Director Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) brings well-honed anime chops to Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, a story set two centuries before the Lord of the Rings saga most viewers know. Mostly for Lord of the Rings fans, War of Rohirrim pits the kingdom of Rohan and their leader Helm Hammerhand (voice by Brian Cox) against Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), the revenge-hungry son of Freca (Shaun Dooley), a warrior killed by Helm early in the proceedings. Helm's daughter Hera (Gaia Wise) becomes the central figure in a long-running revenge saga dotted with a few references to what will follow. Kamiyama keeps a dense story moving, tying it together with a narration provided by Miranda Otto, who played Eowyn in director Peter Jackson's films. It's difficult to imagine a crop of Rings newbies flocking to Rohirrim, although the movie qualifies as a stand-alone production. Strong visual work proves admirable, and, although it fails to generate big-time excitement, the movie serves as a suitable fix for those who can't get enough Lord of the Rings related entertainment. Put a different way: It's not great, but better than I expected.
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