The War of the Rohirrim - No Spoiler Review

I went to see The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. I was the only person in a 200 seat IMAX theatre…

Being a hard-core Tolkien nerd, I’ve known this movie was coming for a long-time, though I was undecided on whether to see it. Would it fill me with joy like The Fellowship of the Ring? Or fill me with bitterness like The Battle of the Five Armies? I read a few reviews, but they were so mixed as to be unhelpful. Eventually, I decided I was overthinking it, and I should just go and try to enjoy it. And even if I didn’t enjoy it, at least I would be able to talk about it!

I prefer to go to the cinema at off-peak times, so I knocked off early yesterday. It was only showing on the IMAX at the big multiplex, so I overpaid for my ticket and then overpaid for my popcorn. There was no one else in the theatre when I arrived… and so it stayed, a vast, empty room. Thankfully, I’m generally happy with my own company, and moved to sit right in the middle! I read a book while the adverts played, slightly worried they might decide not to show it for only one person (which did happen to me once!). Eventually, the movie began.

It was a strange ride, but I enjoyed it. The story itself is strong. It includes the whole tale of Helm Hammerhand as Tolkien wrote it – but obviously needed to add a lot to turn 3 printed pages into a film. Most of this addition comes in the form of Helm’s heroic daughter, Hera. She get’s her own story, intertwined with her father’s. Both are well told. The characters aren’t particularly deep, but this is fairytale not literature, and on that level, it succeeds.

Where it is less consistent is the animation. The movie opens with a beautiful shot of the map of Middle-Earth fading into actual mountains. A moment later, a giant eagle flies past… the eagle appears hastily drawn on top of the gorgeous background. For a moment my heart sunk. On the whole though, the animation is good, and sometimes it is utterly fantastic… but there are moments throughout that look either unfinished or rushed, which is a shame. A couple of moments did seem more ‘anime’ than ‘Middle-Earth’. The animation is going to lose a lot of people.

I have seen complaints that the movie is too long. I don’t agree, most of what is there is necessary. 

I have seen complaints that Hera is a ‘Mary Sue’ (a flawless heroic woman). These are baseless. She is heroic and competent, but she needs help as often as she gives it.

I was hoping to take my 8-year-old son to see the movie, but there are a few character deaths that are too rough for a sensitive soul.

The War of the Rohirrim is far from a perfect movie, but for my money (and I spent plenty to see it), it is a good one. More than a Tolkien fan should ever expect for the story of Helm Hammerhand! I probably won’t rush to see it again in theatre, but I’m glad that I went, and I will buy it on Blu-Ray when it is released. 

If you want to see it in theatre, I suggest going soon. Based on my own experience, it won’t be there long…