Ever want to see how to dress for a Renaissance Fair?

Yes, like 'Aliens', 'The Two Towers' also contains two suit-up scenes. But unlike 'Aliens', the two scenes almost bookend each other. Yet they each mean very different things to the characters in them.

With King Theoden's suit-up, we are seeing a man reclaim what he once was. He's suiting up to become king again, after long years of withering away under the spell of the white wizard Saruman and the poisonous words of despair from Grima Wormtongue.

Aragorn, played perfectly by Viggo Mortensen, is not yet king. And frankly, doesn't know if he'll ever get to be, nor if he wants to be. For, before he ever comes to his castle of Minas Tirith, he has to survive the onslaught of Saruman's army. The Battle of the Hornburg, or simply "Helm's Deep", is not only one of the best chapters in The Lord of the Rings books, but it's one of the best battle scenes ever committed to celluloid.

But before a single arrow will fly, Aragorn has to muster up some drive to lead. This won't be easy. The odds are totally against them. Even Legolas, his trusted ally in the fellowship, has lost hope. There's no way they can win. Is having any hope at all then just pointless? Will Aragorn fulfill his destiny to become king of Gondor again and unite his people?

Oddly enough, hope comes from an unlikely source.

An already defeated looking Aragorn sits on the castle keep's steps, as men muster for battle all around him. A young boy stands a few feet away, fully suited, yet holding a sword in his hands almost taller than him. The fear on the boy's face resonates with Aragorn. He understands it. And so he calls the boy over with a simple command: "Give me your sword." He then asks the boy his name. After answering, the boy has to get something off his gut. He says, "The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They are saying that it is hopeless." Instantly, we see a change happening in Aragorn's face. He's remembers who he is. What is at stake.

He stands up. Tries out the sword. It feels good. It feels strong in his hands. He looks at the boy. "This is a good sword, Halas, son of Hama." He kneels down, placing a kind hand on the boy's shoulder. "There is always hope."

Cue the score. Cue the suit-up.

Quick close-ups. Almost so quick you miss them. Way more attention paid here though, then in the King Theoden suit-up. If you're ever going to a nerdy Renaissance Fair, and you want tips on what to wear, just freeze-frame the begining of this suit-up, and then use your DVD player's 'step' feature. (or, just check out my handy screenshots to the right!)

Again, Aragorn's suit-up scene means something very different from King Theoden's. This is the battle-worn soldier, mustering up the courage to continue on the path of his destiny. A destiny that, at times, he wishes wasn't his. The tired look in Aragorn's face during the scene screams this. Somebody's got to lead these men against the impossible.

And then, just when you think the suit-up was enough to propel him into that role, an old friend shows up and hands him Narsil, his sword.

His friends believe in him. It's time to man the walls.