Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Parts 1 + 2!)

Nat? These are still looking like 15GB reactions. Could your Editors have a look at this? To make the size manageable? I know it's no priority. But new (or recuring, like me) patrons might be disencouraged to download these sizes...

cosmic wave

21:13:00 "lead them on Aragon, the bridge is near. the OSHA approved bridge is very near."

Pate

Is this the DVD extended and not the Blu Ray extended? The Blu Ray versions have even more footage. Makes it hard to sync with all the different versions.

Bartman

Hey Joseph! Yes, this was something I tested out to see if it would help with any future copyright issues. Now I just block the movie and audio for folks to sync up to.

Natalie Gold

The video is backwards.

Grigsy

It might shed a slightly different light on the Galdalf/Balrog stuff to mention that they are both the same type of ancient being (Maiar) that have taken on physical bodies. Human form for Gandalf, big scary monster thing for the Balrog. The Balrogs were corrupted by Sauron.

Will

"That Saruman-cleanse did ya good!" Best thing I've heard on Youtube in weeks. :)

Jimmy Crackcorn

It is not too hard to synch it up, but put a time stamp on at least at intervals to make it easier. I think you need to do that if you are asking people to pay for the reaction. Be clear on each video about the version and help with the synch up.

Jonathan S. Hill

I've always loved the funeral dirge Eowyn (played by Miranda Otto) sings. She's actually singing in Old English, the language of the Anglo-Saxons who settled in England after the Romans left in the early fifth century and ruled there until 1066 when the Normans led by William the Conqueror defeated them at the Battle of Hastings. Old English is the language of Beowulf. Tolkien could speak it fluently and would recite the poem in Old English by heart. Tolkien based the Rohirrim (the people of Rohan) on Anglo-Saxon culture except he gave them horses because it was his belief that if the Anglo-Saxons had possessed cavalry they would have defeated the Normans and thus the mythology of ancient England, which the Normans ultimately eradicated, would have been preserved.

Quacksalver Extraordinaire

Am I the only one who sees this rather entertaining frozen faced somewhat awkward frame of our dear host from YouTube? Makes me smile, and giggle a bit! https://i.imgur.com/PW5Y78x.png

Steve Schroeder

I love the opening scene of the Two Towers. Usually when we see Gandalf using magic it is rather subtle. It is almost as if he is holding back, even if we know he is quite powerful. So, when he is fighting the balrog its obvious he is not holding back and there is so subtlety. Gandalf. Unleashed!

Steve Schroeder

Happy Canada Day to all the Hobbits out there :D

Die Hard is incredible! Haven't seen too many action movies though. Definitely open to those as well. James Bond is on my list since I've never seen any of those films

Natalie Gold

hehe I may have something up my sleeve ;)

Natalie Gold

Do you have any plans to watch and react to the behind the scenes material for the trilogy? There's a lot of great content in there and I think you would enjoy watching the process of how the movies were made! And obviously we would love to watch your reactions to it as well :D

Danishprince

Do you like action movies Natalie? Die Hard and those sort of films? Any you haven’t seen that are on your list?

Daniel Green

Yup! they'll be up as soon as all my reactions to Return of the King are posted on YT

Natalie Gold

Are you gonna post Return of the king reaction on here?

This was my least favorite interpretation of the book but I still loved the movie. So much is changed and missed I thought it would hurt the story but it ends up being a good fit for the movies. The only negatives in the movies are the plots they leave out but you kind of understand after you get past them all. Even these extended editions are so incomplete. The toughest thing I have had to tell people that have seen the movies and not read the books is that you don't get the sense of time passage that you do in the books. However it is still a great movie. Now to wait for your long version of Return of the King. Let me get my tissues out again. I spent most of the end of that one looking at the ceiling in the end.

Robert Kelly

He eventually lived to be 210, probably because he stopped crowd surfing Uruks after he became king.

Reggie Clark

Aragorn IS actually 87, like Eowyn said, he's one of the Dundedain gifted with long life. Their life span is about double that of what normal men have.

