What happens before the events of The Lord of the Rings? What about even before The Hobbit? Those questions are asked and we’re taken on a history lesson through Rohan and how famous landmarks like Helm’s Deep got their name. We’re also taken on the journey with a character that most audiences have never heard of in Hera. Add into that a somewhat strange hybrid animation style and the directorial stylings of Kenji Kamiyama and you get The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

The film tells the story of Hera and a sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg. Fans of Lord of the Rings, should know that Helm Hammerhand is where Helm’s Deep comes from. That’s basic knowledge, but for anyone who doesn’t know much deeper, or hasn’t read anything else from Middle Earth, the movie does a good job of explaining the principal players.

Before King Theoden, we had Helm Hammerhand and his family leading Rohan, a group of communities that were united under his banner. That is, until Wulf challenges his throne after Helm accidentally kills his dad in a fistfight. The ensuing conflict takes the action from Edoras to the Hornburg, which we now know as Helm’s Deep. Wulf brings together the forces of the wildmen and other mercenaries to take on the might of the Rohirrim. Combine that with some treachery, and you get a disadvantage for our heroes.

A Bit Of A Mixed Bag On Animation And Story

Wulf in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

Starting off, the actual animation of the characters is beautiful. Their movement, the costumes, the action, it’s all really stunning to look at. The real spot where things look a bit strange is with the terrain and objects in motion. It looks like they used a split style, where certain objects look more realistic than others. So it’s like the actual characters were done in a sort of 70’s style like the old Lord of the Rings animated movie, and the other objects are rendered. It’s kind of jarring to look at, at times. Hera and the other characters look so fluid and awesome in motion, that it doesn’t take too much away, but some things do stick out more than others.

The other issue that sticks out with The War of the Rohirrim is that it just ends up feeling derivative of The Two Towers. Yes, we get to know why Helm’s Deep is called that. But it just ends with the same sort of situation as in that movie. Wulf is also about as one-dimensional as it comes as a villain. He was so one-dimensional that the audience ended up laughing when he made the same wrong decision to keep up his attack for the third time. His vengeance is his motivating factor but it really ends up feeling like he’s an incel that’s mad that Hera won’t date him after they were friends as kids.

The big battle that’s built up to in the climax of the film is also pretty deflating. It doesn’t match any sort of expectations and the finale moment for Hera comes off with a whimper. The earlier battle scene outside of Edoras is much more thrilling and feels like there are actual stakes to the whole thing.

Hera in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

That being said, the voice actors here all do an admirable job with some questionable material. Brian Cox is powerful and triumphant as Helm Hammerhand. Gaia Wise steals the show as Hera and gives the proceedings the right amount of energy but also feels personable enough as someone thrust into a leadership role. Michael Wildman’s turn as General Targg is arguably more villainous than Wulf. He knowingly follows his plot to take over Rohan and usurp the king.

Basically, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim feels like empty calorie watching. It has some really beautiful visuals but doesn’t really add anything to the mythos of Middle Earth. It even states at the beginning that we’ve never heard of Hera before because she’s been erased from tales and history. For those reasons, The War of the Rohirrim is a middling story that’s only for the most fanatical of Middle Earth fans.

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