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The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim is a nostalgic expansion of Middle-earth, presented in a whole new light in breathtaking animation. However, even the gravity of the familiar scenery and score cannot support this rushed attempt to capture Tolkien's voice in this expansion of a footnote in his appendices.
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A decade after the feature's last foray into Middle-earth, Peter Jackson and the producers behind the live-action epics have teamed up with anime master Kenji Kamiyama for the animated feature The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim.
Warner Bros.
Forming their own style of creative camaraderie, the plot has been taken from the appendices of JRR Tolkien's bestselling novels and expanded into a spin-off that expands the existing history of Middle-earth that fans know and love.
Set 183 years before Frodo's legacy that ring fatal, the film follows the repercussions of the formidable King of Rohan, the hot-headed temper of Helm Hammerhead (voiced to perfection by Brian Cox), and the patient, enduring heroism of his previously anonymous daughter, who is now named Hera (Gaia Wise). . The battle for Rohan begins when Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), the son of Lord Freca of Dunlending, sets out to seek revenge, after Hera refuses his hand in marriage and King Helm kills his father in one fell swoop. fatal.
As a primarily original story, War of the Rohirrim relies on Middle-earth nostalgia to mask the rushed elements of the narrative and dialogue, which is inevitably the impact of Warner Bros.' Animation which accelerated the project to avoid losing the rights. to Tolkien's work.
Panning shots of familiar New Zealand-inspired splendor capture Jackson's original vision, while Stephen Gallagher has interwoven his new compositions with those of Howard Shore. However, even Edoras' emotive chords still aren't enough to maintain the gravitas the score is synonymous with.
The Rohirrim War relies on nostalgia for Middle-earth to mask the rushed elements of the narrative and dialogue.
Arguably, it was always going to be a challenge for the writers to echo Tolkien's voice in this new original tale, but Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papapgeorgiou's rewrites are still felt in the final storyline, lingering the feeling that It was too much of a challenge to craft an original story from the footnotes of Tolkien's great work, which could be a worrying sign ahead of the upcoming spin-off, The Hunt for Gollum. Despite this, it's hard not to be captivated by this show that examines the striking and expansive world of Middle-earth in a new medium.
Hera's point of view echoes that of Rohan's other daughter, Éowyn (Miranda Otto, who returns to narrate the film) in The Lord of the Rings, except this time, Hera is at the center of the story , and not on the margins. Éowyn is the neglected and weakened heiress of Rohan, who despite her spirit and courage is at the mercy of an overprotective father. Ultimately, Éowyn (like Hera) defies her father's orders to defend and save her people on the battlefield, alongside her father.
Although the producers say they haven't “decided” whether to write a film about a female character, the best part of War of the Rohirrim is its insight into the history and legacy of the shield maidens. – revered and heroic female warriors – in Middle-earth. Olwynn (Lorraine Ashbourne), the last shieldmaiden, maintains a close relationship with Hera on and off the battlefield. Their alliance was a refreshing inclusion after the live-action trilogy gave audiences only a meager line of dialogue between female characters – it doesn't pass the Bechdel test.
Warner Bros.
The animated presentation of the heroine is at odds with this ambition to honor Rohan's daughter, until then anonymous, and perhaps with the historical erasure of women in this world in general. There is an element of sexualization – which is not unusual in this genre – with her accentuated curves, oversized eyes, thick thighs and tight outfits contrasting with the overtly feminist message at the heart of this film.
…The best part of The Rohirrim War is its insight into the history and legacy of the shieldmaidens – revered and heroic warriors.
For all its faults, it's hard not to be moved by this company. The enchanting chimes of the Fellowship and the familiar lands of Isengard, Rohan and the Deeps of Helm – which are breathtaking in the hand-drawn Japanese style – are a delight. It's only when this 3D environment is mixed with the 2D animation that the feeling of disjunction reappears.
Without Hobbits, dwarves, wizards and elves, this dive into the land of men manages to retain the essence of this high fantasy through its energetic action sequences. The sieges, sword fights, and war cries complement the anime's melodrama and encapsulate the familiar themes of bravery, honor, and camaraderie that the live-action films embody so well.
Cox's gravitas also lends itself to the proud and powerful – not to mention burly – Helm with rousing battle speeches, while Wise works well to avoid reducing Hera to a stereotypical warrior princess, but one that's worth getting into. invest.
Although Rohan's daughter was never even named by Tolkien, Hera had a story worth telling on the big screen and a female perspective has been sorely missed in this franchise – especially in cinema. Despite the rushed plot that often feels predictable and less original than expected, the stunning animation and nostalgia it serves makes it worth the wait.
Should you watch The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim?
While it won't be to everyone's taste, War of the Rohirrim offers a different perspective on the themes and lore that Lord of the Rings fans know so well. There are enough Easter eggs and familiar aspects to keep die-hard Ringers engaged. If you know less about the world, it may not be as attractive. But if you appreciate Tolkien's work and can overlook some of the rushed aspects, this is a tribute that might be right for you.
The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim is now available. You can purchase your tickets from Vue, Odeon and Cineworld in the UK, and AMC Theaters and Fandango in the US.
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