Posts
2011, 06-21:
Review of film: “THE LORD OF THE RINGS [2]: THE TWO TOWERS” = Extended edition shown for 1 day in theaters
... Prior to the release of the entire series on BLU-RAY, it was decided to release each of the 3 films in theaters in “EXTENDED” versions, with each being shown for only 1 time on 1 day...
... I went to see the # 2 in the Series. The original release (which came out in 2002) ran 179 minutes. A later “Special Extended Edition” ran 223 minutes (3.72 hours), & the theater listed this screening at 235 minutes...
... The showing started out with a special talk by director PETER JACKSON (who’s lost a great deal of weight). He spoke of how he appreciated the people who were coming to the theater to see this version in advance of its BLU-RAY release...
... Peter commented on how the original film shoot took a huge amount of time & effort. The original plan was to have ANDY SERKIS simply provide the VOICE for the “GOLLUM” character, which was to be animated...
... But then, Andy did such an exceptional job, it was decided to “model” the movements of the character on ANDY’s live movements [& eventually, they utilized things like motion sensors on Andy which were then turned into an “animated” version of what he’d done]...
... As they were nearing the end of the shooting, there were difficulties in what should be done about a planned scene of showing the “2 sides” of Andy’s character (the bad “Gollum” & the good “Smiegel”). His partner, FRAN WALSH, came up with a special way she’d thought of to accomplish that...
... Because he himself was filming some “large” scenes with Elijah & Sean & others, it was decided that Fran would go off with a small crew of like 6 or 7 other people & she HERSELF would direct the scene she’d created...
... Thus, using stand-ins for the “sleeping” Elijah & Sean, Fran filmed what became one of the most FAMOUS scenes in the series-- where “Gollum” shows the “2 sides” of his personality!...
... At one point in his talk, Peter related how, since he was a KID, he’d always wanted to direct some big “BATTLE” scene-- & thus he was thrilled to finally be able to DO that in the film we were about to see, via the huge “Helm’s Deep” segment... He again THANKED everyone for attending tonite’s screening...
... As to the plot, Frodo Baggins (ELIJAH WOOD) goes with his friend Samwise Gangee (SEAN ASTIN) and Gollum towards Mordor, with their goal of destroying the “One Ring” that’s driving Frodo increasingly “mad”...
... In the meantime, Saruman the White (CHRISTOPHER LEE) has worked with his mouthpiece Grima Wormtongue (BRAD DOURIF) to try to control the ROHAN area which he wants to conquer (along with other areas he has within his “sights”)..
... They’re opposed by Aragorn (VIGGO MORTENSON), elf Legolas Greenleaf (ORLANDO BLOOM), dwarf Gimli (JOHN RHYS-DAVIES), and a cast of thousands (both live and via “special effects”)...
... Because the “original” version was so complex & “multi-layered”, it’s hard to recall specifics on just what was “ADDED” for the “Special” extended edition...
... But, my “overall” impression is, there’s a lot more scenes with the “TREES” (always one of the “weaker” & less-interesting segments), more with “GOLLUM” + Frodo & Sam & Saruman, & more re various “BATTLE / confrontation” scenes...
... The audience seemed to laugh even more at certain incidents (with Gollum, the trees, etc.) than I remember from the “old” version...
... Taken as a whole, the movie is a fascinating and FANTASTIC accomplishment (I’d rate at 9.0 out of 10 stars), deeply APPRECIATED by the enthusiastic audience...
... Next Tuesday (6-28), they’ll be showing the 3rd film in the series (2003’s “THE RETURN OF THE KING”) for 1 time on 1 day (before the BLU-RAY release)...
[ NOTE: You can easily SHARE this Posting with your friends or family by sending them an e-mail LINK via clicking on the “M” button in the lower left-hand corner under "THE VOICE OF SILENCE"... ]
(o_
/\
/\
= = = [ 4 B&W I&D ] … ( <> ^ <> ) ...
No comments:
Post a Comment