I've been a fan of Tolkien's works ever since I read The Hobbit as a child.I remember going to watch the 1970s animated version of The Lord of the Rings with a couple of friends after school back in the 80s. In some ways the new The War of the Rohirrim film reminded me of it. I'm not a huge fan of animation. I prefer real actors and actresses. However, the new movie was good. Not as good as the films, but worth a watch.
I seldom go to the cinema. The truth is I'm very fussy when it comes to movies, TV shows, and books. I went to see The War of the Rohirrim because it had Peter Jackson's name associated with it (he was one of the executives) and because I love the main song (sadly, only played at the end when the credits rolled).
The story follows the lore generally accurately, though a few new elements are introduced, chief among them being the main protagonist, the king's daughter, Héra. To be honest, I would have preferred that they had portrayed the lore and history accurately, much as has been done with works like Beowulf (even if abridged), but it seems a trend to want to add things in.
Overall it's a great animation that I'd recommend, though it's not something I'd likely watch more than once (unlike the movies).
As a writer, movies fascinate me because I tend to see things cinematically when I write. And it's interesting to note the elements in a movie and contrast them with the elements in the written word. Something I feel The War of the Rohirrim failed to do (though this may in part be due to its animated form) is pull at my emotions enough. Again, the movies were able to do this. I hope in my writing I can create emotion and immersion. In that regard, a book is a wonderful thing. If well told, a written story can exceed all the power of any movie.
Image: logo, The War of the Rohirrim, 2024.
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