The Two Towers, the trilogy’s second film, stands out for shifting perspectives among the nine Fellowship members, now separated and fighting their own battles. This ensemble structure adds layers of depth to the story.

While protagonist Frodo appears less often than before, the film’s focus remains clear: the narrative widens to encompass Middle-earth’s many crises, shown from different perspectives. This choice amplifies tension by positioning each subplot as a necessary piece of the trilogy’s central struggle against darkness.

The film follows Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli defending Rohan, Merry and Pippin’s adventure with the Ents, and Frodo and Sam’s journey to Mount Doom. These parallel narratives keep viewers engaged.

Scene transitions are expertly handled. Each story ends in tension and quickly shifts to the next, creating a rhythm that makes the long runtime fly by.

The scattered fellowship

The previous film had nine united heroes. The Two Towers shows each character growing individually.

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli’s growth and bonds

Aragorn becomes a leader among humans, hinting at his future as king. Legolas and Gimli, normally rivals, cooperate smoothly in battle.

The Helm’s Deep battle, fought by these three, the Rohirrim and Elves, is the film’s highlight.

Frodo and Sam’s Devoted Journey

Frodo and Sam’s journey is quiet and thoughtful compared to Helm’s Deep. The Ring no longer feels like just a burden but acts as an enemy with its own will. Frodo looks increasingly troubled. Samwise Gamgee, played by Sean Astin, remains loyal and supportive. He never leaves Frodo, always encouraging him, which is moving. The real heroes are those with loyal hearts. This is the heart of their journey.

Merry and Pippin’s Growth and Adventure with the Ents

Merry and Pippin, who seemed somewhat frivolous and unreliable in the previous film, undergo spiritual growth through their encounter with the Ents. Treebeard, the elder of the Ents—a race of giant trees that have guarded the forest since ancient times—is characterized by his extremely slow movements and speech. To be honest, this scene slows the story’s pace, but the Ents’ attitude of never rushing and thoroughly considering things can be seen as an antithesis to modern society. Towards the end of the story, after a lengthy debate, the Ents finally decide to attack Isengard, where Saruman resides. The spectacle of the giant trees demolishing the fortress is breathtaking, with the scene of them breaching the dam and flooding the area being particularly visually striking. The two characters who were “dead weight” in the previous film have undeniably grown into driving forces of the story in this installment.

The Birth of a Revolutionary Character: Gollum

Gollum is The Two Towers’ most unforgettable character. Created with Andy Serkis’s motion-capture acting and top-tier CGI of the time, he is a symbol of film innovation.

Gollum once resembled a Hobbit, but 500 years with the Ring twisted him. He also hints at Frodo’s possible future.

Andy Serkis’s Acting Mastery

Gollum’s success rests on Andy Serkis’s acting. Using a motion capture suit, he performed Gollum’s movements and voice alongside the cast.

Particularly striking are the scenes where Gollum converses with himself. The intense conflict between his good side, “Sméagol,” and his evil side, “Gollum,” is masterfully portrayed through his dual-role performance.

“No, not my master! Look at the face of the precious. My master is my friend.”

“No friends. Nobody likes you. You’re disgusting.”

These lines capture Gollum’s sadness. He wants to be good but can’t break from the Ring. Serkis’s performance makes this real and moving.

Significance as Technological Innovation

In 2002, motion capture for major characters was rare. While Jar Jar Binks failed, Gollum’s success was groundbreaking.

Gollum’s natural interaction, expressions, and sense of life came from the perfect mix of technology and acting.

If Gollum hadn’t worked, people would have seen The Two Towers very differently. His role was that important, and his success shows both the team’s technical skill and Andy Serkis’s talent as an actor.

Eowyn: A Strong Female Character

Eowyn, new in The Two Towers and vital in The Return of the King, is King Théoden’s niece and a strong Rohan woman played by Miranda Otto.

The Appeal of a Strong Woman

Eowyn is a brave woman who desires to fight. In the medieval worldview, women were not permitted to stand on the battlefield, but they rebelled against this constraint.

This conflict remains powerful. Eowyn’s will and desire for her own future are admirable.

Her Feelings for Aragorn

Eowyn’s feelings for Aragorn develop quickly, perhaps too quickly. She loves him after only a few days together.

This pace may suit the story, but more time developing their bond would enhance believability.

Setting the Stage for the Next Installment

Eowyn’s story continues in The Return of the King, where she displays real courage and plays a key role.

If seen as a setup for The Return of the King, her rushed arc is understandable. Appreciated as part of the trilogy, Eowyn’s full value emerges.

The Core of the Human Drama: King Théoden

Théoden, King of Rohan and played by Bernard Hill, anchors the story as more than a supporting character.

Théoden appears weakened, manipulated by Gríma Wormtongue, Saruman’s pawn. The once-mighty king’s decline mirrors Middle-earth’s decay.

Gandalf’s “Exorcism”

One of the film’s most memorable scenes is Gandalf breaking Saruman’s hold over Théoden. Staged like an exorcism, each time Gandalf points his staff, Saruman’s voice leaves the king.

“If I leave, Théoden will die!”

Gandalf ignores Saruman’s threats. When he finally breaks the spell, Théoden is restored as a vibrant king.

The camera keeps the action in the background, keeping it blurred, while focusing on Gandalf and Théoden. Director Peter Jackson ensures the “rebirth of the king” remains the scene’s heart, without being distracted by action.

