About:
- Genres:
- Action-Adventure
- Animated
- Fantasy
- TV/Movie
Fix: Middle Earth Legendarium, Anime, Single Ladies (Do NOT Put a Ring On It), Hope in Dark Times
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video Summary:
Héra, the daughter of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan, must lead the resistance against a deadly enemy and make a daring last stand.
FYA Summary:
This film takes place about 200 years before the events of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. If you’ve ever wondered why the big old fortress in The Two Towers is called Helm’s Deep (I must admit I haven’t), this answers the question. Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) is a king known for his ability to knock you flat with one punch (hence the name). When an argument over his daughter Héra (Gaia Wise)’s marital prospects escalates into a brawl, it’s all fun and games until someone gets killed. (Diplomacy isn’t these guys’ strongest suit.) If anyone were listening to Héra, she could tell them whom she wants to marry: no one, thank you very much. But as war breaks out between Rohan and its neighbor Dunland, she – and everyone else – soon has more important things to worry about, like how to get through a winter under siege. Even a proud warrior king and an independent shieldmaiden need to learn how to ask for help if they want their kingdom to survive.
Familiar Voices:
Miranda Otto as Éowyn
Éowyn narrates the story with wisdom, warmth and dignity. I could just picture her telling her children about Héra as a role model who inspired her.
Billy Boyd as Shank and Dominic Monaghan as Wrot
Although these two orcs are in only one scene and completely unnecessary to the plot, I had to laugh when I checked the cast list. No wonder they sound so much cuter than they look.
Christopher Lee as Saruman
Although Sir Christopher passed away in 2015, the filmmakers used voice recordings from the previous Tolkien films for Saruman’s cameo role at the end of the movie. He only has one line, but hey – it’s Christopher Lee!
Couch-Sharing Capability: Open Minds
Anyone who has a problem with a British author’s work being adapted by Kenji Kamiyama, a Japanese anime director, or – gasp! – a minor female character having her role expanded might not want to watch this. But if you’re up for another epic fantasy that still feels Tolkienesque even in a different medium, you’re welcome to share the couch.
Recommended Beverage: The Only Brew for the Brave and True
Mead would be the perfect drink to fit the Anglo-Saxon-inspired culture of Rohan, but since it’s difficult to come by these days, find something else foamy or fizzy to raise a toast to the victorious dead.
Use of Your Streaming Subscription: Eyes on the Sky
While this wouldn’t have been my first choice of Middle-Earth history to make into a movie (Still no Lúthien and Beren series? … *sigh*), I do appreciate what these filmmakers did with it. I knew this was a proper Tolkien adaptation as soon as I saw the giant eagles soaring over the mountains and the pure awe on Héra’s face as she tried to communicate with one. Those eagles show up more than once during the story, as a living reminder that we share this world with wonders beyond our understanding. As grim as it gets down here, it doesn’t hurt to look up.
