Orc this way (From Western Telegraph)

Orc this way

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS

Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee Cert. 12

The film I have been waiting all year to see is finally here and I haven't been so excited since I was a toddler going to the cinema for the first time.

That's the mark of truly great films: They remind you what cinema is really for. 'The Two Towers' will do just that, and I can say that even though I haven't been able to see it yet. I have, however, seen enough to whet my appetite to see it all as soon as is humanly possible, and probably more than once.

This time last year, New Zealand director Peter Jackson sent the world mad with the first epic part of the movie trilogy, adapted from J. R. R. Tolkien's 'The Fellowship Of The Ring'. That film fast became the biggest hit of the year, currently the fifth most successful movie ever made. It was nominated for no less than 13 Oscars. It was quite the most magnificent film I've seen in many years. The best old-fashioned epic since CGI again made expensive epics possible.

Jackson's vision and belief in the project allowed him, with the backing of Miramax, to shoot these huge movies all at one time - obviously embracing a huge financial risk. So the huge cast and crew lumbered around New Zealand creating the stunning footage that eventually cut together to create Tolkien's Middle Earth from the Hobbits' Shire to the burnt wastes of Mordor. The entire world became enthralled with the diminutive Frodo Baggins' quest to travel with an all-powerful, magic ring, through a land besieged by the evil Sauron.

The success of the movie was a result of that rare coincidence which all films struggle to manifest: A film where all departments (design, props, music, acting, direction, script etc) seem to work to their optimum and, most importantly, in perfect conjunction with each other. Together they managed to create a totally believable fantasy world with all its wonders and dangers. I can't say enough good things about the film. I'm just glad it exists.

And now, of course, comes the second part. The second volume of the trilogy follows the fortunes of the divided fellowship to Orthanc where a great battle will be waged against Saruman, servant of Sauron. But first the fellowship must be reunited bit by bit, barring Frodo and Sam whose journey to Mordor continues in ever more desperate circumstances. This part of the story is actually two separate books but you couldn't have a film completely divided into two, so much reworking will have been done to integrate Frodo's quest and the rest of the fellowship's deeds. There will obviously be omissions, but it promises to be every bit as exciting if not more so.

The cast has several additions notably Bernard Hill as the fallen King Theoden, Miranda Otto as Eowyn, love rival for the affections of Aragorn, and David Wenham as the gentle Faramir brother of the dead Boromir.

And then there's ... I won't go on. I'm either preaching to the converted or wasting my time on those who wouldn't want to see this film if I personally laid a trail of million pound notes from your front room to the cinema.

'The Two Towers' is, I guarantee, a 'must see'. You won't hear me say that about a film I haven't seen ever again... well until this time next year when the final 'Lord Of The Rings' movie is released. Vaughan Sivell