# the two towers movie review **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2002, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511 "2002-12-18T08:23:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/101 "2002-12-20T17:58:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*??? He calls his horse “open”? > I think he actually said “mellyn.” (friend) \*\* Alright, I may not know much elvish but I _know_ that the word to open the door to Moria was “friend” in elvish. Mellon. Pedo mellon a minno. Speak “friend” and enter. Not Speak “open” and enter. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/102 "2002-12-20T18:07:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*I just loved that “rut-roh” look on Saruman’s face… \*\* Yes! That’s exactly what it was! First the “Oh, shit” look when Gandolf broke his control over the King then that. And people say Gilimi was the comic relief 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/103 "2002-12-20T18:18:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Another nitpick: When the Ents attack, Saruman looks all distressed, but DOES NOTHING! huh? shouldn’t he fight back a bit? I know, the whole attack was only described in hindsight in the book, so the details are sketchy. So I don’t expect a justification there, but in the movie, it seemed very weird. The reason in the book is that wizards in Middle-Earth don’t just go around throwing fireballs and even if he could flame was Gandalf’s specialty (and even Gandalf never really made a big enough fire magically to really get an ent). So there wasn’t much Sauraman could do other than look stunned and go back into his well fortified tower that he knows at least the ents couldn’t get into that (though the shaking from eight-ton pieces of masonry being slammed into it probably gets annoying). The ents butchered the rest of his army, tore down all his work in Isengard and as just one wizard he was up the creek without a paddle. Movie, it could be similar though there we see Sauraman doing bigger flashier things. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/104 "2002-12-20T19:15:43Z")
Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man. I must go see that movie 17 more times. I was blown away by Gollum. Peter Jackson captured exactly the right mix of pathetic yet loathsome that I’d always pictured in him. It’s a feat to make me care about a CGI character. Hang your head in shame, George Lucas. And I loved, loved, loved Helm’s Deep! The elves showing up didn’t bother me too much. Frankly, they would have seemed like right bastards had they left the Men (and Hobbits!) of Middle Earth to their fate. Speaking as someone of the female persuasion, I really could have done without the Arwen glob in the middle. But then, I’ve never understod why you’d pick a scrawny old elf over the ass-kicking Eowyn. Really, Peter, if you want to throw something in for the ladies, how about a couple shots of Aragorn with fewer clothes on instead? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/105 "2002-12-20T19:17:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by arisu \* > **Alright, I may not know much elvish but I _know_ that the word to open the door to Moria was “friend” in elvish. Mellon.** :smack::smack::smack::smack: I knew that. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/106 "2002-12-20T19:45:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*I always believed this was said in the sense that no ship would take her as she was now a mortal. \*\* Not saying you’re wrong but I’m just curious here: Why does Gimli get to go? Also, I realize that Frodo and Sam got to go because they were ringbearers but doesn’t all this just lead us to believe that if an elf wants you to go then you can go? Couldn’t Elrond have sent for her? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/107 "2002-12-20T19:56:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > **Frodo and Sam** And Bilbo, because some else would’ve said it :). ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/108 "2002-12-20T20:03:43Z")
I believe I read somewhere that Gimli gets to go by Galadriel pulling some strings. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/109 "2002-12-20T20:15:53Z")
My thoughts: Loved Gandalf and the Balrog. Good stuff. Loved the orcs. I was a little distressed in FotR, b/c the Uruk-Hai seemed to be big strong mopes who couldn’t really speak. I loved the different breeds in this one, and that they could all talk. Thought that Gimli, Aragorn, and Legolas could have looked more disheveled and sweaty and tired during their three-day chase. Would have been nice to see them collapsing at nightfall and continuing at daybreak. [anyone bothered that none of the orcs/trolls/etc. ever seem fazed by the sunlight?] Grima–not too bad, IMO. A little over the top. I think PJ did a great job with the scene b/w Eomer and Grima, where Grima looks over Eowyn. Better than the book, IMO, where it was all sort of just talking about that in hindsight. The possession of Theoden was rotten. Why? PJ should employ some more subtlety, overall. I know he wants to directly involve Saruman more, but come on. As someone else pointed out elsewhere on the board, if Saruman can possess Theoden, why does he need Grima at all? I liked it better in the book, where you basically just have Theoden crushed by despair until Gandalf does his light show and psychs him up. (Read that passage again–Tolkien practically gives the lighting directions for the shot. PJ could have done it verbatim.) The Dunland men burning the Westfold was nice, sending off the kids on the horse was good. The wargs attacking … meh. The whole stubborn, cowardly Theoden didn’t hold up for me. PJs reconstructed motivations for everyone started to grate. No huorns? Please. Mistake. Helm’s Deep battle was fine otherwise. I don’t know how to feel about Haldir & co. Likewise about Aragorn’s new fake death scene. Arwen and Elrond … it all just started to get too confusing. A mess. Ents–not bad at all. I was impressed. Nice work at Isengard. Merry and Pippin and Pippin’s plan to rouse the Ents just seemed a little too pat. I could almost see the lightbulb appear over Pippin’s head. More later re: Frodo and Sam and Gollum (Gollum rocked)… ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/110 "2002-12-20T20:23:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > **I must buy the DVD if for no other reason than to see how Legolas got onto that horse in an early scene. The audience in my theatre CHEERED.