The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, released in 2002, was the highly acclaimed sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. This film, directed by Peter Jackson, is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, The Two Towers, which is the second part of The Lord of the Rings. It boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis, and others. To stream The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in the United States, you have several available platforms.
What Is The Two Towers About?
In the second installment of The Lord of the Rings, the remaining members of the Fellowship of the Ring go on separate paths in their quest. The three storylines involve Frodo and Sam's journey to destroy the Ring, Merry and Pippin's escape and efforts to convince the Ents to attack Saruman's fortress, and Gandalf the White's encounter with Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas, who fight Saruman's army.
The film begins with Gandalf battling the Balrog in Moria and then being resurrected as Gandalf the White. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas track the Uruk-hai to Rohan, where they meet Éomer and learn about Théoden's control by Gríma Wormtongue. Gandalf reunites with the group and frees Théoden from Saruman's influence. Théoden decides to evacuate the citizens to Helm's Deep after hearing about Saruman's plans. Gandalf asks Éomer and his followers to support their king. Galadriel reminds Elrond of their alliance with Men. The Battle of Helm's Deep takes place, with Théoden's army greatly outnumbered. However, the arrival of Lothlorien Elves and Gandalf with Éomer's Men turns the tide of the battle.
On the contrary, Merry and Pippin successfully escape unnoticed to the Fangorn Forest when Éomer and his éored eliminate the Uruk-hai who were in pursuit. There, they encounter Treebeard and the other Ents, who decide against participating in the impending war against Sauron. Yet, as Treebeard leads the Hobbits towards Isengard, they bear witness to the destruction inflicted on the forests by Sauron and his armies. This greatly angers the Ents, prompting them to march towards Isengard and trap Saruman in his tower. Even when the remaining Uruk-hai attempt to flee to Fangorn Forest at the conclusion of the Battle of Helm's Deep, they are met with swift demise at the hands of the Ents.
In the Emyn Muil, Frodo and Sam finally come face-to-face with Gollum, who has been trailing the Fellowship since their time in Moria. Despite Sam's objections, Frodo shows mercy towards Gollum and allows him to serve as their guide to Mordor after he promises on the Ring to aid them. Upon discovering the heavily guarded Black Gate, they opt for an alternate route to Mordor but are captured by the Rangers of Ithilien along the way. Their leader, Faramir, brings them to Gondor in order to present the Ring to his father, Denethor. However, Faramir releases them when he witnesses Frodo's unwavering determination to fight for the remaining good in Middle-earth.
What Is The Two Towers’ Rotten Tomatoes Score?
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers received praise from both critics and audiences alike. With an approval rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 257 critics' reviews and over 250,000 audience ratings, it was well-received. The film also saw immense financial success, grossing over $936 million worldwide. In fact, it became the highest-grossing film of 2002 and was the third highest-grossing film of all time upon its release, trailing only Titanic and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Additionally, it garnered several award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects, winning in the latter two categories.
Where Can You Watch The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers?
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers can be easily accessed online through various streaming services in the U.S. Subscribers to Max can enjoy watching the movie in 4K. For those who prefer to own it, the movie is available for purchase on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Vudu, DirecTV, AMC Theaters on Demand, and Redbox. Alternatively, if you just want to rent it, you can find it on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Vudu, DirecTV, and Spectrum On Demand.