Lileks writes about seeing The Two Towers. I don't have a whole lot to add to what just about everyone else has said on this, but what I have to say involves a spoiler. Click the "More" link only if you've already seen it.

One thing that added a certain satisfying zing to the movie was that Viggo Mortenson -- a less-than-thoughtful antiwar activist in real life -- found himself connected to, responding to, and even saying all of these apparently pro-war sentiments: Aragorn's "War is upon you whether you wish it or not"; Eowyn's "We learned long ago that those who have no sword may still die upon one"; Sam's "There is some good in the world, and it's worth fighting for" speech. And more deliciously still, the only spokesman for the anti-war crowd was Grima Wormtongue, with his accusation of "war-mongering" against Eomer.

Mortenson must have signed up for the movie well before the 9/11 attacks, and had no idea he would be performing the role of a wartime ruler while a real-life war (commencing, in painfully ironic fashion, with the destruction of two towers) was being waged in the real world. By a Republican President, no less.

It's especially interesting given one significant departure from the original work: in the books, the Ents decided at their congress to go to war against Saruman. In the movie, though, they came to the opposite conclusion; but Pippin roused them to fight by showing them that war would inevitably come to them. It makes clear that the "you must fight for what you believe in" message was not just Tolkien's; it was Peter Jackson's as well.

The other thing I liked -- and that no one else seems to have noticed or commented upon -- was that the Rohan plotline finished with what must be the oldest cliche in movies: the cavalry riding over the hill to the rescue. Led by a lone rider on a white horse with the speed of light, no less.

Heigh-ho, Shadowfax! Awaaaayy!