The wall holds… until it doesn’t.

In Part 2 of our Two Towers deep dive, we return to Middle-earth to cover Acts 2 & 3, our final thoughts, and the scores — and yes, this episode is absolutely dominated by Helm’s Deep.

Often cited as one of the greatest battle sequences ever put to film, the Battle of Helm’s Deep didn’t just raise the bar — it obliterated it. Rain-soaked chaos, brutal scale, flawless geography, and tension that somehow escalates for nearly an hour without losing momentum. Hollywood has been chasing this high ever since… and mostly failing.

We break down why Helm’s Deep works on every level:

• Practical effects meeting early CGI

• Character-led action amid overwhelming odds

• Visual storytelling so clear you always know where you are (a miracle, frankly)

• And a final charge that still gives goosebumps two decades later

Beyond the battle, we dig into the film’s emotional payoffs, its darker tone, the growing weight on its characters, and whether The Two Towers is actually the most important film in the trilogy, even if it’s unfairly branded the “weakest”.

Is this the moment LOTR truly became untouchable?

Does Helm’s Deep alone justify its legendary status?

And how does it all land when the dust finally settles?

Swords shatter. Horns sound. Cinema history is made.

This is The Two Towers – Part 2. Ents. ⚔️🛡️🏰

FULL SPOILERS FOR LORD OF THE RINGS THE TWO TOWERS IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.

If you have any things you want to discuss about this film or Lord of the Rings in general, email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through our socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod

All music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:05:17 - Review: Act 2

00:59:10 - Review: Act 3

01:42:21 - Closing Thoughts & Scores

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back. The review series returns. The hobbits are traumatised, the fellowship is scattered, and Middle-earth is very much going through it.

This week on The Third Reel, we begin our deep dive into The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, kicking things off with Part 1, where we tackle Act 1 only. Part 2 lands next week, covering Acts 2 & 3, our final thoughts, and the all-important scores.

Often (rudely) labelled the worst film in the trilogy, yet somehow still considered one of the greatest films ever made, The Two Towers sits in a strange cinematic no man’s land. But is that reputation fair? Or is this the unsung MVP of Middle-earth?

We break down the fractured narrative, the tonal shift from Fellowship, the rise of Rohan, and the film’s growing obsession with mud, despair, and extremely intense walking. And yes… we’re already warming up for Helm’s Deep - a battle so iconic it permanently changed how Hollywood stages large-scale warfare (and set the bar impossibly high for everyone else).

Swords clash, Uruk-hai run in straight lines, and we ask the big questions:

Is this really the weakest of the trilogy?

Or is The Two Towers quietly doing the heaviest lifting of them all?

Grab your lembas bread — Part 1 begins now. 🧙‍♂️⚔️

FULL SPOILERS FOR LORD OF THE RINGS THE TWO TOWERS IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.

If you have any things you want to discuss about this film or Lord of the Rings in general, email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through our socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod

All music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:08:34 - Review: Act 1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oscar season is looming, the buzz is buzzing, and we’re cracking open one of the most talked-about literary adaptations of the year — Hamnet.

With Jessie Buckley earning serious awards chatter, we ask the very important question: has the Shakespeare well finally run dry… or is there still emotional gold to be mined from the Bard’s personal life? 👀🎭

Based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet explores the devastating real-life tragedy that inspired Hamlet, reimagining the loss of Shakespeare’s son and the grief that shaped one of the most famous plays ever written. It’s intimate, sorrowful, beautifully performed… but does it work as a film, or is it just prestige misery bait with a ruff collar?

In classic Reel Kwik fashion:

• 🎬 First half: spoiler-free thoughts, performances, themes, and Oscar prospects
• 🚨 Second half: full spoiler breakdown, deeper analysis, and final scores

Expect chat about grief, awards hype, and whether this film earns its place in the Oscar conversation — or belongs back on the stage.

🎧 Press play, grab a quill, and prepare for tragedy (the cinematic kind).

What film do you want to see covered? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:13:31 - Spoiler-Free Thoughts

00:36:28 - Full Spoiler Review

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.