The next morning, we prepare to watch "The Two Towers". Tolkien has somehow acquired a pipe and tobacco, and so is quite happy, but rather apprehensive about what is to come.
I pop the DVD into the drive. "I still don't understand how that thin circle can hold 3 hours of movie," Tolkien murmurs.
"Technology." I respond.
I begin the movie. We watch the Balrog scene, and Tolkien's eyes widen. I explain how the movie will jump around from Frodo and Sam to the rest of the Fellowship and back again, unlike the book, which was in two parts. Tolkien nods, seemingly unperturbed.
Soon, Gollum appears. "Hmmm," Tolkien observes. "He looks about right, but the large blue eyes could almost be cute. Maybe yellow would have been better."
"Maybe," I murmur. "Perhaps red!"
Then the focus shifts to Merry and Pippin. "I bet the makeup people had fun making Merry's ghastly eyebrow," he comments.
"I'm sure they did," I reply.
Tolkien leans forward. "The orcs have lower-class British accents! How interesting. But they don't sound harsh enough. You could almost get to like them."
The Riders of Rohan attack. The Riders come and meet the three hunters. Tolkien smiles as he realizes they are saying the same lines as in the book.
The movie travels to the Dead Marshes. Frodo falls into the bog. Tolkien is aghast. "Frodo is both young AND foolish!" he exclaims. "The straight-forward fall is rather unrealistic!"
I give the customary response. "I guess they thought it would be more dramatic."
"VERY dramatic!! Why is it so long before he gets rescued?"
"Slow motion enhances the drama," I explain.
"Ah," says Tolkien and blows a smoke ring.
After a bit, Sam falls off the rock near the Black Gate. Tolkien simply stares and shakes his head.
He likes how Treebeard looks and sounds.
The three hunters enter Fangorn Forest. Tolkien laughs. "They have given Gimli interesting powers. Not only does he taste blood, he can tell it is orc blood!"
Gandalf appears, and Tolkien smiles. "Yes, he looks just right! Different, and yet the same."
He likes all the events and characters at Rohan and the dramatic change of Theoden.
Then, the people of Edoras leave for Helm's Deep. "It seems to be going well," says Tolkien. "Eowyn and Theoden look right. They even have Hama."
Then Aragorn has his vision. "Mmm," Tolkien comments. "I like the emphasis on Arwen's choice to be mortal. But what is all this with Elrond trying to stop Aragorn?"
"More dramatic," I explain.
Then the people of Rohan are attacked by the wargs. "Well, they look okay," he says. "But they're not very wolflike." Then Legolas makes his surreal leap onto the horse. "Elves are nimble, but I don't believe I gave them the ability to FLY."
Then it comes, Aragorn's fall. Tolkien is momentarily stunned. Then as the riders come to Helm's Deep, he slowly realizes. "I don't believe it. They killed off Aragorn. Now I suppose they'll make Legolas king of Gondor. And Arwen will marry Gimli. I feared it would be so."
"Be comforted," I tell him. "Movies of today delight in near death experiences. He'll be okay."
It shows Aragorn floating down the river and coming on the shore. "Oh, did you know the actor almost drowned while filming this scene?" I comment.
Tolkien's head raises. "Well, that's what happens when you try to put in extra scenes. I guess this thing with Arwen rescuing him with elven powers does work though. Kind of like Beren and Luthien."
He laughs at the humor between Gollum and Sam when Sam makes the rabbit stew and enjoys it that they mentioned the oliphaunts.
Then Faramir captures the hobbits and Gollum. He doesn't seem too disturbed when Arwen leaves for the ships, realizing the movie is only trying to give Arwen more of a part.
Aragorn returns and it finally comes: Helm's Deep. I immediately warn Tolkien that it will be extremely long and detailed. He braces himself for what is to come. Then his face shows surprise. "What on earth is happening! Elves are coming?! Haldir is their leader?"
"Yes," I say. "I think they wanted a chance to show more elves."
He likes how Legolas and Gimli do their counting of the deaths, like in the book. But as Helm's deep goes on and on, he grows apprehensive. "If this is Helm's Deep, something that took up one chapter in the book, what will they do to the battle of Pelennor Fields? Will it be made into a whole separate movie?"
"Actually, Pelennor Fields is only a bit longer," I mention.
Soon, Haldir dies. I look over at Tolkien, who seems to have died himself. "I can't think of a single reason of why they made that happen," he moans. "And they increased the torture with much slow motion and elongated breaths. And all that happened was that an orc hit his hand!"
He thinks all the ents look really good, but he doesn't approve of how Treebeard seems to need much urging from the hobbits before attacking Saruman. "I more enjoyed the idea of him finding the anger within himself."
Finally, Helm's Deep is over and he sighs with relief. Then the ents attack Isengaard. He nods happily as turrets fall and the river flows.
He likes Ithilien, but not how Faramir seems all evil and threatening. "He was tempted, yes," Tolkien explains. "But not quite to that extent."
He likes how it had the conversation where Frodo and Sam talk about how they might be put into stories. But when it ends, he is a bit bewildered. "What about the palantir? What about Shelob?!"
"It will come in the next movie," I reassure. "So, what did you think?"
"It was good. Quite good."
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