By: Russ Matthews
Since the release of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy of J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic series of The Lord of the Rings, studios have been trying to tap into the magical lore of this vast array of worlds and characters.
Despite the misstep of The Hobbit trilogy and the much-maligned Rings of Power, Tolkien’s fantasy vision continues to be a treasure trove of considerations. Characters are so rich in consideration that they only need to get a brief mention in the original novels to get a whole film made of their exploits, as seen with the recent anime release of Héra Hammerhead’s (Gaia Wise) story.
Now, Middle Earth is animated again in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.
The story occurs 183 years before Frodo’s journey. Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) has been a much beloved and revered king of Rohan until he is challenged by Lord Freca (Shaun Dooley). As tragic events occur within the clash of these two leaders, a rift occurs amongst the tribes as Wulf (Luke Pasqualino) seeks revenge for his father’s death.
Due to his rejection by his former friend and love, Princess Hera, the young warlord attempts to raise an army to exact his vengeance on the man who killed his father. This leads to events that force Helm Hammerhead and his people to escape to the famed stronghold Helm’s Deep as Wulf lays siege to the people of Rohan.
A Familiar World
The canvas afforded director Kenji Kamiyama (Engage Wars: Heartful Force) will be familiar to fans of the original trilogy. Despite being set centuries before the original quest, all the characters will be easily embraced as part of Tolkien’s imaginative world of Middle Earth.
Then, with the overlay of anime storytelling, there is little to argue about how these two styles can complement one another.
The devoted fan base may reject how a relatively benign character has been elevated to the hero’s stature. Still, there is little to argue with bringing this world alive in cinematic glory. The animation is admirable, and the storyline stays true to the ethos of the epic tale. It may bring a new generation along on these fantasy adventures.
A Nod to Other Stories
Yet, what stands out as this anime battle unfolds is how it manages to sample from other stories of similar lore. The first and most obvious nod to Pixar’s Brave has to be the obvious. Even down to the red hair of the protagonists, it cuts this close to being as much a knock-off as it is an honourable mention within the screenplay.
As things unfold, the comparison to Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 animated interpretation of the classic is difficult to dismiss as mere reference. Still, the comparisons do not distract from the overall cinematic experience.
The apparent trend of replacing all male leads with their female counterparts will make this a target for all traditionalists who desire things to remain true to the original text.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’s attempt to mine the depths of J. R. R. Tolkien’s world honours the original tale and helps audiences understand even more of its history. It does not match the classic novels or Peter Jackson’s trilogy – but it should still satisfy those who desire to travel to Rohan again during the holiday season.
Reel Dialogue: Wise counsel
Throughout The War of the Rohirrim, one thing that stands out for both sides of this skirmish between kingdoms is that good counsel is worth seeking out. Both Helm and Wulf suffer from prideful decisions that cause both of their followers to be led astray at different times within the story. Both leaders are afforded strong advisors to assist them along the way. Still, they don’t always listen, and this leads to tragic results.
This discussion does raise the question of who to trust for wise counsel in our own lives. It is important to know where to place your personal faith and who to trust when things are at their worst.
This is an issue that impacts fictional tales and real life, too. It is easy to realise that most people will eventually fail to find the answers in this area. Yet, what is known of the God of the Bible is that he is the only one that is truly trustworthy. If you are looking for someone to trust, how about picking up the Bible and finding the only genuinely trustworthy being in existence.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
If you would like to discuss the topics from this film, reach out to us at Third Space. We would love to chat with you about this and more.
Article supplied with thanks to City Bible Forum.
Feature image: Movie publicity
About the author: Russ Matthews is a film critic at City Bible Forum and Reel Dialogue. He has a passion for film and sparking spiritual conversations.