This is the long-awaited second film in Peter Jackson's theatrical masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. First off, make sure you see this movie in a comfortable theater, because it is LONG. Clocking in at about 3 hours, it is enough to...
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This is the long-awaited second film in Peter Jackson's theatrical masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. First off, make sure you see this movie in a comfortable theater, because it is LONG. Clocking in at about 3 hours, it is enough to make even the most lazy couch potato start shifting uncomfortably 2/3 of the way through. I don't want to put anyone off, though, because something as grand and visually stunning as these movies must be seen in a theater environment to be appreciated. Unlike Fellowship, this film manages to avoid dragging by keeping the pace up and introducing more comedy into the film. There are less romantic part to get hung up on. However this is not entirely a good thing, because you need to pay attention in the beginning, as the movie doesn't bother to bring you up to speed, instead just dropping you in on the three remaining fellowship members (Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli) chasing after the band of Uruk-kai that have captured Merry and Pippin. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam continue their trip to Mordor, getting discouraged because they're not entirely sure how to get there. They catch Gollum trying to steal the ring and Gollum aggrees to take them to Mordor. All the while, the ring slowly starts to change Frodo, as the young hobbit struggles against the ring's powers. Gollum, being completely computer generated, delivers a great performance as he struggles with his inner-self. His desire of the ring and his desire for friendship make for some funny moments and makes you laugh at him and feel sorry for him at the same time. While this film has enough CGI to run with the best of anything ILM can muster, what saves it is that it is not used gratuitously. Whereas George Lucas basically lets his computers do all the work for him, creating characters that are so obviously computer-generated that it leaves something to be desired, Peter Jackson uses his techno wizardry to provide incredibly cool and exhilerating camera pans that provide stunning looks at New Zealand's beautiful landscapes and awesome sets, blending seamlessly with live action. A prime example is the battle of Helm's Deep. There are so many characters doing battle across such a big area that it feels truly epic. Even if you are not a fantasy fan, as I am not, this is still a great film that will please you're eyes and ears, even if you're mind is reluctant. With two movies down and one to go, I have no doubt that director Peter Jackson feels the pressure now more than ever. I have read that after doing nothing but working on Lord of the Rings for almost four years now, he is getting sick of it. He sees it in his dreams, almost as if he himself is falling victim to the strange powers of the One Ring. Now that expectations are so high for the third film, he will have no rest for at least another year. Then he can take a much-deserved vacation.