REVIEW: ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ Is Epic

Any The Lord of the Rings fan knows that J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth has a treasure trove of epic stories to tell. The Kingdom of Rohan, Land of the Horse Lords, is one particular kingdom of men that has fascinated fans for generations. With The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, Kenji Kamiyama is given the storytelling reins to tell the legendary story of King Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) of Rohan and his (previously unnamed) daughter Hèra (Gaia Wise). This latest film will sweep audiences on an epic tale of family, devotion, courage, and heartbreak.

The film is based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s works and written by Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews, and Phoebe Gittins. It is animated by Japanese studio Sola Digital Arts Inc., and narrated by Miranda Otto, reprising her iconic role as Éowyn. While The War of the Rohirrim may not quite reach the heights of Peter Jackson’s original trilogy in the limits of its story and thematic qualities, it certainly stands as a worthy addition that beautifully expands Middle Earth on screen.

The original trilogy encapsulated so much in a focused scope. In comparison, The War of the Rohirrim is more intimate yet still beautifully epic in its focus on Helm Hammerhand, a legend in Middle Earth lore. A towering monarch with superhuman strength and a fierce desire to protect his people and family, Tolkien fans will see the king of Rohan’s legend brought to life in a harrowing way as he confronts the threats of the marauding Dunlendings. Cox gives a powerhouse voice performance, befitting this mighty figure and doing him justice.

While his sons Háma (Yazdan Qafouri) and (Benjamin Wainwright) aren’t given quite as much in the film, both actors do a noble job with their characters enough to have the audience connect with them where it matters most. It is particularly welcome to see Iranian actor Qafouri have a key voice role in Tolkien’s world.

The War of the Rohirrim is Hèra’s story

At its core, The War of the Rohirrim is Hèra’s story. From when we see her in the film’s opening scenes riding the plains of Rohan to seeing her confront the treacherous Wulf (Luca Pasqualino) to watching her grow to defend her people against invaders, Hèra captivates in every scene. She will be your new favorite Middle Earth heroine.

Wise does an exemplary job with her voice. She gives Hèra wild gravitas and valor as she strives to protect her father’s kingdom. As the stakes become increasingly dire, Wise’s performance magnificently meets the moment for Hèra, and audiences will love her all the more.

Pasqualino also does a great job as Wulf, even as his motivations as a character are relatively one-note. But the ferocity of his performance as the Dunlending leader remains forceful and will keep you engaged and enraged as you watch their rampage from Edoras to Helm’s Deep. The War of the Rohirrim gets increasingly wrenching as you watch the suffering of the Rohirrim.  The heart aches as they flee their homes to escape the violence reminiscent of horrific real-life current events.

The rest of the supporting cast does a solid job, with Lorraine Ashbourne, as Olwyn, standing out as Hèra’s protector. Hèra’s cousin Fréalaf (Laurence Ubong Williams) is a welcome addition when we see him on screen, though the character is understandably absent for much of the middle of the film.

Bilal Hasna is a welcome addition as the hobbit-like Lief, particularly as a Palestinian-Pakistani actor like him lends his voice to Middle Earth. Others, like Shaun Dooley as Freca, do a decent job. Original trilogy stars Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, and Christopher Lee give cameo performances, with the latter actually being able to return as Saruman using pre-recorded audio.

The War of the Rohirrim adds so much to a beloved world

The animation by Sola is breathtaking, using the groundwork of Jackson’s imagining of Middle Earth and adding their own textures to the land and its inhabitants. With gorgeous valleys, forests, mountains, caves, animals, and skies, this is a Middle Earth you would love to be lost in. The usage of previous landmarks like Helm’s Deep, Isengard, Edoras, Fangorn Forest, and Dunharrow is indeed tinged with nostalgia for older fans of Jackson’s films but used appropriately for the setting, not an over-usage by any means.

The action is also sweeping, with the battles fought by Helm, Hèra, and their close allies being brutal and beautiful. The action scenes for regular soldiers of the Rohirrim don’t quite reach those heights, but they are adequate enough to keep you engaged. Perhaps some more work on the action scenes as a whole would have improved the adventure on screen, but for what we get with the legendary Helm and his family, it remains enthralling.

The War of the Rohirrim represents what can be achieved in Tolkien’s world when animators are given the storytelling reins. It adds more dimension to this beautiful world we mostly see in the live-action space. With beautiful animation, enthralling characters, a gripping story, great action overall, and a lovely score by Stephen Gallagher, it’s a testament to the power of animation as a whole for epic storytelling.

I hope that, no matter what The War of the Rohirrim‘s box office prospects are, we see more projects like this in Middle Earth and beyond.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is out in theaters now.