User:Stephenfisher2001/TigerBlazer/sandbox/The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a 2002 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson, based on the second volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It is the second installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Two Towers follows Frodo and Sam continue their journey towards Mordor to destroy the One Ring, meeting and joined by Gollum, while number of new allies join their former companions to defend Isengard as Saruman launches an assault from his domain. The Two Towers features an ensemble cast including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban and Andy Serkis.

The Two Towers premiered on 5 December 2002 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City and was theatrically released on 18 December 2002 in the United States, and on 19 December 2002 in New Zealand, and it was financed and distributed by American studio New Line Cinema, but filmed and edited entirely in Jackson's native New Zealand, concurrently with the other two parts of the trilogy. Much like the first film, The Two Towers received critical acclaim, and it was higher praise for its direction, action sequences, performances, and CGI, particularly for Gollum, and it is considered to be a landmark in filmmaking and an achievement in the fantasy film genre. The Two Towers grossed over $936 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2002 and the third highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release. The Two Towers received numerous accolades; at the 75th Academy Awards, it was nominated for six awards, including Best Picture, winning for Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects.

Plot
The film begins with a flashback where the wizard Gandalf the Grey battles the Balrog of Moria on the Bridge of Khazad-dum in an attempt to allow the Fellowship of the Ring to escape from the Mines of Moria, with the scene continuing to follow both as they hurtle down below, fighting while in free-fall, the moment they hit the water of an underground lake, Frodo Baggins wakes up in fright, which it turns out it was a dream. (In the extended cut, Frodo and Sam climb down with their rope in the cliff, and they found the button below.) They continued their journey through the hills of Emyn Muil. That night, a mysterious creature, who came out from nowhere, wishes to retrieve "his precious" from the ones he thinks stole it from him, was Gollum. The Hobbits subdue and bind him with Sam's Elven rope given to him by the Elven elder Galadriel in Lórien. The Hobbits capture him, and Sam distrusts Gollum and wishes to abandon him, however, Frodo understands the burden of the Ring and takes pity on the creature. Realizing they are in need of a guide, Frodo persuades Gollum to lead them to the Black Gate of Mordor. Meanwhile, in Rohan, the pack of Uruk-hai runs across the grassy landscape with their captives Merry and Pippin. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are in pursuit, following three days of running, Legolas surmises the Hobbits are being taken to Isengard, where Saruman is marshaling his Uruk-hai forces to do the bidding of Sauron. In the kingdom of Rohan, home of the horse lords, King Théoden is mentally and physically weak due to the enchantments of his steward, Gríma Wormtongue, who is secretly in the service of Saruman. Orcs and Wild Men of Dunland incited by Saruman freely roam the land and kill the people including the king's only son Théodred. Meanwhile, King Théoden, the king of Rohan, is being held under a trance by Gríma Wormtongue, who is secretly in the service of Saruman the White. Saruman is working towards the demise of Rohan. Orcs and the Dunlendings, incited by Saruman, are freely roaming the land, burning villages, massacring the Rohirrim people and destroying crops. In an attack on one of the villages, a mother sends her two children on horseback to Edoras to warn the King of the attacks.

Upon arriving at the battle site, Aragorn uses his tracking skills and finds hobbit tracks that lead into Fangorn. We see Merry & Pippin as they flee into the forest pursued by the orc who previously attacked them. They are aided by Treebeard the oldest of the tree-like creatures, the Ents, who takes them to the one he calls the white wizard, whom Merry & Pippin assume to be Saruman; we leave them looking up at him. Frodo, Sam and Gollum traverse the Dead Marshes, passing the undead fallen warriors of the Second Age who haunt the marshes. Frodo becomes enchanted by the spirits living in the waters of the marsh and falls in. He's pulled out before he drowns by Gollum. The three also hide from a newly-seated Ringwraith on his flying fell beast, a large black dragon. In Fangorn Forest, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli discover the mysterious white wizard who is ultimately shown to be Gandalf reborn, now known as Gandalf the White. He speaks of his ordeal w/ the Balrog, & we see his defeat of the Balrog. Gandalf summons Shadowfax, the lord of the Mearas - an ancient & noble race of horses - & the quartet proceed to Edoras. Meanwhile, Frodo, Sam and Gollum were finally reaching the Black Gate, they find it shut and heavily guarded by Orcs. However, as they watch, an Easterling contingent arrives and the gate opens for them to enter. Sensing a chance, Frodo and Sam get ready to move, before they do, However, Gollum stops them, who confirms reveal to them a less risky path, and their fears of capture and insists that any attempt to get in via the Black Gate will only end with the One Ring returning to Sauron, holds them back. He then reveals that there is another way into Mordor, hidden and unguarded. Sam is immediately suspicious, but Frodo gives him the benefit of the doubt, pointing out that he has remained loyal thus far.

Trivia

 * TBA.