Made as an anime film by a noted Japanese anime director, the animation in the trailer didn’t particularly impress me which partly tamped down my enthusiasm to see it, but it was better than I anticipated. There was great attention to detail in the film, from the intricate costumes (not easy in hand animation!), to the lighting and the creation of a grounded environment that enhanced the mood and drama. And though not overused, it was interesting to spot where computer animation was utilized; at times, it looked like they even used some rotoscoping, mostly in a few long shots with figures (which frankly gave me a sense of deja vu with the Bakshi films—I'm not kidding).
Of course, it helps that the film is very much part of the Peter Jackson/Lord of the Rings universe, so the filmmakers had full access to and use of the film trilogy’s visual and production designs, as well as Howard Shore’s score. And though Jackson wasn't very involved in the development of the film, one of his writing partners on the original trilogy, Philippa Boyens, a Tolkien obsessive well before the films, helped develop the story. Scenes in the film clearly evoke the film trilogy, particularly in the staging of some scenes/battles, and the use of many of the same locations and settings from the original movies (particularly, The Two Towers)—down to camera angles—very much connect this movie with Jackson's films. So audiences get to see Rohan’s capital city of Edoras, Isengard, and Helm’s Deep, exactly as they looked and were shot in Jackson's films.
That said, the story is a bit circumscribed, taking place entirely in Rohan, 200 years before the events of the trilogy, involving a civil war among its tribes/factions that encompasses vengeance, ambition, pride, spurned love and historical grievances. In addition, they have made a young woman—a princess, daughter to the Helm Hammerhand, King of Rohan—the main protagonist. (Helm is voiced by Brian Cox, a great choice since Hammerhand is a true badass lol.)
My only slight disappointment was that since the film is entirely focused on Rohan, there are no elves, dwarves, hobbits or even Gondorians in sight. But you get to see a few Middle Earth creatures, such as the elephant-like Mumakils. (I’ll keep it at that, to say more would be spoiling!) There are a few shout outs/references to the trilogy, but they are actually very sparing and the film very much tries to be its own story.
Though I’ve loved the books since I first read them and, of course, the films (even the ill-fated Bakshi adaptation), I must confess that I have found The Rings of Power series on Prime to be a slog and too drawn out. (This is a complaint I’ve had with most of the Star Wars series as well, so make of that what you will—I’ve bailed on almost all of them.) In contrast, being a tight two hour film, The War of the Rohirrim has a narrative urgency that kept things moving and engaging, and swept me up. But your mileage may vary on whether the film will actually fulfill one's need for a Lord of the Rings fix.
All in all, though I went in with fairly low expectations (in fact, I was prepared to be disappointed), the film completely surprised me and I found it very entertaining and well executed.
Though I’ve loved the books since I first read them and, of course, the films (even the ill-fated Bakshi adaptation), I must confess that I have found The Rings of Power series on Prime to be a slog and too drawn out. (This is a complaint I’ve had with most of the Star Wars series as well, so make of that what you will—I’ve bailed on almost all of them.) In contrast, being a tight two hour film, The War of the Rohirrim has a narrative urgency that kept things moving and engaging, and swept me up. But your mileage may vary on whether the film will actually fulfill one's need for a Lord of the Rings fix.
All in all, though I went in with fairly low expectations (in fact, I was prepared to be disappointed), the film completely surprised me and I found it very entertaining and well executed.
No comments:
Post a Comment