This film rocks. Big time. Oh, yeah, sure there are some editing problems (where stuff was cut away to keep the running time of the theatrical release somewhat under control) but 99% of the film just plainly delivers. In spades. Come on guys, if you don't like this one, you probably don't like the movies.
Reviews
6 Reviews
A worthy successor
2 January 2003
When the Fellowship came out, I did not think it would be possible to top that film, and I was right. But the Two Towers is a mighty film in its own right, although you definitely need the first installment to understand what is going on. But then, Peter Jackson has always said that it is one huge film divided into three parts. I have seen this one twice and was very impressed by the way they were able to seriously move away from Tolkien´s TEXT, and at the same time seriously honor Tolkien´s SPIRIT. Sure, the Warg battle was not in that same spot in the book, but it was in the book AND in The Hobbit. Sure, Faramir was very unlike his brother in the book, but admit it, he was a rather talky, boring character in The Two Towers book. This has been amended in the film, for it to work as a FILM. Great work there, and it never bothered me - and I have read the books about 35 times, in several languages. Gollum is just so breathtaking. I could not believe it was all CGI, but apparently it is. Incredible, simply incredible. Let us put to rest the old Yoda - he´s using a cane anyway. Except when fighting, of course. Great movie, cannot wait to see The Return of the King.
And this is BETTER than Episode 1???
28 November 2002
If that is true, boy, am I glad to have missed that one! Because irritate me beyond belief this movie did, to paraphrase what some people call ´the best character´ in the movie. Good grief, what an amazing snorefest! I had to poke myself in the eye to stay awake, and even that wasn´t always successful. Why do I think it is so bad? Please allow me to explain.
1. The Actors: Never have I seen such a clumsy bunch of wooden, nay, leaden, actors assembled in one movie. I couldn´t believe the way they deliver their incredibly stale dialogue. The only escapee is Christopher Lee, whose 60 or so years of experience enable him to wrestle free from...
2. The Director: This guy should never be allowed near a camera ever again. Period. He is so terribly unable to get any kind of performance from his actors, or to even keep a story going, that Ed Wood was the Steven Spielberg of his time in comparison.
3. The Story: Why the romance? Why? If you cannot get actors to perform with their heart on their sleeves... then don´t do romance! It falls so horribly flat that I don´t know where to begin to describe it. Very flat indeed.
4. The Final Attack: It wasn´t entirely clear to me who the titular clones were, but since there were droves and droves of the same fake CGI creatures for the last three weeks of the movie, I guess those were the Clones. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. Ad Infinitum.
5. The Finale: The most horrible part was the Fight in the Cave, with Christopher Lee and a talking potato named Yoda. Laughing I have been every minute. Way too long that scene was. Way too dark too, as flashing coloured light beams all are I seen have. Stop I must writing like this, because annoy myself I do. This scene was so inapt that I could not stop laughing. Sorry about that.
In short: BOOOOOORRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG!
I have read that George Lucas does not listen to critics, or to his audience, for that matter, because Star Wars is his and he can do with it what he wants. That may be so, but he does not have to expect to get one more dime from me. He is not a movie director, he is the art director of a toy catalogue. What an incredible hoot!
It is a movie that is absolutely devoid of humour as well. The only jokes come from a robot, mind you, and therefore it does not have to surprise you that they sound totally automatic, as if there was a note in the script: ´please remember to let this character crack a joke every scene he is in´. What a pity that the jokes are the most crude attempts at being funny. My nephew (three years old) makes better and funnier jokes. Especially when he breaks wind.
Zero stars. For the life of me there is not a single moment that even remotely inspires. A kerbside quiche is more attractive to look at.
1. The Actors: Never have I seen such a clumsy bunch of wooden, nay, leaden, actors assembled in one movie. I couldn´t believe the way they deliver their incredibly stale dialogue. The only escapee is Christopher Lee, whose 60 or so years of experience enable him to wrestle free from...
2. The Director: This guy should never be allowed near a camera ever again. Period. He is so terribly unable to get any kind of performance from his actors, or to even keep a story going, that Ed Wood was the Steven Spielberg of his time in comparison.
