THE LORD OF THE RINGS. THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM

New Zealand, US, Japan, 2024, 134 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Miranda Otto, Luca Pasquarello, Lorraine Ashbourne, Shaun Dooley, Laurence Ubong Williams, Michael Wildman, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan.

Directed by Kenji Kamiyama.

This is a pre-Hobbit tale, 183 years before the story of the rings. The characters and places are taken from appendices to J.R.R.Tolkien’s sagas. However, one character has been invented for this film, a young, vigorous, heroic princess, Hera, with the narrator telling us that none of the stories told about her survived. A license then for the screenwriters to be creative.

The immediate striking aspect of the film is that it is an animation saga. The director is Japanese, Kenji Kamiyama, with much experience in Japanese Anime. So, on the one hand, this is very much anime style of storytelling and action, particularly characteristic, the minimal mouth movement of the characters as they speak. But, on the other hand, the influence of Peter Jackson’s films, backgrounds, castles, warfare, is still very important. And, the style of animation, building on the live performance of the actors.

It is surprising to learn that the film has not been a box office success. One would have thought that there is a continual succession of generations fascinated by Middle Earth, its characters, the conflicts, the magic.

For audiences able to accept this anime style and an animated version of the stories, it is very enjoyable in its way. It is a very masculine world, a mighty king, voiced by Brian Cox, his prince sons, his Rio prince nephew, his Armed Forces, and a conflict with a rival lord, a sudden death, the Lord’s son consumed with vengeance, unrelenting, attacking the castle, laying siege, a bitter winter, unwilling to take advice to raise the siege.

But, we have been alerted straightaway to Hera, another embodiment of the development of the Disney princesses, the Warrior Princess, doted on by her father, protected by him, but learning to take stronger and stronger stances, eventually confronting the angry vengeful besieger of the castle, and hand-to-hand combat.

At the end, there are some links to the future Rings stories, the image of Christopher Lee’s Saruman (and his actual voice, a clip from one of the films, reminding us of his evil power). Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan from the originals are also in the voice cast and, interestingly, Hera’s devotedly strong-minded maid is voiced by Lorraine Ashbourne (who, in fact, is the wife of Andy Serkis, Gollum).

Plenty of action, plenty of colour, memories of Howard Shore’s rousing score, a venture into a different kind of Middle Earth.

1. The popularity of Tolkien’s books? Tales and imagination? Fantasy? Heroes? The popularity of the films? Peter Jackson, the adaptations, producer of this film? Philippa Boyens and her writing the screenplays?
2. The decision for an animation film? The Japanese , the directors, Anime style, formal, strong characters, the importance of the layouts and backgrounds, musical score (and the echoes of Howard Shore’s original score)? The animation style fitting the Tolkien world, Middle Earth, the delineation of each of the characters, costume design, the backgrounds, the action sequences, the battles and hand-to-hand fight?
3. The background of the characters and places in Tolkien’s appendices? The invention of Hera? The voice-over, the explanation of her character, the fact that her stories were not recorded? Free opportunity for the screenwriters?
4. The introduction to Hera, age, background, her father and younger brothers, skilled in riding the horse, and action in vigorous heroine?
5. The kingdom, the King, his appearance, strength, leadership, the sudden appearance of his rival, the confrontation, the one-to-one fight, the fatal blow, the reaction of the son, vengeance, consumed? And his past relationship with Hera in their childhood, his proposal, her rejection?
6. The title, the war, Wulf and his vengeance, the importance of his assistant and advice? Laying siege to the Castle, his forces, the long winter, the effect on the troops, on those trapped in the Castle? His adviser suggesting he withdraw, his refusal, ultimately killing him?
7. Hera, the situation with the Eagles, the offering of the food, their power, her later returning, the request, their understanding the language, the helmet, the Eagle flying to urge her cousin to come and fight?
8. The situation in the Castle, the King, his blaming himself, protecting his daughter, going out, the fight and confrontation, his surviving, his single-handed warding off the enemy? The reconciliation with Hera? His watching from the battlements, Wulf and the death of his son, the hostage, cutting his throat?
9. Hera, her maid, tough-minded, her son, his role in the Castle, the proclamations?
10. Hera, the decisions about the escape, the inhabitants rounded up, the young boy, leadership, escaping the castle?
11. Hera, her cousin and his forces coming, the siege, the fortification pressed against the castle wall, the attack, the opening of the gates, their seizing, the king remaining outside?
12. Hera, her plan, with her maid, writing to confront Wulf, the combat, his attack, wounding her, her killing him?
13. Order restored, but Hera wanting to be free and go her own way?
14. The links with The Lord of the Rings, Suraman’s appearance, the Orcs and their stealing, 183 years before the Rings?