[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

I would be mildly surprised at a single nomination for The Two Towers, and wouldn't complain if it didn't win anything. <P>The Fellowship of the Ring was an incredible movie. <P>It had emotional passion and real dramatic tension, outstanding costuming and cinematography, first rate performances from Ian McKellen and Sean Bean in particular. <P>It's editing was remarkable, especially the more evil scenes, such as right before the battle with Cave Troll and the views about Baradur and Isengard. <P>The music was nearly as a powerful and evocative a presence as it is in Star Wars. <P>Film buffs I knew who didn't give a flip about Tolkien were enthused by it, though felt it wasn't the sort of movie the Oscars recognized. They weren't surprised 'A Beautiful Mind' won, but to my shock, didn't feel it deserved it. The screenplay and adaptation was outstanding (surpassing the LOTR:FOTR, Fran Boyens is the weak link in PJ's crew), but it was otherwise unremarkable.<P>The Two Towers has some good performances, (Eowyn and King Theoden) but none as emotionally impactful as Ian or Sean Bean's. There will be no best supporting actor awards. Sorry to those who say Sean Astin should get a nod. The Academy doesn't tend to reward well-delivered speeches. Not enough of a challenge to the actor.<P>The constuming and cinematography is the same as last year, and they didn't win then. Now it's old hat.<P>The editing was not as good as last year. The pacing was off. The battle scenes weren't as powerful and that's an editing problem, too. <P>The musical score wasn't as varied, and didn't play as much of a role. I notice PJ downplayed the score a bit in his SE DVD as well.<P>There were also major awkward no-no's that kill its chances, beyond its being a sequel and an action/adventure (which don't win any serious awards in any case). <P>Narration in the middle of the movie, where the narrator has had no presence elsewhere.<P>Using Narration to take the place of dramatic tension. If the narrator has to tell us what the danger is, there has been a lack of build-up.<P>Lack of explication as to where Osgiliath was, and why was it important. For <I>the</I> critical dramatic moment in that plotline, that is not good.<P>Walk-on characters with important lines that are otherwise not introduced (you don't even have a name). Weakens a movie.<P>A rather thin performance by Elijah Wood.<P>A major role played by a cartoon character. Unless the entire movie's a cartoon, the Acedemy deducts ten points as a matter of course. So to speak. <P>Be content 'The Two Towers' is making a lot of money. That means people will go to see the 'Return of the King' next year.<P>C'mon guys. It's telling that we're asking 'what's its competition?' We know out of the gate 'The Two Towers' would have to win by default. <P>If anyone deserves best supporting actor it's Willem Defoe for the Green Goblin in Spiderman. He took a paper thin role and made it something subtle and powerful.<P>-Maril<P>P.S. Those of you who feel it should win an academy award: Why? Beyond the fact that you simply liked the movie. Be specific.<p>[ December 29, 2002: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]