Following the tragic dissolution of the Fellowship, the perilous quest to destroy the One Ring continues along three separate paths. While Frodo and Sam journey closer to the dark heart of Mordor—guided by the treacherous and tormented creature Gollum—Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli race across the plains of Rohan to rescue Merry and Pippin from an army of Uruk-hai. As the fractured group faces seemingly insurmountable odds, the corrupted wizard Saruman unleashes his terrifying forces against the besieged kingdom of Rohan, culminating in a legendary and desperate battle for the future of Middle-earth.
Information |
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|---|---|
Language |
English |
Country |
United States New Zealand |
Premiere date |
December 18, 2002 |
Running time |
179 minutes |
Genre |
Action Adventure Drama Fantasy |
Budget |
$94,000,000 |
Box Office |
$944,300,000 |
Crew |
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Directed by |
Peter Jackson |
Produced by |
Barrie M. Osborne Fran Walsh Peter Jackson |
Written by |
Fran Walsh Philippa Boyens Stephen Sinclair Peter Jackson |
Music by |
Howard Shore |
Cinematography |
Andrew Lesnie |
Edited by |
Michael Horton |
Production Co. |
New Line Cinema WingNut Films |
Distributed by |
New Line Cinema |
Official Trailer
The Plot
The Fall Into the Abyss
In the suffocating, shadow-drenched depths of the Mines of Moria, a battle of mythic proportions unfolds upon the narrow, crumbling stone of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. The wizard Gandalf the Grey stands defiant against a nightmare of shadow and flame: the Balrog of Morgoth. In a selfless, desperate bid to buy the Fellowship of the Ring the precious time they need to escape, Gandalf shatters the bridge beneath the demon's feet. As the Balrog plunges into the gaping, bottomless chasm below, its fiery whip lashes out, snaring the wizard by the ankle and dragging him over the edge. The surviving members of the Fellowship can only watch in horror, believing their beloved guide and friend to be lost forever to the darkness.
However, the fall is not the end. As they plummet endlessly through the cavernous abyss, Gandalf continues to fiercely battle the demonic creature in mid-air. The wizard and the Balrog hack and slash at one another as they descend miles beneath the surface of the Earth, their violent struggle illuminating the sheer rock walls. Eventually, the combatants crash violently into a massive, freezing subterranean lake hidden in the deepest, most forgotten depths of the world, their elemental war far from over.
The Taming of Sméagol
Weeks later, far from the ruins of Moria, the heavy burden of the quest presses down upon the Hobbit Frodo Baggins and his loyal companion, Samwise Gamgee. The pair navigate the jagged, unforgiving hills of Emyn Muil, their progress slow and exhausting. Unbeknownst to them, they are being stalked. In the dead of night, the wretched creature Gollum—consumed by a desperate, maddening desire to reclaim "his precious," the One Ring—springs from the shadows and fiercely attacks the sleeping Hobbits. A vicious struggle ensues, but Frodo and Sam manage to overpower the emaciated creature, binding him and taking him captive.
While Sam looks upon Gollum with immediate disgust and deep suspicion, Frodo's reaction is entirely different. Feeling the dark, crushing weight of the Ring around his own neck, Frodo looks at the ruined creature and feels a profound sense of pity, understanding all too well the torturous burden that has twisted Gollum's mind and body. Realizing that he and Sam are utterly lost and in desperate need of a guide, Frodo makes a fateful decision. He speaks gently to the creature, persuading Gollum to lead them safely to the Black Gate of Mordor. Sam furiously warns Frodo that the creature is treacherous and will inevitably betray them, but Frodo chooses mercy, and the unlikely trio sets off together.
The Shadow Over Rohan
Across the plains of Middle-earth, a relentless chase is underway. Aragorn, the Elf Legolas, and the Dwarf Gimli push themselves to the brink of exhaustion as they pursue a raiding party of heavily armed Uruk-hai. The monstrous warriors are sprinting relentlessly back toward Isengard, carrying the Hobbits Merry and Pippin as their helpless captives. Time is of the essence, and the three hunters vow not to rest until their friends are rescued.