I've got to say that one of my favorite things about watching your reaction videos is waiting to see your reactions to things that I know are coming, but you don't. It's awesome real life dramatic irony!

Reggie Clark

Vis his name being Wormtongue. The men of Rohan are Migration era Germanic people (with heavy influences from Anglo-Saxons and Goths especially), and they have the same tendency as those cultures of giving people additional names as they grow up (they don't have last names instead being "X son of Y" so the additonal names help). Gandalf "Stormcrow" is an example of that, Grima trying to saddle Gandalf with a derogatory nickname to make him look worse. I suspect nobody would call Grima "Wormtongue" to his face while he has the kings ear, but if you refered to him as Wormtongue everyone would know who you meant.

The Senkari

Thank you! I've acted a fair amount in my life, which is why I probably focus a lot on characters' intentions. I've heard such great things about these books that I very well may need to buy them and give them a go haha

Natalie Gold

omg the score for all of these movies are incredible. Howard Shore did a spectacular job!

Natalie Gold

bahaha true

Natalie Gold

"There's so many tears in this movie!" Return of the King: "Hold my beer."

Shea Harris

Return of the King- Watch through the credits, listen to that ending song. I haven't watched this reaction yet (will today) to see if you've mentioned it yet, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on the score for LotR. It's my favorite movie soundtrack.

Shea Harris

One of the greatest things about your reactions to these films is how you pay such close attention to the individual characters' motivations. And, curiously, how you are able to - without knowing any better - pick out inconsistencies between the source material (the books) and the movie adaptation! In fact, your reactions sometimes highlight the old arguments that circulated among Tolkien fans when these movies came out, regarding departures from the written text as adapted for the screen! I'll say no more to avoid spoiling the books, but you will find MANY answers when you hopefully read them. Cheers!

TorontoHobbit

Haha totally agree Drew! It's on the list of things to get when I can save up enough

Natalie Gold

Just wanted to say that you're absolutely my favorite person to react to these films. This is my favorite trilogy of all time and you are doing it justice. Thanks so much My only complaint is that you NEED to get a better chair. For the love of all things good get something you can rest your head on.

Drew

Hey! I was finally able to download these this morning! :-) Can't wait to watch them now.

Neil Silverman

It might be of interest to you to watch, or even react to some kind of video that delves somewhat into the lore of middle earth after you finish the series. A short, two part video series by CGP called "The one ring explained" is great for anyone who would like to understand the story of Sauron, the one ring, and it's functions and ultimate purpose further. They explain some things that aren't really expressed or covered in the movies.

Hahaha never!!

Natalie Gold

I’m worried that you’re going to run out of reaction-shot thumbnail expressions for your videos Natalie!

Daniel Green

This scene is not in the books if I remember correctly, I've seen the movies way more times than I've read the books though, so I could be mistaken!

I think Grima sheds a tear when he sees the army of Uruk-hai because he's in a kind of shocked horror. I don't believe he ever thought that Rohan would/could just be wiped out mercilessly. As he says, "It would take an army of thousands," to infiltrate Helm's Deep, and he didn't realize Saruman had an army of 10 000 at his disposal. I think he had hoped that Saruman would simply take over rule of Rohan, and he could rule alongside him (or betray Saruman and rule it himself). When he sees the army, he realizes Saruman intends to destroy all of Mankind. As much as he wants to take over Rohan, he wants to rule over Men, not Orcs.

Also, it's amazing how these movies attract a whole swarm of people watching another person react to it.

Love it!!!!

There's also so much that doesn't get mentioned! As you said, there is so much out there beyond the core books in the series. I love this universe because there seems to be an answer for everything, and if you read enough into it (or know the right youtube chanels to follow) you can always find out new interesting details!

I remember when I first heard about this I thought my friend was messing with me, but then I checked it out and I can't believe I never noticed the similarities of the voices.

Thank you for the suggestions!

