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Ardamírë
Valinor
Dec 20 2012, 4:57pm
Post #1 of 24
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The Two Towers 10th Anniversary!
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Ok, this thread is a few days late, but I thought we needed it 
It's been ten years since this movie first graced us on the silver screen. What were you doing when it came out? What were some of the things that just blew you away the first time, or (inversely) devastated you? Share whatever you'd like to!
I'll start off...
Let's see, I was in the 5th grade. I'd already finished reading the trilogy earlier that year - I began with the Hobbit when I heard about FOTR. Anyway, I was in 5th grade and my teacher decided that the week of the film's wide release she would show us Fellowship over the course of a few afternoons. I think we started on Monday and the movie was coming out on Wednesday. Unfortunately, we didn't finish the film until Friday (I was peeved  ). But I went with my dad and sister to see TTT on Thursday afternoon after school. It was remarkable! Absolutely loved it. But my dad, who had not seen FOTR, kept bugging me with questions!  I was getting annoyed; I just wanted to soak it all in on my own without distractions, lol.
Ok, so how about the rest of you?? Let's celebrate The Two Towers!
Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima! Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Dec 20 2012, 5:27pm
Post #2 of 24
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Where the heck did they go?
I would have been edgy with anticipation, with tickets for the midnight screening and the next day off work so that I could *sleep* afterwards!
In the weeks leading up to the film's release there was *huge* controversy on the Main discussion board about a spoiler from the movie, which the wonderful board members were scrupulous about keeping out of subject headings so that those who wanted to go into the movie spoiler-free (such as me) could do so. But the discussion threads were long and numerous, and the stunned reaction and incredulity - and anger - of those discussing it were very, very clear. With the movie coming out I would *finally* know what the brouhaha was all about!
"Take the Hobbits to my father."
Oh. And WHAT THE HELL??
Ah, those were the days.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
(This post was edited by Ataahua on Dec 20 2012, 6:57pm)
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Dec 20 2012, 5:51pm
Post #4 of 24
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Faramir being tempted by the Ring
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and sending the Hobbit to his father (getting as far as Osgiliath before changing his mind) rather than helping them on their way from Ithilien.
Once I got over the shock, I liked the change.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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Ardamírë
Valinor
Dec 20 2012, 6:00pm
Post #5 of 24
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I must be one of the few, but I actually like the trip to Osgiliath. I for nothing else, I love it because of this shot.
But really, I think the whole sequence works well, and gives Frodo and Sam a climax since Shelob was moved to TTT. Speaking of which, I was only 11 at the time, and wasn't on the internet, so I hadn't read any spoilers. I kept wondering when they were going to get to Shelob, and they never did!! 
But now, I like the change.
Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima! Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!
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imin
Valinor
Dec 20 2012, 6:01pm
Post #6 of 24
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I had just turned 15 and was probably at the height of my Tolkien mania as my mum calls it, lol, which lasted until ROTK came out and started just before FOTR.
pretty usual year, cant remember much about it but i can remember going to the cinema and coming out completely buzzing! I loved it, other than cliff fall, lol.
In the time between the FOTR and TTT i had reread the book about 10 maybe more times - i basically just read it on repeat, once i finished it, i read it again. I couldnt get enough.
Now i am still obsessed but real life gets in the way a tad more, lol.
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Kassandros
Rohan
Dec 20 2012, 6:14pm
Post #7 of 24
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You guys are making me feel old...
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I was 22 at the time, having just finished college. I was working in a law office doing technie and officey type things while also looking for a job in my field.
The year before, I had gone to see FotR very sceptically. I had decided the movie wouldn't be any good when I heard Tom Bombadil had been cut and had kinda drifted away from Tolkien at that point. Although I still loved his languages, I wasn't too enthused with his actual writings then, after having been raised with them. My father had read us the books when we were children, for example, and I read them on my own later.
Anyway, Fellowship rekindled my love of Tolkien. I fell in love with the movie and made me remember all the wonderful things I liked about LotR. I thought it captured the spirit of the book perfectly.
One of my strongest childhood memories is my older brothers whispering to each other when my Dad was reading us Fellowship. I was very young and I think they had read it before themselves, so they knew what was coming. And then Gandalf's fall. I was heartbroken. It was like losing my Dad since my Dad kinda looked like him (even more so now, actually - he has a long white beard and everything these days!) and he was his favorite character. When I saw Fellowship, all those old emotions came flooding back and Ian McKellan was just perfect the music playing over that scene... one of my all time favorite movie moments even today.
Anyway, that fall, I got my first DVD player so that I could watch The Fellowship of the Ring Extended edition and was living with my wife in our first apartment. The Two Towers was the first movie I was super hyped to see before it came out, and it was my first midnight showing. I remember arriving over an hour early and being let into the theater and people singing Jingle Bells together while we waited for the movie to start. And when the movie did start, I loved it. I just love The Two Towers to death - Gollum is my favorite character from the Trilogy and he was so wonderful. Arwen's fate. Aragorn's journey. The flooding of Irsengard. It was awe-inducing. I loved the movie and I loved the midnight experience. My wife and I would go on to watch several other movies at midnight, but none can capture the amazingness of first. Well, ok, maybe Trilogy Tuesday, but I'll save that story for next year!
