The Lord of the Rings film universe is ever-expanding, now we’ve ventured into the realm of anime to tell a new story isolated from the War of the Ring. The War of the Rohirrim is set 183 years prior to Peter Jackson’s iconic trilogy and follows the legend of Helm Hammerhand.
Pairing the worlds of LotR and anime is an exciting prospect that had me keen to check out this film. The other exciting tidbit is that it’s focusing on a narrative that’s not tied to the Baggins’, the One Ring and all that Sauron business. There’s little easter eggs that place it within the context of the timeline, but otherwise it’s a standalone story that any can enjoy. Adapted from Appendix A of Return of the King, the story of Helm Hammerhand is a three-page section about the man whose name would lend itself to Helm’s Deep. As it’s been expanded to a feature length film, there’s a lot of fleshing out that’s been done in the way of plot beats and entire characters. On one hand, the narrative is exciting and full of spectacle, while on the other hand there’s elements that feel a little lacking or all too familiar. Getting to see the story of Hammerhand is awesome – he’s a compelling character with a brilliant arc, and is played really well by Brian Cox. Everything covering his rule of Rohan, relationship with the people and connection with his children makes for some of the film’s best character work. Unfortunately he’s not the protagonist, and the protagonist is instead a character who is likeable but a little too familiar in comparison to other fantasy heroes.
Héra, voiced by Gaia Wise, is a character that existed in Tolkien’s writings but is given a name, expanded on and thrust into the forefront of this story. As far as compelling characters go, Héra is strong-willed and likeable, but there’s very little intrigue about her arc to isolate her from other similar fantasy heroines. I mean, LotR already has a better character in Eowyn (Miranda Otto), who appropriately narrates this story. It’s clear the writers used the fact that these characters are similar to create a link, but it doesn’t warrant the decision to have Héra be the lead. Her situation, her goals and her connection with other characters such as Wulf isn’t original or inspired enough to carry the film on her own. Her relationship with her father, Helm, is the best element of her story, but that’s more dependent on Helm’s journey than her own.
As someone who loves a good revenge story, this was always going to be an interesting watch, but it’s the fact that the revenge story is of the villain getting revenge that makes it extra thrilling. The opening sequence is epic and action-packed, setting up the conflict between Helm and Wulf. From there, it meanders through a slightly uneven plot where its best moments are the large scale action sequences, specifically in the third act. The second act drags a little and could be tightened, but it’s the character moments within it that allow the third act to be so impactful.
Despite being a LotR film not concerned with the War of the Ring, there’s still an epic aura to the narrative, especially with its connection to Helm’s Deep. The action sequences are fast paced and much more brutal and violent than anything in the live action films. Being animated allows them to get away with blood and cut limbs, and that small addition helps with the brutality and overall entertainment factor. There’s even one key sequence that injects a bit of horror into the tone, and that’s an awesome sight in the LotR universe. Accompanying the action is Stephen Gallagher’s score, one which brings something new to the universe while honouring that of Howard Shore’s iconic music. There’s musical cues from signature pieces of Shore’s score that are used in key moments, and it enriches the experience for any LotR fan.
Quite possibly the aspect of the film I was most looking forward to is the animation itself – the idea of merging anime and LotR was intriguing in terms of the visual possibilities it brings. However, this ended up being the cause of the most disappointment. The quality and consistency of the animation seems cheap, rushed and not polished in certain large scale shots. It dips in and out of being hyper-detailed and almost amateur, and it’s that back and forth that really ripped me out of some scenes. Overall I didn’t like the animation – a lot more could have been done with it to add some personality to the look and feel. In its current state it’s a little bland. Certain sequences, especially key moments for Helm, are beautifully animated, but then there’s others that feel like last-minute rush jobs.
In the end, The War of the Rohirrim does a great job in bringing Helm Hammerhand to life and showcasing his strength both physical and as a king. His corner of the narrative is packed with awesome character moments, brutal action and a thrilling element of revenge. Meanwhile, Héra makes a fine protagonist, but is one of the characters that’s not fleshed out enough to carry the film. The narrative has its highs and lows, and the animation is subpar, but the action, score and awesome final act make this a worthwhile watch for LotR fans.
6.7/10
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