Rating Reviews:
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QUICK TAKE:
Action/Fantasy: Various beings of Middle Earth battle an evil wizard's forces as they continue on their quest to transport a powerful and dangerous ring to its place of origin so that it can be destroyed.
PLOT:
When we last saw the Fellowship of the Ring, one of its members was dead, another - the wizard Gandalf (IAN McKELLEN) - seemingly fell to his death saving the others, and the rest had split up into various groups.
The bearer of the Ring, Frodo Baggins (ELIJAH WOOD) is still attempting to make his way to Mordor with his friend and fellow Hobbit, Sam (SEAN ASTIN), where they plan on destroying the ring once and for all. They're soon accompanied by Gollum (voice of ANDY SERKIS), an emaciated little creature who once possessed the ring. Suffering from a split personality disorder, he offers to help lead them to Mordor, but his evil side apparently has different plans. They eventually run into Faramir (DAVID WENHAM), the brother of a slain member of the Fellowship, while on their way.
Then there's Merry (DOMINIC MONAGHAN) and Pippin (BILLY BOYD), other hobbits who were captured by the forces commanded by evil wizard Saruman (CHRISTOPHER LEE) who still plots on ruling Middle Earth and is building an army of monstrous Uruks to assist him. The hobbits eventually escape, but soon find themselves under the wary eye of Treebeard (voice of JOHN RHYS-DAVIES), an ancient and gargantuan tree-shepherd who wonders if they work for Saruman and are responsible for the heavy deforestation that's occurring.
Meanwhile, human Aragorn (VIGGO MORTENSEN), elf Legolas (ORLANDO BLOOM) and dwarf Gimli (JOHN RHYS-DAVIES) are on their trail, hoping to save the hobbits. They eventually make their way into the Kingdom of Rohan where King Theoden (BERNARD HILL) has been put under a spell by Saruman and is controlled by his court advisor, Wormtongue (BRAD DOURIF).
With the king's son dead, his niece and nephew, Eowyn (MIRANDA OTTO) and Eomer (KARL URBAN), now doubt the king's abilities, particularly with Saruman's forces closing in. Once the King is freed from his spell, things improve and they head off for the cliff fortress at Helm's Deep where they hope to make a stand against the approaching hordes. Eowyn sees much in Aragorn, but he still longs for Arwen (LIV TYLER), his elf lover, who must make a decision about whether to leave with the rest of the departing elves, or stay with him and face his mortality.
With Saruman's massive forces making their way through the land and toward the fortress, the various groups continue on their quest to defeat the evil wizard and eventually return the Ring to its point of origin where it can be destroyed once and for all.
WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they liked the first film, it's a good bet they'll want to see this sequel.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For epic battle sequences and scary images.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
ELIJAH WOOD plays a young hobbit who hopes to return the Ring to its point of origin so that it can be destroyed. He must confront various external and internal forces, however, that complicate his mission.
SEAN ASTIN plays his best friend who accompanies him on his quest and is suspicious of Gollum.
GOLLUM is an emaciated little creature suffering from a split personality. He offers to help the two hobbits, but really wants the Ring back in his possession once again.
BILLY BOYD and DOMINIC MONAGHAN play other hobbits who find themselves in various perilous situations.
IAN McKELLEN plays an old and wise wizard who guides and assists various members of the Fellowship on their quest.
VIGGO MORTENSEN plays a human ranger who risks life and limb in trying to rescue two of the hobbits and defeat Saruman's forces.
ORLANDO BLOOM plays an elf bowman who's part of the Fellowship of the Ring and kills various beings that attack their party.
JOHN RHYS-DAVIES plays a gruff dwarf who accompanies Aragorn and Legolas, and fights and kills various attacking forces.
CHRISTOPHER LEE plays an evil wizard who's building a massive army so that he can destroy and rule Middle Earth.
LIV TYLER plays an elf who must decide her future and whether it involves Aragorn.
BERNARD HILL plays a king who's under Saruman's spell until he's freed when he then tries to protect his people.
BRAD DOURIF plays his evil advisor who's really a spy working for Saruman.
MIRANDA OTTO plays the King's niece who doubts his motives and apparently falls for Aragorn.
KARL URBAN plays her brother who sets out to battle and defeat Saruman's forces.
DAVID WENHAM plays a human whose brother was earlier killed and who battles Saruman's forces while finding the Ring enticing.
TREEBEARD is an ancient and towering tree-shepherd who's suspicious of Merry and Pippin. |