3. The Story: Why the romance? Why? If you cannot get actors to perform with their heart on their sleeves... then don´t do romance! It falls so horribly flat that I don´t know where to begin to describe it. Very flat indeed.
4. The Final Attack: It wasn´t entirely clear to me who the titular clones were, but since there were droves and droves of the same fake CGI creatures for the last three weeks of the movie, I guess those were the Clones. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. And they fought. Ad Infinitum.
5. The Finale: The most horrible part was the Fight in the Cave, with Christopher Lee and a talking potato named Yoda. Laughing I have been every minute. Way too long that scene was. Way too dark too, as flashing coloured light beams all are I seen have. Stop I must writing like this, because annoy myself I do. This scene was so inapt that I could not stop laughing. Sorry about that.
In short: BOOOOOORRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG!
I have read that George Lucas does not listen to critics, or to his audience, for that matter, because Star Wars is his and he can do with it what he wants. That may be so, but he does not have to expect to get one more dime from me. He is not a movie director, he is the art director of a toy catalogue. What an incredible hoot!
It is a movie that is absolutely devoid of humour as well. The only jokes come from a robot, mind you, and therefore it does not have to surprise you that they sound totally automatic, as if there was a note in the script: ´please remember to let this character crack a joke every scene he is in´. What a pity that the jokes are the most crude attempts at being funny. My nephew (three years old) makes better and funnier jokes. Especially when he breaks wind.
Zero stars. For the life of me there is not a single moment that even remotely inspires. A kerbside quiche is more attractive to look at.
The Escapist
(2002)
Bloody Hell! (no spoilers)
22 November 2002
I must admit that I rented this movie on DVD, just because Andy Serkis was in it. He played Gollum in The Lord of the Rings - at least his voice did in the first part. So I was kind of curious to see the man behind the voice. But once I was five minutes past the titles the film kind of grew on me, Andy Serkis or no (although he plays his part rather well).and I really liked it. It is a gruesome story about a burglary gone REAL bad, but still it has got some humor too. This could have been a big hit, if only it had been made in Hollywood. I can see Michael Douglas play a part in the remake... But seriously, it is THAT kind of movie. Innocent guy, lovely wife, loads of money - and all of a sudden it does not matter any more. Great Thriller!
Heavenly Creatures
(1994)
Gripping yarn...
15 January 2002
This is the movie that enabled Peter Jackson to go on and eventually make the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (first film currently at number 1 in the top 250 of IMdB...). I have only seen it once, in a television screening, and I think it is a very haunting film, a beautiful and powerful piece of work. The performances by the then unknown Kate Winslet and her girlfriend are so realistic, so gripping... It just makes you very sad to think this more or less really happened. I must admit that I do not like the other films Peter Jackson has made (Brain Dead, Bad Taste, Meet the Feebles) as I am absolutely not into gore. The end of Heavenly Creatures is also quite gory, but since it is done in a very realistic style and no more brutal than what we see in TV series nowadays, it fits. Kudos to Peter Jackson for rising above himself and making a very intelligent film about a brutal murder. Go and see or rent this one, it is well worth the time you invest. One of the great overlooked films. Top stuff.
Surprise, surprise
24 December 2001
Warning: Spoilers
Just came back from a second viewing of this great film, and was yet again totally taken in by it. Just like the first time I was surprised by how they had captured Middle-earth on-screen, how the actors played their part with their heart on their sleeve, how utterly and totally convincing it all was.
Although there are already quite a few raving reviews from official film critics, plus a probable 100.000+ fan reviews to be found on the net, I would still like to add my two cents, if only to let Peter Jackson and all of his troupe know that I think they did an admirable job in bringing Tolkiens´world and characters to life.
I am not going into detail - lots of other people have done that, but I will make mention of some things that I liked, and that I haven´t read too much about yet. Minor spoilers ahead for people that have not seen the movie.
