The middle movie of a trilogy always has the challenge of not feeling like just an intermezzo, a chore to get through in order to bridge the exciting introduction of the first installment and the epic conclusion of the last. That isn’t the case with The Two Towers. Just as grand, thrilling, epic, imaginative, and beautifully adapted as both its predecessor and its successor, it’s undoubtedly one of the best fantasy movies of all time. As such, it’s full of fantastic dialogue, which often results in some of the genre’s most quotable lines.
10
“The rock and pool, is nice and cool, so juicy sweet. Our only wish, to catch a fish, so juicy sweet.”
Sméagol (Andy Serkis)
Gollum and Sméagol are two of the most fascinating characters in the Middle-earth saga, portrayed marvelously by Andy Serkis in the motion capture performance par excellence. The dynamic between the two personas can be scary just as often as it is poignant and profound—but it’s undeniable that the pair can also sometimes be pretty goofy.
The innocence and tragedy of Sméagol are the focus of the scene…
That comes across when Sméagol, having temporarily gotten rid of Gollum, sings a song while catching fish by a pond, but the scene in which the quote is placed completely recontextualizes its emotional impact. The innocence and tragedy of Sméagol are the focus of the scene, while Faramir and his soldiers threaten to shoot him down unless Frodo (Elijah Wood) admits that he’s with him and Sam. It’s an incredibly suspenseful moment, made more complex by Sméagol’s silly little song.
9
“Toss me.”
Gimli (John Rhys-Davies)
Many die-hard fans of Tolkien’s source material were displeased with how Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), the courageous dwarf warrior, was turned into one of the movies’ main sources of comic relief. Nevertheless, jokes and gags involving him never fail to land, and that flawless balance between solemn drama and occasional mood-lightening laughter is exactly what makes this one of the most respected fantasy films ever.
…A sequence as heart-racing and intense as the Battle of Helm’s Deep needs some levity.
Any filmmaker as talented as Jackson knows that a sequence as heart-racing and intense as the Battle of Helm’s Deep needs some levity. As such, when Gimli realizes that Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) is going to have to toss him to the orcs trying to bring down the fortress’s door, it’s a moment as amusing as it is heroic.
8
“They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard.”
Legolas Greenleaf (Orlando Bloom)
One of those movie quotes that became hilarious memes, Legolas’ (Orlando Bloom) realization of where the Uruk-hai are taking Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) became the foundation of a hilarious Internet song. Dignified and grand though The Two Towers may be, it’s not an insult that some of its quotes became the source of memes, but rather the highest form of a compliment.
The fact that the quote brings up a catchy little melody whenever one listens to it is only the cherry on top.
Even setting jokes aside, however, Legolas’ “they’re taking the hobbits to Isengard” feels like a monumentally epic moment, taking the remaining members of the Fellowship in a direction that they certainly weren’t expecting. The fact that the quote brings up a catchy little melody whenever one listens to it is only the cherry on top.
7
“You must understand, young Hobbit, it takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish. And we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.”
Treebeard (John Rhys-Davies)
Like any great sequel should, The Two Towers expands the world-building and character roster of Fellowship of the Ring tremendously. This includes the introduction of the Ents, giant humanoid trees who talk very, very, very slowly. It’s Treebeard, voiced by John Rhys-Davies himself, that rescues Merry and Pippin from the Uruk-hai.
Treebeard is wise and unlike any other character the audience has met so far, which means that pretty much every sentence that comes out of his life is a memorable quote. The most memorable, however, is when he asks Merry and Pippin for patience as he and the other Ents deliberate on whether to invade Isengard, as their language is one where “it takes a long time to say anything.” It’s not just a funny quote, but also a perfect encapsulation of the sheer beauty that viewers can find in this trilogy if they’re willing to give it patience.
6
“Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.”
Gandalf the White (Ian McKellen)
The Battle of Helm’s Deep is truly one of the most enthralling and iconic sequences, not just of the entire fantasy genre, but of cinema in general. It’s a long battle that takes several scenes to unfold, but its climax comes when Gandalf arrives with help from the Rohirrim to attack Saruman’s army by surprise and save the people trapped in the fortress.