Natalie Gold

Thank you for this reaction. It is really good and I love rewatching these movies along with you. By the way you mention at the end about some recommendations. So I'll just mention 2 of my favorite movies: "Mad Max Fury Road" (no need to have watched the previous one), post-apocalyptic action packed film. And Sci fi "The Dark City", which is a classic from 2011

Michel Ferreira

Oh man, another fantastic reaction. If you haven't already watched Return of the King yet, when you get to the credits, take a moment to watch through the recap of the cast (done beautifully in drawings of their characters), and listen to the ending song (it's amazing). It's worth the moment of reflection on an amazing journey that these movies are. And if you have watched it again, at least look up the song "Into the West" by Annie Lennox, which played over the ending credits. So moving.

I clicked the option to open in a new window and that worked. 😊

Joshua Roberts

I tried to view this on June 24, and it says “The number of playbacks has been exceeded.”

Joshua Roberts

Seems the community is too large haha, google drive isn't allowing any more views...

On PC is says the number of playbacks has been exceeded.

Natalie makes comments about what she wants to see in the third movie. Oh, dear sweet Summer child. Buckle up.

John

Tried it on my phone says video cannot be played and it wont let me download

Same :/

BrillC

Totally agree, but it doesn't hurt to ask! haha

Natalie Gold

I’m using an iPad (probably doesn’t matter)f and it’s telling me the number of playbacks has been exceeded. Download says the same

D M

You mentioned it would be nice if Gondor was there to help at Helm's Deep, but King Theoden was too proud to ask for help. Possibly, but also, do you think the Steward of Gondor would have actually sent help? He's the one who's always berating Faramir. I don't see him helping anyone but himself.

John

Nice, google dirve works better for me so im glad if it works for others aswell. Im so excited to see the third part. There are just so many of the most emotional and epic scenes I ever watched in movies.

Yes, Aragorn is 87 years old. He's "one of the Dunedain, descendants of Numenor, blessed with long life." There is SO much backstory and history in the LOTR universe that a lot of stuff like this gets a mention in the movie and you have no idea where it came from. For the purpose of the movie, just accept it and go on. There's an enormous LOTR universe to explore in the books if you are so inclined. Also, did you notice Aragorn still wearing Boromir's bracers from the first movie?

John

We voted for Alien next, so we will see Ian Holm again.

Aaron Taft

Me too

Angelika Birkeneder

Ahhh... can't wait for Return of the King! A Best Picture winner (2004)!

Dave M.

I can't get it to play on Google drive.

Nicholas Smith

I can't watch it on Google drive 😔😢 i am so das. Can you upload the two Towers in Vimeo please?

Angelika Birkeneder

Thank you Natalie for reinvigorating my love for these films. I was 12 when they first came out and my friends and I totally nerded out over them. It's been more than a few years since I've rewatched the trilogy but I have just done so in anticipation of these videos. The passing of Sir Ian Holm has hit me way harder than it would have without these but I'm glad of that, to have been reminded of his great work. I'd like to think Ian is in a place as Gandalf describes, "white shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise". Rest in peace Ian Holm.

Red Freckle

Fun Fact: Director Peter Jackson wanted to Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) kick the orc helmet as close to camera as possible in a scene where is that orc burning pile, after couple takes Aragorn kicked the helmet very close to camera and let out big scream and falls on his knees. Jackson thought it was amazing acting of pain from losing Merry and Pippin, but after Viggo finished the scene he revealed he broken his toe kicking that helmet. That was the take they used in the movie.

Sidh

I did that in regards to expecting to cry, and I apologize sincerely. I didn't think of that, I should not have done it, and I'll keep that in mind in future. Forgive me.

Andy Jordan

These reaction videos are precious and magical, Natalie. I hope you never add any more bells & whistles to these that what feels right to you.

CyrusB

Another great reaction video! Thank you so much for doing this, Natalie :) Fingers crossed that by a weeks time we will have The Return of the King up here as well :D

Mikal Toresen

Maybe due to copyright issues on YouTube? But that shouldn't be an issue for the version here (could be wrong). And I'd like to be able to see subtitles since the volume is kind of low to hear without her being too loud. Just a suggestion. I think most of the reactions have had the subtitles turned on.

Shea Harris

I'm so glad this got online today. I really needed it.