The Battle of Helm’s Deep—A Battle Sequence for the History Books

The climax of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the Battle of Helm’s Deep. This battle sequence is not just visually impressive but is also central to the film’s argument: it demonstrates how the intertwined journeys of the characters, both in war and spirit, shape the trilogy’s dramatic heart.

Overwhelming Scale

Ten thousand Uruk-hai face a few hundred Rohirrim, who barricade themselves inside Helm’s Deep for a last stand.

The scene where the vast Orc army marches forward, striking their spears into the ground, is overwhelmingly powerful, enhanced by its sound effects. In the darkness of night, countless enemy soldiers are illuminated by torchlight. This sight instills a sense of hopelessness in the viewer, leading them to believe there is no chance of victory.

But it’s this hopeless situation that makes the men’s bravery stand out even more. Aragorn leads the mixed army of elves and men, Legolas and Gimli fight with both humor and courage, and King Théoden leads a desperate charge. All of this is truly moving.

Masterful Battle Direction

Director Peter Jackson’s handling of the battle scenes mixes tension and emotion, making them more than just exciting visuals.

During the siege, the Uruk-hai climb ladders to attack, but there are also funny moments, like Legolas and Gimli competing to see who can defeat more enemies. This mix of tension and humor keeps the long battle scenes interesting.

When the walls are blown open by explosives, the battle suddenly gets much worse. The way this moment is shown makes viewers feel the same sense of despair as the men inside.

This Helm’s Deep also served as the setting for the Battle of Rohan in Director Kamiyama’s The Lord of the Rings.

Comparison with the Prequel, ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’

It’s hard to talk about The Two Towers without comparing it to the first film, The Fellowship of the Ring. Many fans still debate which one is better.

Increased Action and Perceived Time Reduction

The Fellowship of the Ring spent a lot of time explaining the world and introducing the characters. This was important for setting up the story, but it meant there were fewer action scenes and more explanations. In contrast, The Two Towers can accelerate the story from the outset because the characters and world are already established. Despite being about 15 minutes longer than its predecessor, the perceived runtime feels significantly shorter.

This is not just because there are more action scenes, but also because the story moves at a quicker pace. The separated Fellowship members each face their own crises, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

Increased Humor

The Two Towers has more funny moments than the first film. Legolas and Gimli, especially, make viewers laugh with their jokes and banter during battles.

“I’ve taken down 43!”

“42. Still, my win.”

These lighthearted moments give viewers a break from the serious war scenes. Director Peter Jackson learned from the first film and added just enough humor to keep the movie well-balanced.

Some rushed pacing

Still, the film isn’t perfect. Some parts of the story feel a bit rushed.

For example, when Aragorn falls off a cliff in the middle of the film, it’s not clear how he survives, since it’s only shown visually. Also, Faramir’s path to understanding Frodo’s mission feels rushed in the theatrical version, though it’s explained more in the Extended Edition.

However, these are unavoidable compromises due to the film’s runtime constraints. The original novels are vast, and adapting every detail is impossible. Director Peter Jackson masterfully rose to the challenge of packing as much of the story as possible into the limited time available.

Minor gripes – Story balance and pacing

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a masterpiece, but it isn’t perfect. I’d like to point out a few minor gripes.

The Length of the Treebeard Scene

As mentioned before, the scenes with Treebeard, Merry, and Pippin slow down the story. The Ent Moot is important in the book, but it feels too long in the movie. While the visual element of “moving trees” is interesting, the heavy dialogue and lack of action can make it feel dull at times compared to other tense scenes.

Still, these scenes are needed to balance the story. If the film were tense all the time, it would be exhausting, so these slower moments are important.

Some rough CGI

The CGI was top-notch for 2002, but some effects look rough today. In the battle scenes with Orcs riding Wargs, the mix of CGI and real footage sometimes looks a bit off.

But this just shows the limits of the technology back then, and it was still cutting-edge for its time. It’s actually amazing that a movie over 20 years old still looks so good and is so enjoyable to watch.

Confusion due to numerous characters

The Lord of the Rings has a huge cast, which can make it hard for new viewers to remember who’s who. The Rohirrim and the Elves, in particular, look quite similar and can be confusing to distinguish.

But this is just part of adapting such a big story for film. You need to pay attention to follow everything, but it’s worth it for the emotional payoff.

Summary: The Overwhelming Power of the Trilogy’s Heart

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the middle film in the trilogy, but it’s much more than just a ‘bridge’ between the other two. It builds on what came before and takes the story to new heights.

The Battle of Helm’s Deep, the introduction of Gollum, King Théoden’s dramatic return, and Frodo and Sam’s loyal journey all come together naturally, pulling viewers into the world of the story.

While The Fellowship of the Ring showed the start of the adventure, The Two Towers focuses on the struggle during dark times. Even so, there are moments of hope that give the story real emotional depth.

When audiences first saw the film, they were amazed: ‘How can they show such a huge battle in just the second movie? What will the next one be like?’ The Return of the King ended up being even more powerful than anyone expected.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers stands as a pinnacle of fantasy cinema, a work that deserves to be passed down through the ages. If you haven’t seen it yet, immerse yourself in this grand narrative world. And for those who have already watched it, why not embark once more on an adventure through Middle-earth? New discoveries and profound emotions surely await you.