Editor's Note: The film opens today nationwide.
(Tim Drake is features correspondent with the National Catholic Register and editor of the highly praised “Saints of the Jubilee“, available at 1st Books. He resides in St. Cloud, Minnesota.)
Catholic Moments
The film opens with the evil Balrog free-falling into a seemingly endless cave with Gandalf the wizard falling in pursuit. The battle for Middle Earth has begun. The film gradually builds up to the climactic Battle of Helm’s Deep where 10,000 Uruk-hai warriors have gathered to destroy the civilization of men.
In addition to the characters from the first film, “The Two Towers” introduces new evil characters — notably the deceitful Wormtongue (Brad Dourif) and covetous Gollum (Andy Serkis) — as well as new benevolent ones such as Treebeard, the slow-moving yet wise Ent, and King Theoden of Rohan (Bernard Hill) and his niece Eowyn (Miranda Otto). The wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), having defeated the Balrog, also returns, this time as Gandalf the White.
Humorous moments in the otherwise dark film are offered by Gimli the dwarf (John Rhys-Davies) and hobbits Pippin (Billy Boyd) and Merry (Dominic Monaghan).
While Tolkien, a devout Catholic, resisted any comparisons of his story to formal allegory, in his letters he describes the story as a Catholic work with many fundamental allegorical symbols. Tolkien’s story, even in cinematic form, retains some of its Catholic moments.
Those moments include Gandalf’s return as Gandalf the White. When he first appears to his three witnesses he is hidden in a blinding light. During the transfiguration-like scene, Gandalf says to the three, “I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.” At the realization that it is Gandalf, Gimli bows and Legolas the elf (Orlando Bloom) genuflects.
Later, the film calls to mind the power of exorcism when Gandalf casts out the evil that possesses King Theoden.
A Dark Vision
The film also explores the possibility of redemption for all, even for Gollum who has murdered his cousin and covets the ring. In a moving scene Gollum argues with his conscience about whether or not he can trust Frodo. The scene resembles a cartoon where an angel and a devil sit on either side of a character’s shoulders arguing. After Gollum forcefully tells his “devil” to leave, the next scene shows him joyfully rolling on the ground, calling himself by his previous name, Smeagol. Unfortunately, the transformation doesn’t last. Feeling Frodo has betrayed him, in the end Gollum’s dark side resumes control.
The film features sweeping vistas and stunning visual effects, some that work and others that do not. Elfen archer Legolas’ somersault to mount a horse garnered a collective “wow” from the preview audience, while Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) being dragged by a Warg, the Orc’s hyena-like beast, comes across as a slightly ineffective special effect. In the end “The Two Towers” amounts to a three-hour action film, albeit one with a moral.
Those unfamiliar with the story may find some of the scenes, and their order, confusing. For example, at one point Arwen (Liv Tyler) appears to Aragorn, but it is not clear whether the scene is one that actually took place previously or if it is merely a dream. A similar confusing scene takes place between the elves Elrond (Hugo Weaving) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett).
As another point of criticism, Gollum’s raspy voice and the voice of the Treebeard are, at times, difficult to understand.
Make no mistake. “The Two Towers” is dark. While the film contains no sexual scenes or foul language it’s violence and grotesque creatures make it unsuitable for young children. There is much bloodshed and Gollum is more frightening than pitiful. The death and decapitations make the film unsuitable for children under age 10.
Good Is Worth Fighting For
Still the film was not quite as gruesome as I expected. Even with its 50-minute battle scene the darkness is tempered by the introduction of the Ents, moments of levity, the overall sense of goodness triumphing over evil, and by Samwise Gamgee’s speech to Frodo near the end of the film.
Sam asks Frodo whether he remembers the stories that really mattered?
“They were full of darkness and danger and you didn’t want to know the end,” explains Sam. “But in the end you realize that it’s a passing thing and a new day will come. Those are the stories that stayed with you and meant something. The folks in those stories kept going. They held onto something.”
“What are we hanging onto?” asks Frodo.
“That there is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for,” responds Sam.
Some fans will be disappointed that the film stops short of the end of the second book. In the end, Gandalf predicts, “The Battle of Helm’s Deep is over but the battle for Middle Earth is to begin.” Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait another year for that.
