The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review

Ten years after the last extended foray into Middle-Earth, Peter Jackson and the producers behind the live-action epics team up with anime master Kenji Kamiyama for the animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

Forming their own style of creative community, the plot is drawn from the appendices of JRR Tolkien’s best-selling novels and stretched into a spin-off that expands the existing lore of Middle-Earth that fans know and love.

Set 183 years before Frodo inherited That 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 enduring, patient heroism of his previously unnamed daughter, now named Héra (Gaia Wise). . The battle for Rohan begins when Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), the son of Lord Freca of the Dunlending, seeks revenge after Héra rejects his hand in marriage and King Helm kills his father with one fatal blow.

As a largely original story, The War of the Rohirrim relies on the nostalgia of Middle-Earth to mask the rushed elements of the story and dialogue, which is inevitably the impact of Warner Bros. Animation that fast-tracks the project to prevent the rights from being lost. to Tolkien’s work.

Impressive shots of familiar New Zealand splendor reflect Jackson’s original vision, while Stephen Gallagher has interwoven his new compositions with those of Howard Shore. But even Edoras’ emotional chords are still not enough to sustain the gravitas the score is synonymous with.

It will undoubtedly always have been a challenge for the writers to incorporate Tolkien’s voice into this new original story, but the rewrites by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papapgeorgiou are still palpable in the final script, leaving the feeling that it is was too much of a challenge. challenge to come up with an original story based on the footnotes of Tolkien’s great work, which could be a worrying sign ahead of the upcoming spin-off, The Hunt for Gollum. Still, it’s hard not to be fascinated by this spectacle that explores the striking and vast world of Middle-Earth in a new medium.

Héra’s perspective mirrors Rohan’s other daughter, Éowyn’s (Miranda Otto, who returns to narrate the film) in The Lord of the Rings, except this time Héra is at the center of the story and not on the sidelines. Éowyn is Rohan’s overlooked and undermined heir, who despite her wit and courage is at the mercy of an overprotective father. Ultimately, Éowyn (like Héra) defies her father’s orders to join her father in defending and saving her people on the battlefield.

Although the producers claim they didn’t “set out” to write a film about a female character, the best element of The War of the Rohirrim is its insight into the lore and legacy of the shieldmaidens – revered and heroic female warriors – in Midden -Earth. Olwynn (Lorraine Ashbourne), the last remaining shieldmaiden, has a close relationship with Héra’s on and off the battlefield. Their alliance was a refreshing addition after the live-action trilogy only offered audiences one paltry line of dialogue between female characters – it doesn’t pass the Bechdel test.

Warner Bros. Images

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At odds with this ambition to honor Rohan’s previously unnamed daughter, and perhaps the historical eradication of women in this world in general, is the anime’s presentation of the heroine. There is an element of sexualization – which is not unusual in this genre – with her lifted curves, oversized eyes, thick thighs and form-fitting outfits contrasting with the overtly feminist message at the heart of this film.

For all its flaws, it’s hard not to be moved by the undertaking. The enchanting sound of the Fellowship and the famous lands of Isengard, Rohan and Helm’s Deep – 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 disjointed feeling seeps back in.

Without hobbits, dwarves, wizards and elves, this dive into the human land manages to retain the essence of this high fantasy through its energetic action scenes. The sieges, sword fights, and battle cries compliment the melodrama of anime and encompass the familiar themes of courage, 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 beefy – Helm with rousing battle speeches, while Wise does a good job of reducing Héra to a stereotypical warrior princess, but one worth investing in.

Although Rohan’s daughter was never mentioned by Tolkien, Héra had a story worth telling on the big screen and a female perspective was missing from this franchise – especially in the film. Despite the rushed plot that often feels predictable and less original than intended, the stunning animation and nostalgia it serves up make it worth it.

Should you watch The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim?

While it won’t be to everyone’s taste, The War of the Rohirrim offers a different perspective on the themes and lore that Lord of the Rings fans know so well. There are plenty of Easter eggs and familiar aspects to keep die-hard Ringers engaged. If you’re less familiar with the world, it might not be as appealing. But if you enjoy Tolkien’s work, and can overlook some of the rushed aspects, then this is a tribute that might be for you.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is out now. You can buy your tickets at Vue, Odeon and Cineworld in the UK, and AMC Theaters and Fandango in the US.

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