Meanwhile, a creeping darkness has fully enveloped the kingdom of Rohan. In the grand hall of Edoras, King Théoden sits slumped upon his throne, his mind and body held under a foul, debilitating trance by his chief advisor, Gríma Wormtongue. Wormtongue is secretly serving the corrupted wizard Saruman the White, who has orchestrated the systematic demise of Rohan from his tower in Isengard. Emboldened by the King's unnatural apathy, Saruman unleashes his vicious Orcs and the savage Wild Men of Dunland upon the countryside. These marauding bands roam freely, burning peaceful villages to ash, massacring the innocent Rohirrim people, and indiscriminately destroying vital crops.
During one such brutal attack on an isolated farming village, a desperate mother manages to secure her two young children atop a horse, tearfully sending them riding off toward Edoras to warn the King of the slaughter. The kingdom's tragedies are already mounting; recently, King Théoden's only son and heir, Théodred, fell victim to the enemy's rising violence, left mortally wounded after a devastating ambush. Recognizing the rot within the royal court, Théoden's fiercely loyal nephew, Éomer, confronts Gríma Wormtongue, furiously interrogating him and outright labeling him a spy for Saruman. In response, the manipulative Gríma twists Éomer's words, convincing the entranced King to officially banish his own nephew "on pain of death" for daring to undermine the throne's authority. Stripped of his position but not his honor, Éomer gathers the remaining loyal horsemen of the Rohirrim and rides out in exile.
The White Rider and the Ancient Forest
Under the cover of darkness, Éomer and his banished army of riders happen upon the very band of Uruk-hai holding Merry and Pippin. The Rohirrim launch a devastating ambush, slaughtering the Orcs in a chaotic night battle. In the confusion of the bloodbath, Merry and Pippin manage to slip their bonds, crawling away from the flashing hooves and blades. They flee into the ancient, looming darkness of the nearby Fangorn forest. There, the terrified Hobbits have a fateful encounter with Treebeard, an ancient and massive being who reveals himself as the oldest of the Ents, the giant tree-shepherds of Middle-earth.
The following day, Éomer crosses paths with the exhausted trio of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Unaware of the Hobbits' escape, Éomer somberly informs the hunters that his men slaughtered the Uruk-hai the previous night and left no survivors, implying that Merry and Pippin were tragically killed in the fray. Heartbroken, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli rush to the smoldering remains of the battlefield. Utilizing his unparalleled tracking skills, Aragorn discovers a set of small footprints leading away from the carnage. Hope reignited, the trio follows the trail deep into the tangled roots of Fangorn.
Deep within the eerie woods, the hunters are suddenly approached and temporarily subdued by a mysterious, powerful wizard whose face is entirely obscured by a blinding, shining white light. Initially terrified that they have stumbled upon their enemy Saruman, the group lowers their weapons in utter amazement as the light fades. Before them stands their fallen friend: Gandalf, reborn from death after his grueling battle with the Balrog. He explains that his sacrifice was not in vain, and he has returned with greater power to turn the tide of the coming war. He declares that he is no longer Gandalf the Grey, but is now Gandalf the White.
The Gates of Mordor
Far to the east, the journey to Mordor grows ever more harrowing. Frodo, Sam, and Gollum carefully traverse the haunted, corpse-filled waters of the Dead Marshes. Their treacherous path is made even deadlier when they are forced to dive into the muck to evade a terrifying Nazgûl circling overhead, riding upon a massive, winged beast. After agonizing days of travel, they finally reach their destination: the towering, impenetrable Black Gate of Mordor. To their despair, they find it firmly shut and heavily guarded by a massive host of Orcs on the jagged rocks above.