If there is one thing I have read nothing or nearly nothing about, it is Gollums eyes. Although Gollum does not play a big role in this first movie, he can be seen two or three times, and one of those times you see his eyes... Incredible eyes, very human, although much bigger and somehow filled with a sadness of long ages, and with a certain malice. Enough to whet your appetite for parts two and three, where Gollum gets to play one of the leading roles. And this guy is completely CGI, too! I read in a review about an ´alarming Jar Jar Binks likeness´... The brainless turd who wrote that review probably never read the books. Much unlike the intelligence-of-the-average-movie-goer-insulting Jar Jar Binks, Gollum was already a character in the books, who was not thrown in to get some toys sold! Nor do I expect him to speak in a ´funny´ semi-Jamaican accent.
Second thing I noticed, is the raw emotion that is up there. Characters are allowed to cry, to feel about other characters, to hug, to scream of pain or loss... It is a very emotional film. Anyone stating that we have cardboard characters here, not only completely missed out on the emotion that is on display, they also missed out on a more important pont: this film is not part one, basically it is the first three hours of a nine-hour film. Only when the three films can be seen as one (in a LONG run) we can judge the character development. As the next film will have several small groups to follow on their journeys through Middle-earth, I am sure we will see their characters develop. For the moment, we have to hold back on that particular feature.
Well, that is what I had to say about it.
I bow deep and low to you, Mr. Jackson, for pulling it off. For actually committing six years of your life (or is it even more) to this project and coming up with a first installment that is nothing short of brilliant. For giving us all the pleasure to see a well-known story come to life in a different, yet faithful way. Of course, should you ever come across these humble lines, the gratitude goes out to everyone involved, from the director to the best boys´ gaffer. Perhaps the biggest compliment is that my wife, who before yesterday had only heard of the books because I read them, now wants to read the books, wants to see the film a second time in the theater (would be the third time for me - no matter!) and can hardly wait for The Two Towers. But neither can I.
Although there are already quite a few raving reviews from official film critics, plus a probable 100.000+ fan reviews to be found on the net, I would still like to add my two cents, if only to let Peter Jackson and all of his troupe know that I think they did an admirable job in bringing Tolkiens´world and characters to life.
I am not going into detail - lots of other people have done that, but I will make mention of some things that I liked, and that I haven´t read too much about yet. Minor spoilers ahead for people that have not seen the movie.
If there is one thing I have read nothing or nearly nothing about, it is Gollums eyes. Although Gollum does not play a big role in this first movie, he can be seen two or three times, and one of those times you see his eyes... Incredible eyes, very human, although much bigger and somehow filled with a sadness of long ages, and with a certain malice. Enough to whet your appetite for parts two and three, where Gollum gets to play one of the leading roles. And this guy is completely CGI, too! I read in a review about an ´alarming Jar Jar Binks likeness´... The brainless turd who wrote that review probably never read the books. Much unlike the intelligence-of-the-average-movie-goer-insulting Jar Jar Binks, Gollum was already a character in the books, who was not thrown in to get some toys sold! Nor do I expect him to speak in a ´funny´ semi-Jamaican accent.
Second thing I noticed, is the raw emotion that is up there. Characters are allowed to cry, to feel about other characters, to hug, to scream of pain or loss... It is a very emotional film. Anyone stating that we have cardboard characters here, not only completely missed out on the emotion that is on display, they also missed out on a more important pont: this film is not part one, basically it is the first three hours of a nine-hour film. Only when the three films can be seen as one (in a LONG run) we can judge the character development. As the next film will have several small groups to follow on their journeys through Middle-earth, I am sure we will see their characters develop. For the moment, we have to hold back on that particular feature.
Well, that is what I had to say about it.
I bow deep and low to you, Mr. Jackson, for pulling it off. For actually committing six years of your life (or is it even more) to this project and coming up with a first installment that is nothing short of brilliant. For giving us all the pleasure to see a well-known story come to life in a different, yet faithful way. Of course, should you ever come across these humble lines, the gratitude goes out to everyone involved, from the director to the best boys´ gaffer. Perhaps the biggest compliment is that my wife, who before yesterday had only heard of the books because I read them, now wants to read the books, wants to see the film a second time in the theater (would be the third time for me - no matter!) and can hardly wait for The Two Towers. But neither can I.
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