…Aragorn recalls what Gandalf told him right before he left Rohan earlier in the story…
Right before Gandalf arrives, Aragorn recalls what Gandalf told him right before he left Rohan earlier in the story: “Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.” Enigmatic and poetic in full Gandalf fashion, this quote playing along with Howard Shore‘s epic score is what makes the Wizard’s arrival such a thrilling moment. As such, it’s one of the most iconic quotes of the entire trilogy.
5
“Poe-tay-toes! Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew! Lovely big, golden… chips with a nice piece of fried fish.”
Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin)
Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), perhaps the single best character in the whole Middle-earth Saga, is, unsurprisingly, one of the characters with the biggest amount and highest quality of memorable lines of dialogue. These range from the emotional, to the epic, to the funny, which obviously includes his famous potato spiel.
Sam’s angry explanation to Gollum of what exactly makes potatoes so special is not only a love letter to what is inarguably the best vegetable by far.
Another line from the movie that has become a bit of a meme, Sam’s angry explanation to Gollum of what exactly makes potatoes so special is not only a love letter to what is inarguably the best vegetable by far, but also a display of how homesick the Hobbits have grown. It’s a funny moment, for sure, but also a surprisingly touching one.
4
“Then I shall die as one of them!”
Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen)
If Sam’s not the best character in the Middle-earth saga, then it would have to be Aragorn, son of Arathorn, descendant of Isildur and heir to the throne of Gondor. He’s one of the franchise’s most badass action heroes, but that coolness is perfectly balanced with nuance, complexity, and one of the Lord of the Rings trilogy’s best arcs.
Epic yet poignant, these eight simple words are a summary of who Aragorn is and what he values.
Aragorn has plenty of iconic quotes throughout the whole trilogy, and The Two Towers is no exception. As the situation in Helm’s Deep grows hopelessly dire, Legolas and Aragorn have a conversation in Elvish. In it, Legolas expresses his concern that they’re so outnumbered that there’s simply no way the people of Edoras won’t die in battle. “Then I will die as one of them!” Aragorn exclaims in English. Epic yet poignant, these eight simple words are a summary of who Aragorn is and what he values. It’s moments like this that make this one of the best movie franchises in history.
3
“You’ve left out one of the chief characters: Samwise the Brave. I want to hear more about Sam.”
Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood)
Where Fellowship of the Ring had a much more tragic ending, The Two Towers‘ ending—while undeniably bleak—ends on a happier and more hopeful note. This is a conversation between Frodo and Sam where the ever-humble Sam wonders whether Frodo and his quest to destroy the One Ring will ever be put into songs or tales.
Frodo, moved, makes sure that Sam doesn’t forget that he would have died multiple times already were it not for Sam. Any scene where the heroic Samwise’s contributions to the battle against Sauron are recognized is an instant fan favorite, but this one feels particularly significant, and is therefore particularly moving.
2
“Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn. Forth, Eorlingas!”
Theoden (Bernard Hill)
King Theoden (Bernard Hill) is another character who’s first seen in The Two Towers, and he immediately proves himself as one of the trilogy’s most interesting and most heroic characters. Needless to say, he’s a key figure in the climactic Battle of Helm’s Deep, where he tries his best to lead his people to an unlikely victory.
…Theoden gives a brief speech to his men right before the enemy breaks through the doors…
Aragorn, right before Gandalf and the Rohirrim arrive to aid their army, asks Theoden to ride out and meet the orcs face-first for death and glory. In the character’s most courageous and heroic moment of the whole film, Theoden gives a brief speech to his men right before the enemy breaks through the doors, and they charge at them on horseback. It’s one of the battle’s most exciting bits, and that’s largely thanks to this quote.
1
Sam’s Speech
Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin)
It’s always Sam who has the most memorable and iconic lines from the Lord of the Rings movies. The Two Towers is no exception. Right at the height of the film’s third act, Sam gives Frodo a rousing speech to give him energy to continue their fight, reminding him of “the great stories […] that really mattered,” the ones where light defeats darkness. In them, he says, they should find a reminder that “there’s some good in this world […], and it’s worth fighting for.”
…The scene that best exemplifies why Sam is such a beloved character.
This whole speech is perhaps the best quote of the whole franchise. It’s uplifting, emotional, epic, and the scene that best exemplifies why Sam is such a beloved character. It’s also a speech that encapsulates the whole theme of the franchise: The battle between good and evil and the stories that chronicle it are never a waste of time, but rather the most important stories that humanity can ever tell. They’re a reminder that one must fight for the good in this world.
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