As they hide and watch in dismay, the ground trembles with the arrival of a massive Easterling contingent. The great iron gates groan open to allow the heavily armored men to march into the dark realm. Seeing the gate open, Frodo is overcome by desperation and prepares to make a suicidal dash toward the entrance. Instantly, Gollum throws himself onto the Hobbits, physically holding them back. Gollum warns them that capturing is inevitable if they attempt this route, and if they are caught, the One Ring will be taken directly back to Sauron, spelling the end of the world. With a sly, conspiratorial whisper, Gollum reveals that there is another way into Mordor—a hidden, secret stair unguarded by the Dark Lord's armies. Sam is immediately suspicious, glaring at Gollum and doubting the existence of such a convenient path. Yet, Frodo gives the creature the benefit of the doubt, reasoning that Gollum has remained loyal to his promise thus far, and agrees to follow him south.
Awakening the King
Gandalf the White leads Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli out of Fangorn and across the plains to the golden hall of Edoras. Marching into the throne room, they are confronted by Wormtongue and his thugs. While his companions handle the guards, Gandalf focuses his immense new power entirely on Théoden, forcefully exorcising Saruman's dark, suffocating hold over the King's mind. Théoden's vitality physically returns to him as the dark spell breaks, and his first act as an awakened sovereign is to violently banish the treacherous Wormtongue from his halls.
However, the King's return to clarity brings crushing grief. Théoden must immediately come to terms with the agonizing reality of his son Théodred's death, weeping bitterly at the prince's tomb. Simultaneously, the threat of Saruman's armies looms large. Looking out upon his vulnerable people, and witnessing the arrival of the two exhausted, traumatized children who rode from the burning village, Théoden refuses to risk open war on the plains. Instead of fighting, he makes the controversial decision to evacuate his people and flee to the ancient, mountain fortress of Helm's Deep.
Gandalf vehemently warns the King that Helm's Deep is a trap, realizing that its walls will not survive the sheer magnitude of the Uruk-hai onslaught that Saruman is preparing. Knowing they need an army, Gandalf mounts his magnificent white horse and rides out alone to search for Éomer. Before he departs, he leaves Aragorn with a solemn promise: to look to his coming on the first light of the fifth day, bringing with him the 2,000 banished riders of the Rohirrim.
The Journey to Helm's Deep and Arwen's Fate
The vast column of Rohirrim refugees begins the slow, arduous trek toward Helm's Deep. Amidst the marching crowds, Aragorn and Éowyn, the brave and beautiful sister of Éomer, spend time together, and Éowyn begins to nurture a deep, growing affection for the Ranger. Noticing her feelings, Aragorn gently but firmly reveals that his heart belongs to another: he tells Éowyn about Arwen, the immortal Elven princess whom he loves, explaining that she is preparing to leave Middle-earth forever to be with her people in the Undying Lands across the sea.
Meanwhile, the banished Wormtongue reaches the dark tower of Orthanc, scurrying back to his master. He informs Saruman of a critical, hidden weakness in the outer Deeping Wall of Helm's Deep—a small drainage culvert that could be exploited. Delighted, Saruman marshals his full might, dispatching a terrifying, disciplined army of 10,000 heavily armored Uruk-hai to the mountain stronghold, issuing a chilling order: they are to wipe out all of Rohan, kill Aragorn, and spare absolutely no one.
Before the refugees of Rohan can reach the safety of the fortress, disaster strikes. They are suddenly and violently ambushed by Saruman's Warg-riders—vicious Orcs mounted on massive, wolf-like beasts. A chaotic skirmish erupts. Aragorn fights fiercely to protect the fleeing women and children, but during the brutal melee, he becomes entangled with a Warg rider and is thrown violently off the edge of a high cliff, plummeting into a fast-flowing, rocky river far below. Horrified, Théoden, Legolas, Gimli, and Éowyn are forced to believe that Aragorn has fallen to his death. Grief-stricken, they have no choice but to rally the survivors and journey on to Helm's Deep.
