hours Of Additional Content, Including: 2 In-Depth Programs That Reveal The Secrets Behind The Production Of This Epic Adventure; 8 Featurettes Originally Created For Lordoftherings.Net; Exclusive 10-Minute Behind-The-Scenes Preview O
• Format: Widescreen (2.35:1) Or Fullscreen Version Of The Film
• Audio: English Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound, Stereo Surround Sound
• Over 40 Minutes Of New And Extended Scenes Added By Peter Jackson, Including 200 New Digital Effects And New Score By Howard Shore
• Four Audio Commentaries
• Two Discs Of All-New Bonus Content, Including Multiple Documentaries, Galleries And Interactive Maps. Documentaries That Were Started With The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring Special Extended DVD Edition Are Continued Here, Delving De