Reviews

Some rough reviews on here, and if you are looking for Jim Carrey's version, this will assuredly not check the boxes for you. This is the most faithful adaptation, dialogue wise, that I've seen, and I've seen most film and tv versions. True to the book almost entirely, it is more demanding in that respect.

Creatively, the dance paired with overlayed dialogue is an extremely compelling way to keep the story fresh. There have been many similar versions over the years, and a few wildly divisive ones (the 2019 FX version, for example), so a reset that stays true to the source material is a nice change of pace.

Lastly, Andy Serkis version of Marley is the creepiest I've seen. The fluid movements of the dancer and his vocal representation really nailed the horrific nature of the role in a way that I imagine Dickens wanted to convey.

This movie, while vastly improbably and at many times completely ridiculous, is still damn entertaining. If taken for what it is, an over-the-top, flashy, stylized action movie, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, then you will most likely reevaluate it as very cool indeed.

Or not. What were you looking for, an art-house French indie movie with Cantonese subtitles? Lighten up!

(it also has one helluva soundtrack, reexamine it if nothing else for that, and the wide selection of high-end motorcycles, some of which you probably won't see anywhere on the road)

I think that many folks went into this movie looking for something serious, or dreaming about some modern easy-rider update or who knows...I think this flick has incredible replay value, and although low-brow at times, it is also chock full of self-depreciating humor (and if you watch the director commentary, full of classic movie references)

I've been reading a book entitled "The Making of The Lord of the Rings" which details the processes involved in completing the three movies of such epic scale. Seriously, just one of these films would be the pinnacle for many directors, but Peter Jackson has done the "impossible" and created at least two movies that will go down in history as a couple of the most ambitious and titanic fantasy adaptions ever made. I only know a little of what to expect in December 2003, but if the previous two films are any indication it will be a grand spectacle.

I've seen the Two Towers in theaters three times so far, giving it the most in-theater replay value of any movie in my history. The reasons I keep coming back are several...epic battle scenes, whether they take place in ancient Rome, on the battlefields of Vietnam or France or in medievel England are something that have taken over movies of the last few years - The Two Towers creates the longest and greatest battle I've ever seen on film, an hour passes like minutes as we watch Helm's Deep almost fall then rise and conquer. Strong characters like Viggio Mortensen's Aragorn and the amazing CGI Gollum made me want to see their performances again and again.

There were a few Hollywood moments that I didn't remember seeing in FOTR and that I could've done without - Legolas riding the shield down the staircase at Helm's Deep and the comic "relief" of Gimili. These small moments taint an otherwise seemless movie, but not enough to lessen its 10 star rating in my eyes.

It was such an amazing undertaking, such a dedicated work and such a risky endevour - these movies could have failed miserably had Mr. Jackson not been 100% dedicated to perfection and details within these films. Reading the "Making Of..." book, I realized even more that we are watching history unfolding and massive standards being set for future films of this and all other genres.