Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor
Content warning: this article contains spoilers
When “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” debuted, it had been a decade since Middle Earth had been seen on silver screens — “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” was still running in theaters.
“The War of the Rohirrim” is set 183 years before the events of “The Lord of the Rings.” It follows Héra, voiced by Gaia Wise, as she and her father, the legendary Helm Hammerhand, defend their people from Wulf, a ruthless Dunlending lord, voiced by Luke Pasqualino. The film is narrated by Miranda Otto, who played Éowyn in the original trilogy.
When Helm kills Wulf’s father in a brawl and exiles Wulf, the man swears revenge against the people of Rohan, especially those who live in the village of Edoras. He kidnaps Héra, and she learns of his plan to lay siege to Edoras, eventually escaping to tell her father and brothers. The Rohirrim prepare for all-out war but must flee to the Hornburg when they are betrayed by one of their own.
There, the Dunlendlings continue to lay siege upon the Hornburg, with Helm Hammerhand dying in defense of the keep. Now the last of her house, it is up to Héra to lead her people to victory against Wulf and the Dunlendings.
The film is a vibrant return to Middle Earth, as well as a return to animated films in the Middle Earth cinematic universe — “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” movies of the late seventies were both animated.
Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, the film blends detailed scenery with characters animated in a way reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films. However, not all fans are happy with this choice of animation. The film has received poor reviews, mostly in relation to the art style rather than the plot. At my showtime, one man walked out when he realized it was animated — when there were only seven in the theater to begin with.
Despite poor reviews, the film has grossed $15 million at the global box office so far, earning $4.5 million in just its opening weekend.
“War of the Rohirrim” is certainly not for everyone. As an avid fan of the franchise myself, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The characters were well-fleshed out and fit into the world of Middle Earth beautifully, especially considering the chronicles of the war are only in J.R.R. Tolkien’s appendices at the end of “The Return of the King.” However, if one is not as well-versed in the world of “The Lord of the Rings” or does not enjoy anime, then this film could be skipped or will be best viewed at home when released to streaming services.
9.5/10.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
