Lindsay Wilson (Sheiob)

I long for the vampires of Anne Rice, but I suppose this is something.

Almost all the positives of this film come from Gerard Butler, who has both the looks and comedic timing to pull off just about anything. Katherine Heigl once again plays the neurotic character she's perfected, which is starting to get pretty tired. But although the film adds little to the chick flick formula, other than the raunchiness that's already starting seeping into this genre, it's still entertaining and humorous enough to win out over a sizable percentage of its peers.

Any Tolkien fan (with the small exception of the purist) can happily make it through this film. The non-reader may find themselves overwhelmed with characters and lengthy explanations. They may also wonder why they had to sit through three hours of it (while the reader mourns for old Tom). If you're new to Tolkien, don't worry. It only gets easier from here. And you can always just forget the plot and instead marvel at the special effects, amazing camera work, and the richly detailed sets.

Two Towers is recompense for making it through the Fellowship. Tolkien/Jackson finally got most of the lengthy explaining out the way; now you get to sit back and enjoy action sequence after action sequence, concluding with the arduous battle of Helm's Deep. Don't let the Fellowship scare non-readers away from this (and the Return of the King) - they are nothing alike.