Far away in the serene valleys of Rivendell, another tragedy of the heart unfolds. Elrond approaches his daughter, Arwen, and implores her to abandon her lingering love for Aragorn. He urges her to leave on the departing Elven ships, to escape the encroaching troubles of these doomed lands. When she stubbornly refuses, holding on to hope, Elrond delivers a devastating, heart-rending speech. Using his ancient powers of foresight, he lays bare the darkness of Arwen's future if she chooses to remain in Middle-earth with Aragorn. He warns her that because Aragorn is mortal, he will eventually age and die, even if he triumphs and becomes King of Gondor. Arwen will be left behind, forced to endlessly wander the fading world in unbearable grief when he is gone. Broken by her father's visions, Arwen finally yields to his pleading and joins the procession leaving Rivendell. As she departs, the telepathic words of Galadriel echo in Elrond's mind, challenging the isolationism of the Elves. Galadriel questions whether their kind should simply wash their hands of Middle-earth, pointing out that the One Ring has maneuvered itself into the company of Men—a race it can easily corrupt. She demands to know if they should truly abandon Men to their fate, even if it guarantees that Middle-earth will fall under Sauron's oppressive rule for all time.
The Captives of Ithilien
In the lush, overgrown lands of Ithilien, south of the Black Gate, Gollum's fractured mind is in absolute turmoil. He argues fiercely with himself, violently torn between his blossoming loyalty to Frodo, who showed him unprecedented kindness, and his all-consuming, deeply rooted need for the Ring. As they rest, the three travelers inadvertently become witnesses to a sudden ambush: a column of enemy Haradrim soldiers is utterly decimated by skilled warriors hiding in the brush. These are the Rangers of Ithilien, and before Frodo and Sam can slip away, they are surrounded, captured, and taken prisoner.
The Hobbits are dragged to Henneth Annûn, a hidden, waterfall-draped stronghold, where they are brought before the Rangers' captain: Faramir, the younger brother of the fallen Boromir. Gollum, however, had managed to evade the initial capture and is hunted by Faramir's men in the surrounding woods. Knowing that the Rangers will execute the creature on sight, Frodo makes a desperate plea to Faramir, actively revealing Gollum's presence and stating that their fates are bound together in order to save the creature's life. Despite Frodo's intervention, Gollum is violently seized. Feeling deeply betrayed by his "master," Gollum's fragile trust shatters, and he secretly begins plotting against Frodo.
During his harsh interrogation, Faramir investigates the nature of their quest and soon uncovers the terrifying truth: Frodo is carrying the One Ring. Living his entire life in the shadow of his favored older brother, Faramir seeks to prove his ultimate worth to his father, Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. Ignoring Frodo's desperate warnings about the Ring's corrupting power, Faramir commands that his men alter their course; the Ring, and the Hobbits, shall go to Gondor.
The Return to the Stronghold
Miles downstream from the Warg ambush, the bruised, barely-alive body of Aragorn washes up on the rocky riverbank. As he lies on the verge of collapse, he is nudged awake by a horse—it is Brego, the majestic steed that formerly belonged to the slain prince Théodred, which Aragorn had compassionately set free before leaving the stables of Edoras. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, Aragorn pulls himself onto Brego's back and wills the horse to carry him to Helm's Deep. Along his perilous ride, he looks down from a ridge and witnesses a terrifying sight: Saruman's endless army of 10,000 Uruk-hai marching relentlessly toward the fortress.
When Aragorn finally rides through the gates of Helm's Deep, his arrival is met with sheer disbelief and immense relief from Gimli, Legolas, and Éowyn. But the joy is painfully short-lived. Aragorn rushes to Théoden and warns him of the sheer size of the approaching Uruk-hai horde, a revelation that casts a heavy shadow of doubt upon the survival of the outnumbered defenders. Théoden grimly gathers every man and boy capable of holding a blade to fight. Just as night falls, bringing a tense, suffocating silence, the sound of marching boots echoes at the gates. To the absolute shock of the Rohirrim, a disciplined battalion of fully-armored Elves marches into the fortress. Led by the captain Haldir, they have arrived from Lothlórien, bearing word of ancient alliance and much-needed aid from Elrond to re-enforce the men of Rohan.
Meanwhile, deep within the tangled heart of Fangorn Forest, Merry and Pippin watch as Treebeard and dozens of massive Ents gather in a clearing. They hold an ancient, slow-moving council known as an Entmoot, debating long into the night to decide what role, if any, the Ents will play in the escalating war against Saruman.