I still remember arriving at work the next day and talking about the movie with my coworkers. Same thing happened at my Friday morning meeting this year after AUJ - half the meeting was taken up with people asking me about The Hobbit.
all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us...
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Magpie
Immortal
Dec 20 2012, 7:04pm
Post #9 of 24
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The summer of 2002 was like an epiphany in my life that was precipitated by a number of things but centered around Tolkien. I had taken a few online classes in LOTR at Barnes and Noble University and a group of 11 of us splintered off into a yahoo group. So there was lots of opportunity for shared geek anticipation and spasming.
Since the yahoo group is still on the net (although not still active), I could go find the email I wrote after seeing the movie:
December 23, 2002
THOUGHT #1: I'm maybe a little surprised that I'm not feeling completely entranced. But, I didn't for FOTR either. I enjoyed it, and continued to enjoy it throughout my 9 viewings. But the feelings I had for the movie weren't intense and the pull to see it again wasn't intense. It was just a constant and ever present pull. It was the book that was intense for me. So I expect to see it (at least) 9 times (like others, it felt like a good number to me) although the majority may come this summer when it comes (hopefully) to my local theater.
THOUGHT #2: I was not too put off by some of the changes in the first 2/3 of the movie. It seemed to me the difference between getting a well-known story in a poem form, or song, or painting, instead of prose/storytelling form. I often run across multiple versions of legends/folk tales/mythology and am delighted at the differences. We seem to embrace/tolerate different versions of Robin Hood, King Arthur, Cinderella. If we can accept LOTR as mythology (instead of an story imitating mythology) than it makes it a little easier to accept the changes. And I can see where some would be needed to give it a visual expression rather than a written one.
THOUGHT #3: Having said thought #2, I did not like A) Faramir's kidnapping of Frodo. And it doesn't even make sense. If he wanted the ring, or was possessed by the ring, why didn't he just take it. Bah, I like the yin/yang of Faramir/Boromir. I don't care how simplistic it is. Give me my Faramir back.
THOUGHT #4: I liked the uncertain psychology of Gollum/Smeagol in the book. We discussed this in the first BNU class. Could Frodo's kindness help Gollum find redemption but for Sam's mistrust. Or was Frodo succeeding but lost it when he necessarily betrayed Gollum when he allowed Faramir to capture him. Or was Sam right and Gollum always meant to betray Frodo and could never be redeemed or trusted. I thought PJ set very nice groundwork for this duality of Gollum/Smeagol's nature/state of mind. But in the end, it seemed to me, that Gollum made the decision to betray Frodo without a direct connection to either Frodo's betrayal or Sam's distrust. I know Smeagol was talking about the betrayal just before succumbing to Gollum, but I didn't "feel" that this was the act that allowed Smeagol to allow Gollum back in. It's such a important part of the book and I think they kind of missed the boat.
THOUGHT #5: It will be hard to compare the two movies because I went into FOTR with no expectations and into TTT as a obsessed Tolkien geek. I think I will like a lot about the movie, but the disappointments with plot changes will be greater. I'm willing to suspend this decision till next summer. I'll need that much time to absorb it.
THOUGHT #6: Hey, (fellow Tolkien geek). Saruman did not die like the spoiler said. But Haldir did. Sigh, I could fantasize about Haldir as quickly as Legolas, maybe quicker. He seems a little closer to my age. (The actor that is, Legolas is way older than me.)
LOTR soundtrack website ~ magpie avatar gallery
TORn History Mathom-house ~ Torn Image Posting Guide
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Alcarcalime
Tol Eressea
Dec 20 2012, 7:06pm
Post #10 of 24
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I can make you feel better -- I was 57 at the time! See, for every person younger than you are, there is someone who is older.
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Starling
Half-elven
Dec 20 2012, 9:31pm
Post #11 of 24
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10 years ago I was at the height of my LOTR movie fandom
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I saw The Two Towers 7 times at the movies. It's still my favourite of the three, not because it is the best film, but because of the affection I hold for it.
10 years ago? I was married (not now) and my husband was as geeky as me about the movies. I'm still in the same job, but further up the food chain. All the movie theatres I saw The Two Towers in are now dust. The house I lived in is gone.
Something rather nice is that my ex-mother in law is one of my best friends, and a total geek. We went to Mt Sunday together and had a few sword fights. We have watched the LOTR dvd's and extras countless times, and listen to the soundtracks together.
And last night we went to see The Hobbit together. I went in with very low expectations, and discovered to my joy that I loved the film. It was great to geek out with my buddy again.
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Starling
Half-elven
Dec 20 2012, 9:32pm
Post #12 of 24
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I hated that yucky bashing.
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macfalk
Valinor
Dec 20 2012, 9:41pm
Post #13 of 24
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I only have vague memories of it. I went together with very old friends, and I remember it was very cold outside with lots of snow. From the actual 1st viewing of it, right there, I only remember how cool I felt it was and what a ride those 3 hours were. I distinctly remember Gandalf's horse-charge with Rohirrim down to Helm's deep - it blew my mind completely.
