November 24, 2003

TTT EE Gandalf Eowyn and Faramir Improved!
Danny

I finally got a chance to watch the extended Two Towers this weekend. It is hard to get that much time with the TV with five room mates who have their own ideas of what they want to watch etc on the one TV. So I finally had the chance to watch it this weekend. I am very pleased with how it improved the film. I love the improvements made in the Fellowship with its extended version, but I think that Two Towers was improved even more than Fellowship.

I thought Gandalf finally got the screen time and lines he deserved. I was dissapointed in the theatrical cut because Gandalf returns and hardly had any time on screen. He just ran off after freeing Theoden and showed up with the last two minutes of film. In the extended version we get a better insight through dialogue that was in the book about Gandalf's being the mastermind behind the moves to combat Sauron. I loved hearing him talk to Aragorn about Sauron's guesses about the ring just as he did in the book. I also was pleased to hear his lines about Merry and Pippin ariving in Fangorn being like pebbles that will unleash an avalanche.

Alas, the ents were improved but in my mind only slightly. I would have prefered for them to have made the decision without having to be tricked like they were. However, I didn't let that litle detail upset me with the theatrical release so I won't for the extended either.

I thought Eowyn was greatly improved on. The added interaction between her and Aragorn was great. You could see the almost worshiping admiration in her eyes. I think Miranda Otto did a great job with her part. It was good to hear her lines that I thought might be in Return of the King (like the book) put in the film. Their conversation about valor and renown at Helms deep was right from the books and I enjoyed hearing that. I also enjoyed hearing her awkward implication that she loves Aragorn again right out of the books.

Faramir was the most improved character. I thought Boromir was superbly acted in Fellowship, and enjoyed seeing him for a brief moment again. I think that scene did a lot to improve the motivations behind what Faramir did in film. Where I think Faramir improved the most though was when he helped them escape Osgiliath. Faramir's interaction with Gollum as they were leaving was great. It brought some of his book dialogue back into the movie, and showed his care for their quest. I also enjoyed hearing his thoughts about the falling easterling soldier, again right out of Tolkien's writings. I don't think those where his lines originally, but they did help establish his personality as one who was a soldier for the sake of peace, not a soldier for the sake of war.

Last of all on this lengthy post, I loved the final interaction of Legolas and Gimli with the contest, and seeing the Huorns. That helped resolve the threat of Saruman more completely. All in all I absolutely loved the extended Two Towers. Kudos to PJ.