Deftly overcoming any fears that The Fellowship Of The Ring follow-up would succumb to `second-film syndrome', Peter Jackson delivered another winner with The Two Towers.

Dropping the audience straight back into the action with a minimum of fuss (a brief flashback to Gandalf's fiery fall in the first movie is the only nod to newcomers), Jackson switches effortlessly through the gears, driving the plot while still introducing new characters. So we get The Rohans, The Gondorians and Treebeard blending in perfectly, allowing Jackson to streamline the book's labyrinthine narrative into something that works on screen. The sense of awe is diminished, but with its darker shadings, chaotic Helm's Deep conflict and standout CG-creation Gollum, The Two Towers proves more than a match for The Fellowship.

DVD Extras:

Following last year's pattern, this release, with its mini Making Ofs and trailers, feels like a teaser before the four-disc main event arrives on 18 November.Towering over the rest of the extras is the Return To Middle-earth tie-in show, originally broadcast on American telly before the film opened. Not only is it full of anecdotes from the cast and crew, but it also has a sly, irreverent feel. The nine internet mini-docs (taken from the official site) are crammed with info, as the team discuss such varied subjects as Gandalf's new look, the sound design and (naturally) Gollum. They're a bonus for non-webheads and the pristine quality means you'll want to watch them again, free of 'net jerk-o-vision. There's also a canny, 10-minute preview of The Return Of The King, which will have you counting the days until December.As for Sean Astin's short film about a workman putting up a poster? As odd side projects go, it's strictly watch-once material.