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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (PG-13, 2002)

common sense media says

Outstanding, but has very violent battle scenes.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that violence in this fantasy spectacle includes countless battle casualties in death by arrows, spears, swords, monster-stomping, fatal plunges, and explosions. For all the monster gore, pet-loving kids may be most disturbed when a hungry creature tears up fresh-killed rabbits to eat. There is nightmarish imagery of ghoulish things, dead and alive, that may be too much for some. Once heroic character smokes. The story starts right where the previous Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring left off. Viewers not familiar with the first film (or J.R.R. Tolkien's novels) will be very confused.

Positive messages: Theme throughout of sacrifice made in an immense struggle against evil; a tormented king must send his people to likely death in battle, including kids; Frodo must continue carrying the Ring despite the pain it inflicts on him. Talk of mercy and compassion for the grotesque Gollum, understanding the creature despite his treachery. An immortal elf princess considers choosing love over living forever. Evil forces of the dark wizards equated with industrialization, forest clear-cutting and mechanized development.
Positive role models: The valor of kings, princes, and warriors are exalted, even little children who go to battle. Negotiating a peace, it is suggested, is for traitors and cowards, though this is an utterly evil, all-or-nothing enemy. The ring-obsessed, degraded creature Gollum is described as not beyond redemption (no other bad guys are given this courtesy).
Violence: Thousands of battle casualties in death by arrows, spears, and swords and one gigantic explosion. Threats of cannibalism. Orcs are dismembered and decapitated and, in once case, apparently devoured by other orcs (with some gore). Gollum tears up freshly killed rabbits to eat. Hand-to-hand combat and tussling with Gollum. People fall from great heights.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Hard to ignore the original Tolkien books, not to mention a plethora of video games, movie tie-in action figures, role-playing games, plus the movie sequels and other existing adaptations.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Pipe smoking.
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More on The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

  • 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?

What's the story?

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?

Is it any good?
 

The Two Towers 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. This one 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 place-holder.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: New Line
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen
Genre: Fantasy
Run time: 179 minutes
Theatrical release: December 18, 2002
DVD release: August 26, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: epic battle sequences and scary images
This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

11

Most useful reviews by all members

MissPerfect
kid, 13 years old
11
 
Great movie! Not for under 11!
9? 8? Seriously.I read the books first then watched them.A rule I have is: If they can't read the books they shouldn't watch the movie.This is because children are watching movies way too old for them now.
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Ezio432
teen, 15 years old
9
 
ALRIGHT FOR ALL KIDS EXCEPT 8 AND UNDER
READ MY REVIEW OF FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. NOT MUCH WORSE EXCEPT SARUMAN AND THE ORCS MAY SCARE KIDS YOUNGER THAN 8. There is no more topless statuary in Rivendell, which didnt really matter in the first film but Common Sense Media here seems like it wants the first amendment abolished. You know what that means(i think it may be another amendment but i think its first)? IT MEANS KIDS DO NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SEE ANY MOVIES OR VIDEOGAMES WITH BAD CONTENET! If that amendment is abolished, that will happen, which makes CSM, kind of communist. It also restricts kids from seeing art with nudity. WHO CARES? its not like real nudity and they are drew by expert artists.
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Coop°
teen, 15 years old
11
 
awsome movies!
I REALLY LOVE ALL THE FILMS! so the're might be some violence, but you can see it's fake, like those orcs, they really don't look real, but if youre kid has a weak stomach, than i coul understand,, GREAT MOVIES!:D
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BeenieLad
kid, 9 years old
7
 
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xOAnim3Fr3akOx
teen, 14 years old
11
 
most likely best LOTR movie. ever.
5 STARS!!! most likely the bloodiest, goriest LOTR movie. perfect :)
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urial septim
kid, 11 years old
2
 
a great fantasy movie for kids and family
dismemberance decapitations and impaling all on screen make it not for 1 year olds
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imawesomebroski
teen, 17 years old
14
 
awesome movie, scary and bloody, disturbing images, highly epic and intense.
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oag721
teen, 14 years old
12
 