One year later at ROTK however, my memory is much less vague of that very first viewing. I remember going with my family, and cried at the end - the only time I've actually ever cried over a movie. But then again, I was 12 years of age!
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
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Kassandros
Rohan
Dec 20 2012, 10:01pm
Post #14 of 24
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Magpie, your latest avatar is delightful! May I ask where you got it?
I actually always look forward to seeing your new avatars, but this may be my favorite. Magpies are beautiful birds. Alas, I wish we had them here in the Eastern U.S.
all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us...
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Kassandros
Rohan
Dec 20 2012, 11:48pm
Post #16 of 24
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The artist applied 22K gold leaf to the painting. The rest is watercolor.
You did a nice job with the falling snow! I appreciate that you can be distinctive while still changing your avatars. For example, if I'm looking for one of your posts in an music thread, I can easily scan the avatars to find it, even if you've changed it recently.
all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us...
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Kassandros
Rohan
Dec 21 2012, 1:14am
Post #18 of 24
(570 views)
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I looked up the qr code.
all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us...
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Kimi
Forum Admin
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Dec 21 2012, 6:23am
Post #19 of 24
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My first TTT viewing was the best cinema experience for me.
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FOTR: our first viewing was *seriously* marred by a fire alarm during Boromir's death scene! The cinema people had a bit of bother getting people to leave.
ROTK: not as bad, but a boy in front of us talked non-stop and *loudly* for (what felt like) ages. I tried a gentle shoulder-tap and a "shhh" - he just stared at me for a moment and carried on yacking. Finally Mr Kimi tapped him on the shoulder - the boy took one glance at my gentle-as-a-lamb-but-6'4"-tall husband, and subsided into silence.
TTT: magic. We went to Wellington for the premiere. Dressed up in costumes, stood on the red carpet, went to the midnight screening. We were even interviewed for television news afterwards, and I believe Mr Kimi said something coherent (I know I didn't).
Happy memories. :) Thanks for raising the subject, Ardamírë.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Jazmine
Tol Eressea
Dec 22 2012, 11:26pm
Post #20 of 24
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Three weeks previously my mother had passed away so I was in a fairly dark place. I remember going to see TTT several times, just in order to escape from reality really.
For that reason, I never really had any strong opinions about it. That it was there for me to retreat into, was enough...
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Ardamírë
Valinor
Dec 23 2012, 2:46am
Post #21 of 24
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My father died when I was 20, but I can't begin to imagine a mother when you're really still just a kid. My heart goes out to you, Jazmine. You can PM me if you ever want to talk about it.
Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima! Hail Eärendil, brightest of stars!
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Dec 23 2012, 1:04pm
Post #22 of 24
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I was here and at the movies! :)
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I got my tickets as soon as they went on sale, then took the day off from work so I could see it twice the first day. I found the first visit was just a chance to meet and get familiar, then the second viewing was to really get into the story. I was 50 years old that year, so it was cool to finally reach the age of when true adventures really begin ;)
I think that Two Towers has one of the most fantastic openings of any film I've ever seen, let alone the trilogy. I was SO blown away by Gandalf' battle with the Balrog as they fell... then I gasped when the long shot of the water-filled cavern popped up and the small ball of flames fell from the rocky roof... the the closeup of Gandalf riding down slashing away at the Balrog! WOW!
Cripes.... I'm trying to decide what to put down that I really loved most about Two Towers, but I can't narrow it down! Each scene and storyline flies through my mind, and I want to put it down! The highest-lights would be Theoden's freedom from Saruman's enchantment... all things about the Rohirrim and Wormtongue. All things with Frodo, Sam and Gollum. Faramir.. I was so surprised by him... in a VERY GOOD WAY! He's perfect. And especially Treebeard's story! The attack on Isengard is fantastic!
That's the one thing that has always astounded me. Each of the people representing the characters of the story are spot-on with what I've imagined all these years.
gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review
I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!
TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes
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Starling
Half-elven
Dec 23 2012, 8:42pm
Post #23 of 24
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I've been waiting for you, Gramma
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I want a reminder of how many times you saw The Two Towers at the movies. 
PS, I love that long shot too, and the music and singing that accompanies it. It still gives me chills, even after so many viewings.
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JRandomRohirrim01
The Shire
Dec 30 2012, 11:42pm
Post #24 of 24
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Saw It Opening Night...and Christmas Night...
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We went to the biggest local theater we could find (a year later, the first ever Trilogy Tuesday was held in the same theater). I bought a magazine, I think it was Rolling Stone, that was pretty much devoted to TTT and read it while I was standing in line.
While I didn't like TTT as much as Fellowship, I tend to think of it as the movie about Helm's Deep. Yet, every time I rewatch it, there are many threads that have nothing to do with Helm's Deep, especially the amazing development of Gollum.
A few days later, we were up in Massachusetts visiting the folks and decided to go see it Christmas night. It was very snowy out that night, so the theater we went to was pretty empty. But it was great to see it yet again and have the theater mostly to ourselves.
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