Re-claiming the Two Towers

After re-claiming the Fellowship of the Ring, on to the next part.

The Two Towers is mostly about politics and so the political situation of the book should be preserved in the film.

That means four things for the salvaging:

1. Treebeard can't be introduced raging,
2. Théoden can't be reduced to a puppet of Saruman,
3. Faramir can't be depicted moody and
4. the Rohirrim can't have help at Helm's Deep.

Also, so as not to erase the memory of Dunharrow, Éowyn can't be seen in Helm's Deep and of the dastardly things done to Aragorn we need not even speak.

Sam's salt from the Shire is of course Galadriel's earth from Lórien, but it's a minor thing that doesn't overshadow the Scouring of the Shire.

Removing the Galadhrim from Helm's Deep is a lot of work and results in a battle, which looks a little like a walk in the park, yet still it feels graver, mostly due to Aragorn shouting less (in front of Elves).

And the discipline of the Uruk-hai must be toned down a bit.

I don't know yet whether I'll enjoy this cut as much as the previous one, but for now I'm content with it.

Technical details.

Times are given for formal beauty relative to an imaginary single film joining the parts of the two DVDs extended edition.

Starting points (-ss) and durations (-endpos) of the chunks of the loyalist cut.

• 40.00 / 36:15.32 (arrival in Fangorn)
• 40:12.96 / 35:43.04 (Grima's ousting)
• 1:17:36.12 / 9:24.32 (Gandalf riding out)
• 1:28:41.64 / 3:54.96 (Grima giving counsel)
• 1:33:10.68 / 8:59.96 (Frodo's capture)
• 2:09:01.04 / 4:59.92 (Boromir's victory)
• 2:17:19.36 / 6:42.52 (Frodo's release)
• 2:26:25.44 / 1:41.68 ("We will outlast them.")
• 2:29:19.44 / 1:40.20 (retreat into the ravine)
• 2:32:00.16 / 7.92 (arrival in the caves)
• 2:32:47.40 / 5:29.68 (Gimli in armor)
• 2:39:42.52 / 15.32 (calm on the wall)
• 2:40:40.92 / 53.36 (marching)
• 2:42:05.00 / 8.36 (breath)
• 2:42:34.40 / 23 (first shot)
• 2:42:59.24 / 28.24 (attack)
• 2:43:49.56 / 9.68 (counter attack)
• 2:45:41.56 / 2:00.92 (ramp advance)
• 2:47:47.16 / 30 (torch arrival)
• 2:48:19.6 / 2.8 (wall view)
• 2:48:30.72 / 10.24 (explosion)
• 2:48:53.24 / 1:00.6 (Gimli to the rescue)
• 2:49:55.2 / 5.76 (dive)
• 2:50:32.86 / 1:48.36 (Treebeard declining)
• 2:53:54.44 / 5:36.24 (Treebeard led)
• 3:00:04 / 2:23.36 (march of the Ents)
• 3:04:53.16 / 26.08 ("They have died defending it.")
• 3:05:29 / 3:18 (reinforcements coming)
• 3:09:11.16 / 2:29.4 (Isengard falls)
• 3:16:14.2 / 43.08 (Huorns)
• 3:17:04.6 / 2:37.16 (merry Merry)
• 3:22:05.96 / 3:55 (the end)