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The Two Towers: Extended Edition - observations
by Adam P. Knave

Now, I have to admit something at the start of this. I need to establish my credentials, such as they are, and give us both (writer and reader) a common firm ground on which to stand. Which is to say, that although I write for Wee_Tolkien and enjoy the movies, I have never liked the books. Except the Hobbit that is, which I try to read once a year. The trilogy just never worked for me in written form. I have tried more than once, it just ain't my thing and I know that and am comfortable with it.

So last night I got to watch The Two Towers: Extended Edition (TTT:EE) on DVD. Forbidden Planet sold it early and I was one of the lucky ones who took advantage of that. I have seen it, chances are you have not. I come to tell you that I have seen it and it was good.

It was better than good. It made me want to go read the books. TTT:EE instantly leapt up into my Top 5 personal all-time movie list. The last movie that managed to leap up there in a single viewing was Fight Club I think. Making my Top 5 is not easy, I watch movies a lot - they are how I relax from writing, so I tend to watch somewhere between 3 and 6 movies a week at home. I try to not watch really long movies because they simply take too much time, but this will be an exception. This movie is the exception in so many ways.

Sure, I saw the Theatrical Release and it was good. It was "wow" and shiny and dramatic and moving. I enjoyed the hell out of it and remembered it fondly - with my standard gripe about Gimli being nothing more than comedic relief. The differences are amazing though.

This is in no sort of film order, because I watched it last night and it is now this morning. So deal. Spoilers of the TTT:EE ahead. You have been warned.

The Huorns. Helm's Deep was such a great battle sequence. It was rich and full of emotion and it rang true. It had the edge to it that brought back down to a humans level. The thing was, for me, in the Theatrical release, it didn't end great. It sorta ? fizzed. It ended, quickly and sort of weakly. The difference between the Theatrical and EE was so telling at the end of this scene. In the EE ... I was sitting watching the end fight unfold: "Why are you letting them RUN?" I thought, watching the evil masses flee from the hooves and swords of riders. Then in response to a hasty warning for the troops to stay back from the tree line, "Why did you say stay away from the trees?" I wondered ... at which point the Forrest shook. It shook and groaned and screamed. It thrashed and danced and was just so purely primal you almost felt bad for the poor evil hordes caught inside. The shot was a long wide one, nothing close ... only moving screaming greenery, which made it all the more stunning. The effect was, as it often will be, far worse for what it didn't show.

Merry and Pip post-EntWar. They have an exchange while standing hip deep in the water, watching Saurman and Wormtongue up in the Tower that cracked me up. It was the perfect moment, a signal of the strength of spirit in people, a rekindling of the lighter tone of the films and a harkening back to how we first met Merry and Pip. I think I am upset that the scene was cut, it was needed.

Boromir. Getting to see Boromir with Faramir explains Faramir so much better this time around. Every action he takes, every glance and movement is informed after that, giving Faramir a depth and weight that makes him his own character and not just Boromir lite. Funny that without the missing flashback, we see Faramir as his father sees him for the most part. Telling really.

Frodo/Sam/Smeagol/Gollum. There are little extra bits throughout with them, giving a better chance to feel the import of their scenes and the emotional roller coaster the 3 are on. The rope was just cute.

Aragorn. The Dunedain reveal was wonderfully done and it, damn it, explains so much. Now, did I personally know this one already? Yes. But knowing it and having it put out there are two different things. Seeing a normal person's reaction to it is key there. The sadness in Aragorn is even deeper with that moment.

Pretty much, TTT:EE is close to the perfect Fantasy/War movie. It has weight, depth and heart to spare. The extra footage, the filling out of the characters brings it all home in such a wonderful way.

Now, when I was watching the film I wanted to make a list, a funny list. Sadly, for you, I was too busy watching the movie to remember to write it. I will now try to end this by recreating that list from memory:

Important Things I Learned From Watching TTT:EE

• Fish are better raw and wriggling
  
• Never, ever, hire anyone named Wormtongue to be your advisor
  
• You will never die for good so long as you can fall into the end sequence of 2001
  
• Alternatively, if 2001 is not available, you may instead use two crying females. If you have crying females, you may come back - if your horse is up for it.
  
• Everything is funnier in a loincloth
  
• Never, ever, piss off trees
  
• If you must piss off trees, don't live near a really large dam
  
• If you live near a really large dam, do not put your big office space in a deep pit. That's called "asking for it"
  
• When your best friend holds your hand and stares meaningfully into your eyes all the time, gets jealous of anyone else being nice to you and is a florist? Yeah. I'm sayin'
  
• Midgets never use range weapons
  
• The beautiful sword maiden may, in fact, be a wonder to look at. She may be some great fighter waiting to happen. She will probably suck as a cook. Be warned, remember she is probably a good sword fighter if you think of telling her she sucks.
  
• You have two men traveling together and sleeping under the same blanket while their three male friends try to find them or buy them time to get their mission accomplished. Their mission involves a ring which is seen as evil. Secretly, this movie is about two gay men crossing the border to Canada to get married.