Disclaimer: The following review reveals certain events in the movie. The review contains spoilers that might or might not ruin the movie for you.

The Two Towers, sequel to last year's The Fellowship of the Ring, is an awesomely visual adventure. It bests the first movie in nearly every way possible, and is really something to watch and experience. It follows the characters of the first film after breaking the fellowship. Frodo and Sam and their guide, Gollum, are trying to find their way to Mordor to destroy the ring. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas follow hobbits
Merry and Pippin as they are kidnapped by orcs. Great-wizard-turned-bad Saruman gathers a massive army to destroy the nearby Kingdom of Rohan who take refuge in the mountain fortress at Helm's Deep. Along with everyone else, Gandalf is reborn.

The first thing you will notice about the movie is how huge and massive and beautiful everything about it is. The screen oftentimes doesn't seem big enough to contain it. From the opening scenes of massive snowcapped mountains the movie is a visual extravaganza. Everything here is a sight to behold. Saruman's massive army, the fortress at Helm's Deep, the gates of Mordor, the landscapes. It's one of the few movies you could enjoy with the sound turned off.

The actors in this film seem to have really found their characters. They play them excellently. In the first movie, it seemed like they were still finding their stride, and in this one, they've found it. Everyone plays their character convincingly, and nothing seems excessively cheesy or stupid. Far from being a story-less spectacle, this movie shows its characters up close. It shows Frodo, weighed down by the Ring. It shows Theoden, the desparing King of Rohan, knowing he has little chance against Saruman's army. Aragorn, is wrought by inner turmoil about his love, Arwen, and keeps his courage and hope up when everything seems hopeless. And Sam serves Frodo faithfully as he grows deeper into despair.

The tension in this movie builds and builds throughout to possibly the most impressive battle scene ever put to film. The only thing I can think that matches it are the scenes in Braveheart, and even they aren't as impressive. It's a great thing to see Saruman's army line up against Helm's Deep. And then to hear them stamp their spears, until they charge. The arrows whistling, the intense fighting, and the desperate struggle to hold off the orcs make this something that really must be seen. (One thing that I must applaud is that the movie does not revel in combat. It does not make the fighting the movie, but rather part of the movie.)
Gollum, Frodo's and Sam's guide is one of the best and most memorable characters in the movie. You'd never guess he was animated by computers. His voice and character are perfect. He's even funny sometimes, and rather ambiguous in his intentions. Gollum is the most interesting guy in the movie.

It's so rare to find a movie where you can enter its world, and get drawn into the characters' struggles. This one achieves that wonderfully. It's a great fantasy epic and it's a great experience.

It's such a joy to watch, that I'm probably going to see it again next week.

P.S. This is one movie that must be seen in the theater. Seeing it on a TV won't do you justice.