The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Cate Blanchett as: Galadriel

Directed by: Peter Jackson
Selected Cast: Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Miranda Otto & David Wenham
Written by: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, & Philippa Boyens (Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel)
Release Year: 2002
Genre: Action / Adventure / Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG-13

IMDb | Photos | Videos | Official Site

Sauron’s forces increase. His allies grow. The Ringwraiths return in an even more frightening form. Saruman’s army of Uruk Hai is ready to launch an assault against Aragorn and the people of Rohan. Yet, the Fellowship is broken and Boromir is dead. For the little hope that is left, Frodo and Sam march on into Mordor, unprotected. A number of new allies join with Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Pippin and Merry. And they must defend Rohan and attack Isengard. Yet, while all this is going on, Sauron’s troops mass toward the City of Gondor, for the War of the Ring is about to begin.

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Still from a deleted scene
Related Videos

The second video is a playlist of the appendices from the DVD, just click on the playlist icon on the upper right to see the other videos in it.

Quotes from Cate Blanchett

  • “I wanted to work with the guy who made ‘Braindead.”
  • “I was [in New Zealand] for three weeks on the Lord of the Rings, and I think I might have been on The Hobbit for only three days, but it was really special nonetheless.”
  • “I felt so lucky to be part of that [Lord of the Rings trilogy], because I really believe it will be one of those things that have real resonance. When I was on the set, I felt like I really was in Middle-earth, and I think Peter [Jackson] will work the same magic on the audience. I know I can’t wait to see it.”
  • “Making films like Lord of the Rings, well, I was in a state of wonderment. I was in heaven, really.” (Ok! Magazine, January 2005)

Quotes from Others

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Quotes by Cate Blanchett’s character, Galadriel

  • “The time of the Elves is over. Do we leave Middle-earth to its fate? Do we let them stand alone?”

Trivia & Facts

  • Filmed in New Zealand.
  • The film received six Academy Award nominations, winning Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects, more accolades here.
  • To make the many sparkling lights in Galadriel’s eyes, the crew put white Christmas lights behind the camera.
  • One of the few films to gross over $100 million in its first week. It reached the $200-million mark within 12 days (Spider-Man (2002) took nine to do that) and 34 days to reach $300 million.
  • Peter Jackson and producer Barrie M. Osborne actively campaigned for Andy Serkis to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Gollum. Academy regulations, however, forbid an actor to be nominated when he is not physically to be seen on screen, despite Serkis’ active input into the role.
  • Gandalf’s line near the end declaring that “The Battle of Helm’s Deep is over; the Battle of Middle Earth is about to begin” is paraphrased from part of one of Winston Churchill’s most famous speeches of the Second World War, of June 18th 1940: “…the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin.”
  • The film grossed over $936 million worldwide during its original theatrical run.
  • Cate Blanchett and the cast were nominated for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
  • As of 2022, Cate Blanchett holds the record for most Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), The Aviator (2004), Babel (2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), and Don’t Look Up (2020).
  • As of 2023, Cate Blanchett holds the record for an actress with the most appearances in a Best Picture-nominated at the Academy Awards: Elizabeth (1998), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), The Aviator (2004), Babel (2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Don’t Look Up (2020), Nightmare Alley (2020), and TÁR (2022).


London premiere, 11 December 2002; Cate Blanchett presents Peter Jackson with DGA Medallion, 1 March 2003