The newest adaption from the Lord of the Rings annals lives up to the franchise’s name. While offering a fresh take on the world of Middle Earth, it still manages to stay true to the epic spirit of Tolkien’s work.

Set three hundred years before LotR, The War of the Rohirrim depicts the struggle between the kingdom of Rohan against the rebels of Dunland, as seen through the actions of King Helm Hammerhand and his children—in particular the headstrong and courageous Héra. Through her eyes, we’re given a deeper look into the culture of Rohan, which, in its patriarchal structure, is as difficult for her to navigate as it was for Éowyn in LotR. The film opens with Éowyn (voiced by Miranda Otto, reprising her role from the original films), stating that despite her heroics, no songs or tales exist of Héra, which is textually true—she’s only mentioned by Tolkien once, as Helm’s daughter. This sets up her struggle as a woman in this society, while giving the film space to become its own narrative that, while within the bounds of LotR, is not confined by it. Because if there’s no record of what she did, then who is to say that what she does here didn’t happen?

It’s refreshing, and long overdue, to get a film set in this world with a woman as the protagonist, who despite being overshadowed by the actions of her father, brothers, cousin, and the antagonist Wulf, proves herself as brave and powerful as any other warrior, but also a kind-hearted and capable leader.

It’s also refreshing to be treated to a story in Middle Earth that doesn’t concern Sauron and the Ring, while still delivering the action and vibrant storytelling of LotR. Being an anime, there’s plenty for fans of that genre to enjoy, even while the film doesn’t lean too heavily into those tropes (beyond some extraneous acrobatics and an ending that takes a little too long to reach). Excellent vocal performances are given all around, with the standouts being Brian Cox (Helm) and Gaia Wise (Héra). The animation is beautiful, lending itself to the panoramic backdrops, intimate drama and stellar action sequences that fans have come to expect.

War of the Rohirrim is an exciting, fresh addition to the franchise, one that could not only open it up to new avenues of storytelling within the intricate tapestry of Tolkien’s mythopoeia, but also which stories from it might soon be told, as well.

Four and a half out of five shieldmaidens.

Photo credit: Warner Bros