Okay if have read the book
I find it strange that this is iffy but the first an third (the 3rd was much more violent, anyway) are on. I believe that this movie is appropriate for anyone who has read the book, which starts and ends differently than the film. Yes, it is violent, but there's not much blood and gore and the battles are for a good cause. Note that there are times where supposedly characters die but this is just a misunderstanding or they survive; these typically don't happen in the book. The scale of the final battle is shown as dark (at night) and rainy, so very little is seen, and it involves a lot of crazy stunts that makes it really enjoyable to watch. But the messages highlighted in the CSM review are all present and the characters are very moral, though Faramir, one of the most beloved characters in the book, acts very differently and has moral conflictions but understands what's right and the end. I love how Tolkien (and Jackson) emphasized how the role of women (like Eowyn, who wants to prove herself and doesn't like being told she is a girl and must stay out of battle) and those who are younger (like Merry and Pippin or hobbits in general, who also carry out valiant deeds and prove themselves) were often underestimated, even in medieval settings. Anyway, there's also a brief kissing scene in a dream between Aragorn and Arwen--whose character is very built up in the movies--but nothing too extensive.
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Justagirl
teen, 15 years old
4
 
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CrazyBlu4Eva
kid, 10 years old
11
 
Getting better and better everytime.
Another outstanding movie from Peter Jackson!J.R.R.,you're the best!
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mca27@optonlin ...
adult
10
 
great movie, but not for little kids
first i watched the special features of this movie and then I saw the movie. But the only reason I saw the movie was because my babysitter let me watch it. It was kind of creepy. In the beginning the close up of golum's face is very startling. THere are a lot of battle sequences. Some parts of hte movie had arrows going into Orc's heads and mouths. When Sauron comes out and his fingers get cut off, everybody falls down and on of the most gruesome parts is when Golom eats the live rabbit. I would not recommend it for young kids, even though i saw it when I was seven
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Spielberg00
teen, 14 years old
12
 
Less slow than "The Fellowship of the Ring"; slightly more intense/violent/brutal.
My rating: PG-13 for some sequences of intense epic battle violence including frightening images.
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Jadenp
teen, 15 years old
12
 
Suggested MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences, and strong violence throughout.
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Mi3
adult
14
 
awsome movie for 14+
really good movie. lots f graphic and intense violence. good role models and positive messages.
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Love_my_Dogs_SMR
teen, 14 years old
10
 
:)
OK i first watch this movie when i was 5! now my little sister is afraid of it, so i guess i was wired! but any way it is a good movie. there is lots of battles and stuff but not to much blood or guts and gore.
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lukefrost
kid, 13 years old
12
 
ages 12-all
love this movie there is 1 huge battle scene at the end wich is violent orcs r scary for kids
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BestPicture1996
teen, 16 years old
13
 
Outstanding sequel
Although very dark, "The Two Towers" is such a well-made sequel to the 1st iconic movie in the beloved LOTR series. It blends special effects so surreally with live action its outstanding. This is my least fav of the trilogy, but that's only because this is an incredibly good series.
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Mattzilla
teen, 14 years old
13
 
The next chapter in the lord of the rings. Frodo and sam are on there way to destroy the ring and meet up with the creepy Gullom. Younger kids will be scared of Gullom.
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quickbuild2345
teen, 14 years old
13
 
Good for teens, but not for any younger.
This is an O.K. movie, but it has a weird, gross orc-eating scene, and then some decapitating and stabbing. It's worse than the first, so don't see it until you're a teenager.
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MovieGuy23
teen, 14 years old
13
 
The Two Towers shovels more gold for the LOTR trilogy
The Two Towers is a magnificent continuation of The Lord of the Rings. There seems to be a deeper emotional depth here, though the battle scenes are quite long. The biggest treat the film has to offer is Gollum, a unique blend of acting from Andy Serkis and CGI effects. Note to Parents: Although this is a fine spectacle, the battle scenes are longer and a bit bloodier in this chapter than in The Fellowship of the Ring. Teens and up.
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