Lord of the Rings fans should watch War of Rohirrim.
Pa Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Lord of the Rings fans often crave new content more than The Hobbit, but they don’t always know what to do when they get it. for example War of the Rohirrim was in most theaters faster than A Rush of Wind, and the film became a box office bomb big enough to break into Helm’s Abyss. Sure, I was one of those Lord of the Rings fans who didn’t see it in the theater, but I didn’t see it on digital, I’m here to tell you War of the Rohirrim it’s the best new franchise film in decades.
War of the Rohirrim
The action took place almost 183 years ago The Fellowship of the Ring, War of the Rohirrim focuses on the drama involving Helm Hammerhand and his family. A fierce rivalry with an ambitious Lord of Dunland forces this King of Rohan to take refuge in Hornburg. His daughter, Hera, helps the Rohirrim fight back against incredible odds, and by the time it’s over, you’ll have a newfound respect for what Hornburg later calls Helm’s Deep.
I didn’t watch this movie at first because I planned to watch it with some friends after Christmas, and then I made the shocking discovery that it was no longer in my local cinemas and had been released on digital just two weeks later. During that time, the film only made $15 million against its $30 million budget. For me, the message was clear: for whatever reason, The Lord of the Rings fans mostly chose to skip War of the Rohirrim.
Still, plans are plans and I dutifully rented the movie as soon as possible so I could watch it with friends after Christmas. My expectations were seriously tempered by the fact that the film was a box office bomb, which meant I was blown away to find out how good it actually was. The movie was better on every level than those redundant Hobbit movies, and with that Return of the King came out in 2003, which does War of the Rohirrim the best LOTR movie in decades.
Lord of the Rings fans rejoice
Lord of the Rings fans may find themselves equally amazed by the film’s aesthetic as well as its quality: the Japanese animation is breathtaking, and director Kenji Kamiyama (who has worked on such important films as Akira before putting on fan-favorite productions such as Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex TV series) fills the film with a combination of stunning images and terrifying battles. In addition, voice acting in War of the Rohirrim is first class. Everyone did a great job, but I was particularly impressed Brian Cox how he brought to life the legendary figure of the Hammerhead.
The film also has plenty of familiar locations for Lord of the Rings fans to appreciate, from Rohan to Isengard to Helm’s Deep. Some of it was admittedly too much fanservice for my taste, but it was hard to complain thanks to the high quality of the art and animation. At the risk of sounding like a marketing ploy, this was truly Middle-earth in a way I’d never seen it before, and the novelty of the animation and aesthetic helped me embrace War of the Rohirrimthe most open fan service in a step.
Although the productions are like apples and oranges, I’d be remiss if I didn’t compare this new film to Rings of power. It’s live action Amazon the show has improved since the first season, and admittedly has impressive production values. But for this Lord of the Rings fan, the show is rarely exciting and compelling, and that’s why I loved it War of the Rohirrim kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
It’s not too late to catch this movie in select theaters, and you can also rent a digital copy and watch it at home. Your mileage may vary, but I found this to be the best Lord of the Rings movie in decades…the kind of quality that fans often wondered if we’d ever get it again. In short, for those who often like to quote Theoden and ask “where is the horse and the rider”, War of the Rohirrim this is the beautiful, blood-soaked answer you’ve been looking for.
English