The Breach of the Deeping Wall
Through a torrential downpour, the Battle of Helm's Deep begins. The deafening roar of 10,000 Uruk-hai chanting and clashing their spears fills the valley. The tension breaks when a flurry of arrows from the defending archers sails into the darkness, cutting down dozens of Uruk-hai before they even reach the walls. Unfazed, the monstrous army charges. Enormous scaling ladders are thrown up violently against the stone of the Deeping Wall, and the Uruks swarm up like insects to engage the desperate defenders in brutal hand-to-hand combat. At first, the ferocious onslaught is successfully stayed by the immense valor of the Rohirrim, the precision of the Elves, and the unmatched fighting skills of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.
But Saruman’s cunning proves devastating. In the chaos, large Uruk-hai berserkers sprint toward the small drainage gutter at the base of the Deeping Wall, carrying two crude, massive explosive devices created by the dark wizard's industrial mind. A torch is thrown into the gutter, and a colossal explosion violently detonates, completely blasting a massive breach through the indestructible stone wall. Debris and bodies are sent flying into the mud.
Through the gaping hole, the Uruks pour into the fortress like a flood of black iron. Despite the heroic, bloody efforts of Aragorn and Gimli fighting side-by-side to plug the gap, the sheer numbers are overwhelming. The Uruks soon manage to penetrate the main gate as well, and the outer defenses of the stronghold are overrun. In the chaotic midst of the slaughter, the brave Elven captain Haldir is struck down and slain. Seeing their defenses crumbling, the few remaining Elves and men are forced to abandon the wall and fall back. As the Uruks scale the inner walls and breach the doors of the Hornburg, Théoden is forced to order a desperate retreat, pulling the surviving defenders back into the great inner Keep, barring the heavy wooden doors behind them.
The Wrath of the Ents
As dawn nears, the Entmoot in Fangorn Forest finally comes to a frustrating conclusion. Treebeard informs a devastated Merry and Pippin that the Ents have decided not to have any involvement in the war of Men and Wizards, choosing rather to "weather such things as [they] have always done." The Hobbits' pleas fall on deaf ears, and Treebeard begins to carry them back to the edge of the forest to send them on their way.
Refusing to give up, Pippin formulates a clever plan. He deliberately asks Treebeard to carry them south, toward the section of Fangorn that borders Isengard. When the massive Ent strides through the treeline, he stops dead in his tracks. Spread out before him is a wasteland of stumps and ash; Saruman’s Orcs have recently decimated the ancient trees to fuel the dark wizard's subterranean furnaces. Looking upon the slaughtered remains of his friends, Treebeard is filled with an ancient, terrifying rage. His booming voice shakes the very earth as he commands all the other Ents to awaken and seek vengeance. From the depths of the woods, dozens of towering Ents march forth, embarking upon 'the Last March of the Ents', heading straight into the heart of Isengard itself.
The Dawn Rider
Inside the besieged Keep of Helm's Deep, King Théoden listens to the splintering of the great wooden doors as the battering ram of the Uruk-hai strikes again and again. Utterly surrounded and facing annihilation, the King gives in to despair. But Aragorn refuses to surrender. Remembering Gandalf's parting words before he left Edoras, Aragorn fiercely rallies the King. He convinces Théoden, Legolas, and the remaining Rohirrim to mount their horses for one last, gallant, suicidal ride. Their desperate bid is to charge out and attack the Uruk-hai army head-on, creating enough chaos to allow the Rohirrim's women and children to escape through the hidden caves into the mountains.
With a thunderous cry, the riders storm out of the Keep, their horses crashing violently into the mass of Uruk-hai, cutting a bloody swath through to the fortress gate. As the heroic riders emerge into the sea of enemies in the valley, the darkness breaks. The very first rays of the morning sun spill over the eastern hill, blinding the Orcs. Standing atop the ridge is Gandalf the White, and beside him sits Éomer, flanked by his 2,000 banished riders.
