The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a 2002 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter

Jackson, based on the second volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The film is the
second instalment in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and was produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Fran
Walsh and Jackson, and written by Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Stephen Sinclair and Jackson. The film
features an ensemble cast including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean
Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, Dominic
Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, David Wenham, Brad Dourif, Karl
Urban and Andy Serkis. It was preceded by The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and followed by The
Return of the King (2003).
Continuing the plot of The Fellowship of the Ring, the film intercuts three
storylines. Frodo and Sam continue their journey towards Mordor to destroy the One Ring, meeting
and joined by Gollum, the ring's former owner. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli come to the war-torn
nation of Rohan and are reunited with the resurrected Gandalf, before fighting at the Battle of Helm's
Deep. Merry and Pippin escape capture, meet Treebeard the Ent, and help to plan an attack
on Isengard.
The Two Towers was financed and distributed by American studio New Line Cinema, but filmed and
edited entirely in Jackson's native New Zealand, concurrently with the other two parts of the trilogy.
Released on 18 December 2002, the film was highly acclaimed by critics and fans alike, who
considered it to be a landmark in filmmaking and an achievement in the fantasy film genre. It has
grossed over $926 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2002 and the 4th highest-
grossing film of all time at the time of its release.[9]
The Two Towers is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential fantasy films ever
made. The film won many awards, including being nominated for six Oscars at the 75th Academy
Awards ceremony, of which it won two, for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.

Awakening from a dream of Gandalf the Grey battling the Balrog, Frodo Baggins and his
friend Samwise Gamgee find themselves lost in the Emyn Muil near Mordor and soon become
aware that they are being stalked by Gollum, the former owner of the One Ring. After capturing him,
a sympathetic Frodo decides to use Gollum as a guide to Mordor, despite Sam's objections.
Meanwhile, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pursue the Uruk-hai to save their
companions Merry and Pippin. The Uruk-hai are ambushed by a group of Rohirrim, while the
two Hobbits escape into Fangorn Forest and encounter Treebeard, an Ent. Aragorn's group later
meets the Rohirrim and their leader Éomer, who reveals that they have been exiled by their
king Théoden who is being manipulated by Saruman and his servant Gríma Wormtongue into
turning a blind eye to Saruman's forces running rampant in Rohan. While searching for the Hobbits
in Fangorn, Aragorn's group encounters Gandalf, who, after succumbing to his injuries while killing
the Balrog in Moria, has been resurrected as Gandalf the White to help save Middle-earth.
Aragorn's group travels to Rohan's capital city Edoras, where Gandalf releases Théoden from
Saruman's influence and Wormtongue is banished. After learning of Saruman's plans to wipe out
Rohan with his Uruk-hai army, Théoden decides to evacuate his citizens to Helm's Deep, an ancient
fortress that has provided refuge to Rohan's people in times past, while Gandalf departs to acquire
the aid of the Éomer's army. Aragorn establishes a friendship with Théoden's niece, Éowyn, who
quickly becomes infatuated with him. When the refugees comes under attack by Warg-riding Orcs,
Aragorn falls off a cliff and is presumed dead. However, he is awoken by his horse Brego and rides
to Helm's Deep. The defenders are joined by a detachment of Elves from Lothlórien, the Uruk-hai
army arrives at Helm's Deep that night and a night-long battle ensues. The Uruk-hai breach the outer
wall using gunpowder-like explosives and force the remaining defenders to retreat into the inner
castle.
Merry and Pippin, having convinced Treebeard that they were allies, are brought to an Ent Council in
Fangorn where the Ents decide not to assist in the war. Pippin then tells Treebeard to take them in
the direction of Isengard, where they witness the devastation caused to the forest by Saruman's war
efforts. An enraged Treebeard summons the Ents and they storm Isengard, drowning the orcs by
breaking their river dam and stranding Saruman in Orthanc.
At Helm's Deep, Aragorn convinces a despairing Theoden to ride out and meet the Uruks in one last
charge. Gandalf and Éomer's horsemen arrive at sunrise, turning the tide of the battle. The Uruk-hai
flee into Fangorn forest, which has moved closer to the battle at the urging of Treebeard, where they
are destroyed. Gandalf warns that Sauron's retaliation will be terrible and swift.
Meanwhile, Gollum leads Frodo and Sam through the Dead Marshes to the Black Gate but
convinces them to Mordor by an alternative route. Frodo and Sam are captured by the Rangers of
Ithilien led by Faramir, brother of the late Boromir. Frodo helps Faramir catch Gollum to save him
from being killed and Faramir learns of the One Ring and takes his captives with him to Gondor to
win his father's respect. While passing through the besieged Gondorian city of Osgiliath, Sam
reveals that Boromir was driven mad by the Ring and tried to take it. An attacking Nazgûl nearly
captures Frodo, who momentarily attacks Sam before coming to his senses, forcing Sam to remind
him that they are fighting for the good still left in Middle-earth. Faramir is impressed by Frodo and
releases them along with Gollum. While leading the hobbits once more, Gollum decides to take
revenge on Frodo and reclaim the ring by leading the group to "Her" upon arriving at Cirith Ungol.