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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

(2002, Rated PG-13, Fantasy, Starring Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Outstanding, but has very violent battle scenes.

updated 06.17.09

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–13

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Different creatures have to work together.
  • Violence :

    Intense battle violence Intense peril.
  • Sex :

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Strong language, no profanity.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Parents need to know that this movie is nonstop, very intense action, with extremely violent battle scenes and intense peril.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the many representations of the war between good and evil. King Theoden comes back. Gollum may be coming back. Where else do you see the dualities expressed? What does it mean to say that Saruman has "a mind of metal and wheels and no longer cares for growing things?" 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?
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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers?
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See all 40 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    A Must see!! 12+

    I really think this film is awesome!! Of course, it has epic scenes and battles, which is too violent for young audiences, just like any other battle scenes in other movies. The character of Gollum is very impressive, and interesting. This movie is certainly better than the first, but the 1st one is also amazing. I recommend this film for those who are thinking about what to watch, but I again about the intense killing, though it's not like blood and guts spill everywhere. Just some head chop and sword stabbings. Anyways, over all, it's a 5 star oscar-worthy film, with great acting and well done directing (specially effects)!

  2. Kid Reviewer
    Age 12
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Great movie i loved it lots of action lots of fun lord of the rings rocks!!!!!! the return of the king is my favorite (some of the movie may be to violen for some kids)

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    CONTAINS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND SCARY SCENES

    Again, an outstanding film, like the first, but contains too much violence for a PG-13 rating. Scenes that contain this type of violence include: a man ripped open slightly with bloody, mortal wounds (the gory site of the massacre of him and his men is seen); a scene for an orc's head is chopped off (blood gushes out for about three seconds), then the uruks rip out his intestines and devour them; an uruk's head is staked on a spear; a dwarf digs through bits and pieces of dead, burnt corpses; an orc is smashed so hard, the leaves around him are bathed in blood; a man is thrown down a flight of stairs (and spits blood on another man's hand); a creature breaks a rabbit in half and pulls out the flesh with his teeth; a man is devoured by a warg, an orc's throat is slit, blood comes out; a battle, many are killed and eaten, bloody ground, screaming wounded; an orc's neck breaks; a man had many bloody wounds but lives; a creature is beaten graphically (for about thirty seconds); a collosal battle, thousands die; (an uruk violently slices a man's face apart), a man is stabbed several times, he lies next to other gory bodies; (a man is crushed by a battering ram, the one next to him slices the assailant's arm off, leaving him to suffer); a man is stabbed by a pike, which he thrusts into an orc's throat; a man is hit by ballista; a huge cavalry charge causes enemy infantry to be massacred gorily. There is also plenty of scary and disturbing scenes. Other than that, its a great film.

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    Kids ages: 12, 18
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    well done but very very violent

    again great movie very violent

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

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