With a mighty roar, the cavalry rushes down the steep slope, crashing into the body of the stunned Uruk-hai with devastating force. The enemy lines instantly shatter. Routed and terrified, the surviving Uruk-hai turn and flee toward the tree line—only to find that a forest of Huorns and Ents has moved to the valley overnight. The trees swallow the fleeing Orcs, and the Ents swiftly and brutally exact their retribution, leaving no Orc alive.
Simultaneously, miles away at Isengard, the Ents lay siege to Saruman's fortress. They utterly destroy the remaining Uruk-hai population guarding the walls, hurling massive stones and tearing down the heavy machinery. To end the threat forever, the Ents march to the great dam placed upon the river Isen and violently tear it open. Millions of gallons of water gush forth into the plains around Orthanc. The raging flood drowns the surviving Orc defenders, quenches the fiery pits of Saruman's industry, and completely floods the circular walls of Isengard, leaving a defeated, furious Saruman hopelessly stranded atop his black tower.
The Shadows of Osgiliath and the Path Ahead
Away to the East, Faramir has dragged his captives—Frodo, Sam, and Gollum—into the ruined, war-torn city of Osgiliath, situated on the banks of the river Anduin between the borders of Mordor and Gondor. As the city is battered by enemy fire, a terrifying screech splits the air. A Ringwraith, riding upon a massive winged beast, descends upon the ruins, actively hunting the Ring. The proximity of the Nazgûl and the dark power of the Ring prove too much for Frodo. Succumbing to its evil influence, Frodo falls into a trance and walks openly toward the Ringwraith, offering the Ring.
Sam violently tackles Frodo out of the beast's sight. In a sudden fit of Ring-induced madness, Frodo draws his sword and tackles Sam, pressing the blade to his loyal friend's throat, nearly costing Sam his life. Realizing what he is doing, Frodo drops the sword, collapsing in horror and weeping over his own weakness. As the Nazgûl is repelled by a well-aimed arrow and flies off, Frodo despairs, doubting that he can ever complete the quest. But Sam, fighting through his own tears, delivers a deeply inspired monologue. As visions of the victorious battles at Helm's Deep and Isengard flash in his mind, Sam reflects on the dark state of the world, insisting that even in stories full of darkness and danger, there is still hope for a happy ending. He insists that they must hold on to what they are fighting for: each other, and the fulfillment of their quest.
Approaching them from the throes of battle, Faramir overhears Sam's profound words. Seeing the devastating toll the Ring takes on Frodo, Faramir finally realizes the terrible danger of the artifact and understands that these unassuming hobbits have a high doom before them—one which he can no longer hope to interrupt or control. Defying his father's potential wrath, Faramir sets them free, helping them escape the ruined city to continue their journey.
In the aftermath of the battle at Helm's Deep, Gandalf, Aragorn, Théoden, and the others ride up on horseback to the crest of a hill, gazing out toward the dark, ash-clouded skies of Mordor. They now know that inevitable, world-shifting things have been set in motion. Knowing that Sauron will soon seek violent retribution for Saruman's defeat, Gandalf speaks with grim certainty: "The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle-earth is about to begin." He solemnly remarks that all hope for the world now rests entirely with Frodo and Sam.
Far away, those two Hobbits have resumed their perilous journey to Mordor, guided once more by Gollum. But the damage has been done. Feeling permanently betrayed by Frodo when he was delivered into the hands of Faramir's men, Gollum's darker, murderous self completely re-emerges. In the shadows of the woods, as the jagged peaks of Mordor loom in the terrifying distance, Gollum whispers his dark vow. He decides to reclaim the Ring by secretly leading Frodo and Sam into a deadly trap, planning to hand them over to a monstrous creature he refers to only as "her". Gollum's lighter self reluctantly agrees to this sinister betrayal, leading the unsuspecting Hobbits forward into the dark.
Top Cast
- Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
- Ian McKellen as Gandalf
- Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn
- Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee
- Andy Serkis as Gollum / Sméagol
- Orlando Bloom as Legolas
- John Rhys-Davies as Gimli
- Billy Boyd as Pippin
- Dominic Monaghan as Merry
- Bernard Hill as King Théoden
