The War of the Rohirrim – REVIEW

As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must confess that my heart sunk when I heard about “The War of the Rohirrim“. Having been captivated by Peter Jackson’s epic adaptations, I was eagerly anticipating another journey to this enchanting realm. However, this animated feature seems like a stark departure from the grandeur I’ve come to expect.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’ve been captivated by Peter Jackson’s adaptations of J.R. Tolkien’s epic works, which have collectively earned a staggering $6 billion at the box office. It’s no surprise, then, that studios are eagerly mining Tolkien’s extensive library for more stories to bring to life on the silver screen. One such tale is “The War of the Rohirrim,” drawn from the appendices of the novels and transformed into an animated feature.

183 years prior to Frodo’s pastoral escapades, Middle Earth was governed by Helm Hammerhand, portrayed by Brian Cox, a formidable warrior whose family included Chester Chiselchest, Arthur Anglegrinder, and Terry Tinsnips. In contrast to the Lord of the Rings series, this film is predominantly female-led, with Hera (Gaia Wise) taking center stage. When the villain Wulf (Luke Pasqualinoi), who once courted Hera, refuses her, she chooses to decide her own future husband if there even is one. The tension escalates when Helm kills Wulf’s father with a single punch, an act that would have gone viral in Middle Earth. Now, vengeance becomes Wulf’s mission, and Helm’s overconfidence in his invincibility leads to disastrous consequences. Left with no choice, Hera must rise to the occasion and guide her people towards safety and freedom from Wulf’s wrathful horde.

That this was rushed into production to ensure that the rights to the original films were not lost sums up what is really something of a cash grab. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama the anination is that of his typical anime back catalogue and it’s a style that jars not really being suited to the quintissentially English Tolkien’s vision and is not really befitting of the beloved subject matter. The animation is stodgy and uninspired and is not helped by dialogue that includes, ‘ How do we survive?’…..answer, ‘We find a way!’ Invaluable advice. Its plus point is its female empowerment but even Hera who embodies this appears throughout wearing thigh boots like some cosplay dominatrix.

Following the grandeur of Peter Jackson’s revolutionary live-action trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim, appears somewhat less progressive.

At the world premiere of “The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim” in London, we see Peter Jackson, Ian McKellen, and Andy Serkis together…

Here’s The War of the Rohirrim trailer…..

2024-12-13 03:23

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