Visual Guide to JRR Tolkiens The Two Towers

Product description Comprehensive visual analysis of Tolkien's epic and the world he created. Genre: Documentary Rating: NR Release Date: 18-DEC-2002 Media Type: DVD Amazon.com Like the previously released DVD Master of the Rings, Secrets of Middle-Earth: Inside Tolkien's "The Two Towers" delivers all that it promises and more. Perfect for home or classroom viewing, this hour-long, British-made program begins enticingly with archival film of Tolkien describing his serendipitous creation of The Hobbit. What follows is a thorough survey of the second volume of The Lord of the Rings, spanning every aspect of The Two Towers, from geography (via computer-animated maps of Middle-earth), language, dominant themes, cultures and races, character development, and literary influence. Host Grant McTavish may seem a bit too solemn, but the program is so densely informative that any quibbles (such as occasional redundancy) are easily forgiven. Preeminent Tolkien authority Michael Stanton and historian David Doughan provide astute analysis, complemented by the popular artwork (also compiled in a separate gallery) of veteran Tolkien illustrators the brothers Hildebrandt. Other highlights include audio clips of Tolkien reading from The Two Towers (who could do it better?), making this a worthy appreciation of Tolkien's timeless literary legacy. --Jeff Shannon From the Back Cover Discover the power of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy! This indispensable DVD features a comprehensive analysis of The Two Towers, as well as the underlying themes of this great epic, Tolkien's sources and influences, and the languages of Middle Earth. It sheds light on the characters of Gandalf and the other members of the Fellowship and takes an insightful look at Orcs, Ents, Elves, Dwarves, and others. In this powerful film, amazing 3-D mapping techniques illuminate the world of Middle Earth, based on Tolkien's original drawings and texts. Visit Fangorn Forest--home of Treebeard--the stronghold of Helm's Deep, Saruman's fortress of Isengard, and the lands of Rohan and Mordor. We also trace the journeys of the characters day by day, unravel the intricacies of the plot, visit the towns and cities of Middle Earth, and hear Michael Stanton--the world's leading Tolkien authority--explain why The Lord of the Rings is still so popular fifty years after it was written. Now you can complete the picture and begin to understand the full extent of the world behind Tolkien's amazing creation. 60 minutes.