THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS
A morally serious fantasy epic with spectacular battles and sharp edges.
Should You Watch It?
This is a four-star fantasy epic with a strong moral course. Good fights evil. Courage matters. Sacrifice, mercy, loyalty and taking a stand all receive serious attention. The acting is excellent across the ensemble, and Gollum sets a new standard for computer animation.
The cost is real. The story contains strong fighting, frightening demon-like creatures, an orc’s severed arm, cannibalism and talk of eating Hobbits. Its resurrection imagery and other supernatural elements also depart from the Christian context the source review sees in Tolkien’s work. The parallel editing can feel choppy, and some plotlines wander.
If your family includes teens or adults who can handle intense fantasy violence and discern the worldview issues, this is worth seeing. For younger or sensitive children, choose something gentler.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter the fellowship is split apart, Frodo and Sam continue toward Mordor with the evil ring of power, hoping to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom. They capture Gollum, a pitiful former ring-bearer who knows a secret path.
Meanwhile, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas pursue Merry and Pippin, who have been kidnapped by orcs. The evil Saruman is preparing a massive army to destroy the human kingdom of Rohan.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an outstanding, ambitious film whose flaws do not outweigh its achievement. Peter Jackson does a masterful job shaping a difficult middle chapter into a cinematic crisis, climax and resolution. The opening is magnificent, the battles are massive and exciting, and the computer effects create an excellent, naturalistic Gollum.
Nearly everyone gives a very good performance. Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies and Andy Serkis stand out. Still, the plot sometimes wanders, the characters get in their own way, and the parallel editing can feel choppy and rushed.
The Worldview
The film presents a very strong moral worldview through its dialogue and character situations. Good fights evil, courage requires action, and some struggles have no comfortable middle ground. The story also suggests that war can sometimes be necessary and desirable.
The film does not highlight Tolkien’s redemptive aspects as well as it could. Its depiction of Gandalf’s resurrection is somewhat New Age in presentation, and the film heightens environmentalist notions. Occult elements include apparent telepathy by Elf creatures and prescient dreams. These choices may separate resurrection and respect for nature from the Christian fantasy context in which Tolkien placed them.
Even so, the central moral vision remains serious and compelling. The characters face evil outside themselves and within themselves, and the story calls them to choose what is good. Scripture likewise says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview with lots of dialogue and character situations reinforcing that worldview, as well as some environmental elements, some redemptive metaphorical elements, some New Age pagan elements (such as Gandalf’s resurrection being slightly over-written where they should have stayed with the book’s description), and occult elements that fit into the paganism inserted into the story (such as apparent telepathy by “Elf” creatures and prescient dreams); no foul language; strong action violence including sword fights, many arrows shot at creatures and humans and animals, spears thrown and thrust into soldiers’ bodies, scary looking and violent demon-like soldiers called orcs, orc’s arm chopped off during fight, cannibalism scene among demon-like orc soldiers, horses charge, explosion, wolf creatures attack people and horses but with not much blood and gore, and character battles large fiery demon to the death; no sex but passionate kissing, including woman kisses man while he’s lying down fully clothed; upper masculine nudity; no alcohol use; no smoking; and, problematic, mixed, borderline scene where supernatural humanoid “wizard” performs exorcism (with his magical or supernatural staff) on one man who’s been possessed by another supernatural “wizard” who has turned evil.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The characters face an epic struggle against evil. How can you stand for what is right without becoming controlled by anger?
Romans 12:21 · Ephesians 6:10–18The story presents mercy toward a pitiful enemy. When is mercy difficult, and how does God call us to treat those who have done wrong?
Luke 6:35–36 · Micah 6:8The film suggests that some battles require courage and action. How can you tell the difference between wise peacemaking and refusing to take a necessary stand?
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8 · James 3:17–18The story uses resurrection imagery in a way that can separate it from its Christian context. What does the Bible teach about resurrection and its connection to Jesus Christ?
1 Corinthians 15:20–22 · John 11:25–26The Final Word
This is an ambitious, morally serious fantasy adventure with excellent performances, groundbreaking effects and thrilling battles. Its frightening violence and supernatural worldview require discernment, especially for younger viewers. For teens and adults who can handle those elements, WORTH THE TRIP — TEENS AND ADULTS.