Garren Haskell

Let's get Chris Hardwick to do an after-movie chat with her like how they did the Talking Bad and Talking Dead after shows.

Garren Haskell

Did you flip the movie on purpose for it to display backwards? Just curious. aside from any text, it is highly noticeable and I wasn't sure if it was done on purpose or not. I doubt it is fixable but it would be nice

Chris Porter

It's so cool that all these years you had only heard of Smeagol, and once you came to this trilogy, realise Smeagol is actually the other half of Gollum.. idk lol I find that pretty dope

napalm755

No one should tell Natalie what to expect from a movie in specifics. Expect to cry a lot, expect this or that takes bits off the blind reaction even tho aren't major spoilers.

SleeplessHours

Loved your reaction and comments and laugh. I found this upload about 3 a.m. and now it is time for me to go to work. Let's see how that works out.

Texadan

Always so enjoyable to watch your Reactions. Im glad you started that.

Curaitis

I'm enjoying watching these movies again, and I particularly enjoy your reactions. Thank you from a happy subscriber.

michael mccafferty

But why do it on Patreon and not on Youtube where it's way more likely to be seen and struck? Also she should then disclose that.

Friedrich Schulze

Who else would love to see more in depth discussions or extended conversations with someone who has seen the films before after the reactions or after she finishes a series? It could be something extra only patrons have access to? Just a thought. Or make it free lol, I just thought it could be extra content that isn’t copyrighted at all.

mrhalfbit

Thank you

It is currently 2:30 am here in LA and I just got done watching it in its entirety! I cried the whole time.( I cry every time) Also the new video format didn't bother me at all and I really didn't even notice it. (I100% understand copyright stuff.) THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS IS SO MAGICAL!!!!! And YOU stay golden! Peace Love and Rainbows!!!!

mrhalfbit

Oh, in regards to Arwen she can give up her immortal life but she will still live much longer than even a numenorean like aragorn. Aragorn really is 87, the numenorean race began when Elrond's brother chose a mortal life and so they were blessed with a longer life than other men by the Valar( think arch-angels).

Jeffrey Searcy

The elves cannot die from old age or disease but can die from wounds/accidents/poison etc. Only their bodies die, their souls go to a place in the undying lands called the Halls Of Mandos. Once they die they can never return to Middle Earth so every elf that chooses to fight is literally giving up an eternity of life. I just thought it would make the sacrifice more meaningful if you knew these details.

Jeffrey Searcy

I am pretty sure the movie looking odd is intentional due to copyright stuff. You guys should understand. If you see all the other people reacting to movies and shows on Patreon, they all do something to prevent getting hit by a copyright claim. Some don't even show the audio or video at all. You have to find it or buy it for yourself and sync up. Amazing reaction Natalie! As always! So excited for the Return of the King. It's so good.

E

Quality of the video seems very weird - I see green bars accross the LOTR movie itself. Never saw this on the former platform

Danishprince

Yeah I noticed that as well, also I've recently run into an error where I can't even consistently get the video to play, gives me different playback errors on multiple devices, apparently that's not uncommon on Google drive though, I miss Vimeo, because I could play it on my Roku Tv.

The movie is mirrored and got weird green bars. Both things that were not in the YT video...

Friedrich Schulze

Another fun fact about these movies: John Rhys-Davies, the actor who plays Gimli, is also the voice of Treebeard.

Andy Jordan

Gandalf is certainly as worthy of emulation as anyone else. He probably wouldn't like being worshiped though, so we'd have to do it when he's not looking.

Andy Jordan

Yes! Been refreshing all day waiting for this, thank you Natalie!

James Brody

Look this may sound weird, but does anyone want to start a Church of Gandalf? That dude deserves some worshipers.

Seeing someone watch this trilogy for the first time is so dang magical, can't explain it

E

Thank you for doing these, Natalie! I know they take a lot of work, especially the YouTube edits. Have your box of Kleenex ready for Return of the King, if you haven't watched it already. Cheers!

Andy Jordan

Gah I’m so excited!!!!!!

mrhalfbit