This is one of the events of the end of the year and it will be talked about for several days as it divides the press, the public and the fans critically. The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim is the new film from the universe of J.R.R Tolkien and it stands out from the others by the choice of its nature, that of being a Japanese animated film – American-Japanese since, in particular, the international VO is English -.
In addition, this feature film takes us a little less than 200 years before the events narrated by the three films of Peter Jackson (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers et the Return of the King) since it tells the origin from Helm’s Deepwhich we discover in the second part of the trilogy, as well as the legend of the one who left him his name, the king Helm Hammerhandhis two sons and his daughter His namethe true protagonist of the film.
Because they like horses. We too
But above all, it is the Rohirrim who are highlighted in this film. What does this term mean? A military class? It is an Elvish term meaning “people of the horse lords” according to the lore and vocabulary established by the British writer JRR Tolkien. It is also on horseback that we discover this faction of knights in The Two Towersled by Eomer and in the service of the king of Rohan at the time, Théoden. A faction of knights expert in mastering the equestrian art and who constitute part of the free peoples of Middle-earth.
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But why so much affection or even hype for these riders? We have to go back to the time of Peter Jackson’s trilogy to have some answers. In both the films and Tolkien’s novels, the Rohirrim play an important role in resolving the conflict in Middle-earth and in the fight against Sauron. It is they who come to the rescue of their king after he, under the harmful influence of the sorcerer Saroumanedrove them out of the kingdom of Rohan.
Because they offered us (among other things) two great moments of cinema
But it is still they who come to deliver a first decisive blow – Aragorn and the Dead Men of Dunharrow, the famous green ghosts who swear allegiance to him to honor the oath made to his ancestor Isildur then arrive as second blade – to Sauron’s troops during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
In the cinema, this resulted in two great spectacular moments. The first, still as iconic, where we see Gandalf honoring his promise to Aragorn – “Wait for my coming at first light on the 5th day. At dawn, look to the East” and rush towards the armies of Sauron with the help of Éomer and the Rohirrim, who will literally tear and rout the enemy forces with their horses. This moment has a name, it is the Charge of the Rohirrim.
The second is the arrival of these same Rohirrim in support of the Gondoroverwhelmed by Sauron’s forces and this time led by King Théoden himself. Despite their lower numbers, their ferocity, once again, will undermine the enemy lines. And also gratify us with the passage in which Eowynthe king’s niece, who came disguised as a man to fight alongside him, avenges his death by killing a Nazgulone of the fallen kings corrupted by Sauron’s rings of power.
Because when they speak, we listen (and we fall in love too)
It was not only the action that inscribed the Rohirrim in collective memories at that time. There are also the dialogues, in particular Théoden’s two speeches. The first in the walls of Helm’s Deep, when all seems lost and Aragorn has just boosted him in front of the few horsemen who still remain. “No matter the wrath, no matter the ruin and may the dawn be red!” will throw the king at his men before starting a last stand and being saved by Éomer.
Théoden, played by the late Bernard Hill, does it again a film later, in the Return of the King, when he sends his troops to confront Sauron’s creatures in the Fields of Pelennor. “Forward, fear no darkness! Standing ! Rise up, riders of Théoden! Spears will be shaken, shields will shatter! A day of the sword, a red day before the sun rises! Gallop, gallop! Run! Run to ruin and the end of the world!”
The start of a long series?
So many cult moments, served each time by the music ofHoward Shore (The Riders of the Rohan) and a dedicated theme as powerful as it is chivalrous, which forged the cinematic legend of the Rohirrim. SO Warner Bros was not mistaken in his choice for a first spin-off of the Lord of the Ringsby focusing on highly appreciated characters in Tolkien’s work, as much for their bravery as for their charisma.
Moreover, this strategy does not seem destined to be an isolated act. The next project on the big screen around the license is none other than the film “The Hunt for Gollum”, with Andy Serkis directing. As the film indicates, it will follow the pursuit of Gollum – who will be played again by Andy Serkis – by Aragorn, wishing on Gandalf’s orders, to prevent him from confiding important information about the Ring to Sauron.
We recently learned that Viggo Mortensen, the interpreter of Aragorn, would have been approached to reprise his role. “I spoke to Viggo, Andy spoke with him, Peter Jackson too, confided Philippa Boyens, screenwriter on the two trilogies, the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit and having played a consulting role on the Rohirrim War. I can’t imagine anyone else to play Aragorn. But it’s entirely up to him.” Here again, fan service mode is already activated…
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