why do so many people rank The Two Towers best out of the three LotR films

[Uncle]

I love all three movies, but I just don't see how people could pick Two Towers as best

unlike other beloved second parts of a trilogy like Empire Strikes Back, it's not like it has an incredible twist that ramps things up for the third

of all the movies (and books) it is the most "and then they traveled some more, and continued traveling"

of course Helm's Deep is great, Ent war is great, the character development of Gollum is great, but there's so much that doesn't work



of all the movies, the non-book content in Two Towers is the worst added material:

• the (extended only, I think?) scenes with Arwen are a slog and don't enhance anything
  
• faking out Aragorn's death is dumb and I don't think even the least aware audience member believed it for a second
  
• having Faramir take Frodo all the way to Osgiliath before relenting ruins his character
  

I think for me it's Fellowship, then Return, then Towers

it feels like the most happens in Fellowship, flawless character introductions and world building, learning to value what the Shire represents so we know the stakes if they fail

the others spend so much time in fewer locations (and greyer, bleaker locations) that they can really drag

[Potato]

It felt the tightest for me. Unencumbered by the need to set the scene or the need to wrap things up, it was just a complete immersion into Tolkien's world and characters. I hated the additions (absolutely needless). 

IMO it did benefit by being the middle part because it got to present the core conflict and be really grim about it. No matter what they did, what victories they won, they were all so royally fucked and completely dependent on what the hobbits did.

It benefited greatly from being able to just get straight into the action as well. 

I thought Fellowship was a little bloated, Return way more so.

It's been a while since I watched it so I may be mistaken with my recollections though...

[NekoFever]

I agree with your ordering. I’ve mellowed on it with time, but back in 2002 the deviations from the book really annoyed me. Elves at Helm’s Deep, Faramir’s character assassination, the stupid warg battle, etc.

Fellowship is my favourite. It’s got the arc and variety in tone that takes it from the bucolic Shire to the battle at the end. The whole Fellowship together. Gandalf the Grey. Moria is 

Plus actually seeing that movie on the big screen and that Peter Jackson actually did it and the perfect casting and New Zealand is Middle-earth was like a religious experience for me. I loved the other two but they never recaptured that excitement.

ROTK is great but bloated. Some of that’s the source material but it just means it doesn’t work quite as well for me.

[Besticus Maximus]

First one is a bit boring and twee for half the film and then ends when it gets going

Two Towers has the best character moments and most memorable battles and starts and ends in a cohesive way

last one is basically an extended ending

[Nintex]

The Two Towers Extended edition is probably my favorite. All three movies are incredible. Especially the Extended Editions in 4k HDR  
My top 3 is different between theatrical/extended because a lot of lore and details are missing from the theatrical version of Return of the King including the Death of Saruman.

Theatrical cuts
Two Towers -> Fellowship -> Return of the King

Extended Editions
Two Towers -> Return of the King -> Fellowship

[chronovore]

I watch all of the LOTR Extended Editions, once a year. If I’d seen these at 9 years old instead of Star Wars, these would’ve been my religion.