- Film Review
- Reviewed By Jason Caro
-
5 out of 5
Under the assumption that everyone has seen The Fellowship of the Ring, director Peter Jackson here jumps straight back into the action, with only a revealing flashback to Gandalf's plunge into the void from the first film. With the fellowship fractured, the story diverges into three separate strands: Frodo and Sam's trek to Mordor, on which they are joined by the deranged Gollum; Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn's attempted allegiance with the imperilled kingdom of Rohan; and Merry and Pippin's affiliation with the sentient trees of Fangorn Forest. It's darker and more urgent than the opening segment, and Jackson again displays an unparalleled grasp of storytelling on a grand scale - the siege of Helm's Deep is as heroic and spectacular as any battle scene committed to film. The performances are uniformly excellent, with the original cast reinforced by strong characterisations from Brad Dourif and Bernard Hill. The most impressive contribution, however, comes from Andy Serkis, who provides the creepy tones and fluid physical movements of the CGI-created Gollum.
Plot Summary
The second part of Peter Jackson's epic adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic fantasy adventure, starring Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen. Hobbits Frodo and Sam, now separated from the rest of the fellowship, travel deep into the realm of the evil Lord Sauron to destroy the ring. The pair are guided on their journey by Gollum, but the slimy creature has a sinister reason for wanting to help.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Frodo Baggins
- Elijah Wood
- Gandalf the White
- Ian McKellen
- Arwen Undómiel
- Liv Tyler
- Aragorn / Strider
- Viggo Mortensen
- Samwise "Sam" Gamgee
- Sean Astin
- Galadriel
- Cate Blanchett
- Gimli / Treebeard
- John Rhys-Davies
- Peregrin "Pippin" Took
- Billy Boyd
- Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck
- Dominic Monaghan
- Legolas Greenleaf
- Orlando Bloom
- Saruman the White
- Christopher Lee
- Elrond
- Hugo Weaving
- Eowyn of Rohan
- Miranda Otto
- King Théoden
- Bernard Hill
- Grima Wormtongue
- Brad Dourif
- Sméagol / Gollum
- Andy Serkis
- Faramir
- David Wenham
- Eomer
- Karl Urban
- Gamling
- Bruce Hopkins
Crew
- Director
- Peter Jackson
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