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Parents' Guide to

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Outstanding adventure, but very violent battle scenes.

Movie PG-13 2002 179 minutes
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 25 parent reviews

fahimforid
fahimforid Adult
December 19, 2020
age 13+
meydiana.rizki
meydiana.rizki Parent of 18+-year-old
July 5, 2022
age 18+

Timeless movie

My personal favourite of the trilogy I do love all three films of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, all are visually stunning with wonderful music and strong narratives. The Two Towers is my personal favourite of the three for several reasons. For one thing it is less talky than Fellowship of the Ring, and the pace is a little more secure here. Also the final battle is just breathtaking in the action, direction and in its scope, and very compelling and epic. And some of the characters are developed more here than they were in Fellowship of the Ring primarily Frodo and Aragorn, who were played very well there but a little bland in comparison to here. When it comes to the scope The Two Towers is possibly the biggest in the trilogy. The cinematography is one of the strongest assets, while the scenery, costumes, lighting and make up(the orcs look amazing) are all gorgeous. You can tell a lot of effort went into this and it showed. The music is also darker and perhaps more complex, the story is richer and compelling and the dialogue is thought provoking. People may disagree, but I think The Two Towers is the best directed of the trilogy too. The acting is very good. Elijah Wood is likable enough with a stronger-written character, while Sean Astin's bumbling persona suits Sam really well. Viggo Mortensson is as strong and charismatic as ever. Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee and Bernard Hill are also perfectly cast, but the real revelation in my view with this movie is Gollum. Here Gollum is designed superbly, and Andy Serkis's performance is absolutely phenomenal and Oscar-nod worthy. In conclusion, a fine film and for me my personal favourite of the trilogy. 10/10
See all 25 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS follows the members of the remaining fellowship and cuts back and forth between their adventures. Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) find a twisted creature called Gollum who embodies the story's struggle between good and evil. Once utterly corrupted by his attempts to steal the ring, the remaining good within him begins to awaken under Frodo's kindness, but that may not be reliable enough for him to become the faithful guide they need. Meanwhile, Frodo's Hobbit friends Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) are caught up with Treebeard and the Ents (tree creatures of enormous size). Also meanwhile, the human warrior Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) and dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) try to get help from King Theoden (Bernard Hill), who has been enchanted into befuddlement so that they can fight the vicious Uruk-hai throng of White Wizard villain Saruman (Christopher Lee).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (25 ):
Kids say (128 ):

The second film in the Lord of the Rings series will satisfy Tolkien devotees and those who are new to the stories looking for an epic with a heroic quest and a lot of action (and a little romance). The first movie had a lot of thundering hoofs and meaningful looks and introduction of characters and portents of doom. The Two Towers flings us from cliffhanger to (literal) cliffhanger, with mighty legions hurtling into battle. Every moment on screen is filled with masterfully handled detail.

The vast New Zealand landscapes are a perfect realization of Tolkien's Middle Earth. The vast armies of hulking monsters stretch back for miles, and Gollum, computer animated but based on the movements of actor Andy Serkis (who also provided the voice), is as real as any of the humans. The human actors hold their own, giving gravity and heart to the effects and panoramas. The only drag on the proceedings is Aragon's love triangle, which feels like something between a distraction and a placeholder.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the many representations of the war between good and evil in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. King Theoden comes back. Gollum may be coming back. Where else do you see the dualities expressed?

  • At several points, characters have to decide when to fight and when to give up or retreat. What do they consider in making that decision? What should they consider?

  • Why is it important to Gollum that Frodo calls him by his old name?

  • Why do Sam and Frodo wonder if they will ever be included in songs or tales?

  • How do the characters in The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers demonstrate teamwork, perseverance, and courage? Why are those important character strengths?

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