Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers turns 20 today with an audacious action that makes most of us feel old. Along with The Fellowship of the Ring and Return of the King, this film is a cinematic treasure, and we still love it no matter how old it is.
Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel set the bar when it came to embracing fantasy, opening the floodgates for the genre when it came to representation on screen.
Being the second film in a trilogy is a tough situation, as it lacks the excitement and high stakes that come with an ending that introduces us to the world at large, but Two Towers still stands shoulder to shoulder-with it proudly. Companions.
It’s a complete masterpiece and features several excellent performances, including introducing us to the complex and conflicted Gollum played by the extraordinary Andy Serkis. From start to finish it continues to showcase stunning shots of the beautiful landscapes and majestic mountains of Middle Earth
(see: Aotearoa/New Zealand), culminating in the Battle of Helm’s Deep, considered one of the greatest battle scenes ever created. For film or television. Now fans are taking to Twitter to celebrate the film in all its glory, sharing clips, screenshots, and quotes that still stick with them 20 years later.
This single speech delivered by the steadfast and loyal Samwise Gangi moves us all and serves to remind us that even through what we have been through and continue to do, the darkness will pass and it is still good in the world.