‘The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim’ divides critics: “Fascinating but lacklustre”

nme.com:

The War Of The Rohirrim, the new anime film from The Lord Of The Rings universe, is out this week and the critics are divided.The movie from New Line and Warner Bros.

Pictures is set 183 years before the events of Peter Jackson’s live-action trilogy (2001-2003) and is based on the books of J.R.R.

Tolkien.StarringSuccession‘s Brian Cox, Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods), Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer), LOTR franchise veteran Miranda Otto and more, the film is released in cinemas on Friday (December 13).The film “tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan.

A sudden attack by Wulf (Pasqualino), a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm (Cox) and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg – a mighty fortress that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep.”With the release now imminent, the reviews are out and they are a mixed bag, with some critics praising the film’s artistic ambition, but finding fault in its storytelling.IGN gave the film a 6 out of 10 score and noted the movie is “a fascinating idea with a lacklustre execution, more interesting as a concept than an actual retelling of one of Middle Earth’s famous legends.”Empire gives a similar view, saying “it never scrapes the heights of Jackson’s trilogy – few do – but amid a messy meeting of worlds, there are stirring moments.