** Got that right, brother. My honey and I ride and when that little moment arrived, we turned to each other with the same expression: _Yeah!_ . . . wish I could do that. Speaking of horses, where did Aragorn’s buddy show up from when he washed ashore? I’m guessing, without anything remembering anything explicitly said, that it was dispatched by Arwen. Did I miss something subtle? DD ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/111 "2002-12-20T20:27:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DesertDog \* > **anything remembering anything** Note to self: Double preview all submissions when I get interrupted in the middle of typing. ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/112 "2002-12-20T20:44:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > I thought it was necessary for those who haven’t read the books to really understand the significance of Arwen’s devotion and why Aragorn is torn my his emotions towards her. Well, I read the books and it was necessary for me. When I got to the end of RotK and Arwen and Aragorn hook up, my response was “whaaaa?” So I’m glad their fleshing it out a bit (no pun intended). ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/113 "2002-12-20T23:40:18Z")
My speculation as to what may happen at the end of ROTK: I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Frodo falls into the fire along with gollum… It’s less of a change from the book than it seems, really, since his life is pretty much over anyhow. And it would shock the bejeesus out of anyone who assumed they knew what was going to happen because they’d read the book. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/114 "2002-12-21T00:42:30Z")
Re: **MaxTheVool’s** spoiler above. The elves keep on saying that the quest will claim Frodo’s life. I’m still not sure what to make of this. I can think of three possibilities. Is this: a) A misunderstanding of the Shelob incident - the cliffhanger at the end of the TT book - is Frodo still alive? b) Or are the elves wrong, because they forsee that the “ringbearer” will fall into the crack in Mt. Doom. But little do they know the Gollum is the one who falls in with the ring. C) Or (worst possible action for Peter Jackson to take), are they going to actually kill off Frodo in the movie? ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/115 "2002-12-21T00:46:14Z")
\ I hope one of my fellow addicts can help with this: Towards the very end of the credits, following the movie dedication, there is an Elvish phrase. We missed it–and won’t be going to the movie again for TWO DAYS. Does anyone know what the phrase is? Is it the same phrase that’s at the end of FOTR? And can you translate them? ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/116 "2002-12-21T00:51:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Waenara \* > \*\*The elves keep on saying that the quest will claim Frodo’s life. > \*\* Well, I think… [spoiler]…it refers to how Frodo is essentially consumed by the Quest. It does “claim his life” in that he can no longer be at peace in Middle-earth and has to leave. So, to coin a phrase, from a certain point of view… 😉 Besides, we know they filmed the Havens and I very much doubt they’d do that without Frodo.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/117 "2002-12-21T01:49:41Z")
i like the way the smilie shines through the fog of the spoiler. i’m wondering if the elves have the “one comb.” they seem to be the only ones with kept hair. good, good, movie. i’m hoping to see it again soon. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/118 "2002-12-21T02:05:06Z")
the elves need an m. if someone finds the m, please add it into the adj. before the noun: hair. thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/119 "2002-12-21T02:25:43Z")
Círdan was on the last ship of Mithlond (The Grey Havens) to sail to Valinor. Arwen was Half-Elf, she had the same choice her father Elrond, his brother Elros, and her brothers - to either remain Elvish or become mortal human. Elros, of course chose to become human and lived over 500+ years and founded Numenor. It’s not known what fate the twins Elladan and Elrohir chose - but notably they did not sail over with Elrond. (Beren and Luthien both returned to live as humans after dying) Of the Fellowship, these folks live: Frodo, Samwise (sailed West in FA 82), Legolas, Gimli (!), Gandalf. And Bilbo too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511/120 "2002-12-21T02:29:31Z")
Are you sure that “kempt” is a word? I thought it was like “distraught” – there is no such word as “traught”. Anyhoo…my opinions: Gandalf/Balrog = freakin’ awesome. Although I was disappointed that the 'rog’s fall didn’t “break the mountainside” like the book. Haldir & the elven archers = major deviation from the book but WAY COOL nonetheless! Haldir was one of my favorite tertiary characters from FOTR. Gimli’s comic relief = cute, but referencing the “dwarf-tossing” line was too much. Gollum = amazing. (Although I still want to know if he has genitalia or not.) Faramir = no opinion, I don’t remember him very well from the book, in fact the whole last half of the book bored the hell out of me. The haven with the “forbidden pool” should have looked cooler. And are oliphaunts really THAT big?? Already counting down the days 'til ROTK… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-two-towers-movie-review/143511.md?page=7)