The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)

Description

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim – 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Warner Bros. | 2024 | 134 min | Rated PG-13 | February 18, 2025

Genres: Fantasy · Adventure · Action · Animation
Animated in the Style of Epic Anime | Based on Appendix A of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Return of the King

4K UHD Disc Details

Video Quality – 5/5

• Codec: HEVC / H.265
• Resolution: Upscaled 4K (2160p from a digital intermediate)
• HDR: Dolby Vision & HDR10
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Despite being upscaled from a 2K digital intermediate, The War of the Rohirrim arrives on a 100GB disc with pristine visual quality. This anime-meets-Middle-earth adaptation uses a striking blend of hand-drawn and CGI-enhanced animation that’s richly textured and beautifully color-graded in Dolby Vision.

• Highlights:
  • Mûmak and battle scenes glow with intense detail and deep shadow interplay.
  • Warm candlelight interiors and icy battlegrounds have distinct palettes.
  • Character outlines are sharp, without jaggedness or artifacting.
  • No banding or compression issues—an extremely clean encode.

While the framerate (a stylistic hallmark of anime) may feel slightly jerky to viewers accustomed to fluid CGI, it’s intentional and fits the tone and genre. HDR adds depth to darker moments and brightens visual highlights—especially evident in flashbacks and fire-lit sequences.

Verdict: One of the most visually lush animated 4K discs in recent memory—HDR elevates an already engaging palette into something grand and immersive.

Audio Quality – 5/5

• English: Dolby Atmos
• English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

This Dolby Atmos mix is absolutely cinematic. From Mûmaks charging through rocky terrain to haunting score crescendos by Stephen Gallagher, this soundscape fully captures the breadth of Middle-earth.

• Atmos Highlights:
  • Vertical movement: Projectiles and dragon-like screeches soar overhead.
  • Environmental depth: Isengard rain, Helm’s Deep wind, battlefields full of chaos.
  • Dialogue: Crystal clear, front-focused and well-separated from the mix.
  • LFE: Bass booms during siege scenes and Wulf’s monologues hit with weight.

Howard Shore’s returning musical themes blend seamlessly with new orchestral passages. This track deserves a home theater showcase—it’s balanced, broad, and emotional.

Special Features – 2/5

Modest in number but still insightful for fans:

1. Return to Helm’s Deep: History Becomes Legend (12:53)
   • Kenji Kamiyama, Peter Jackson, WETA and cast reflect on the story’s roots and adaptation.
2. Middle-Earth & Anime: A Marriage of Creativity (6:52)
   • Design, aesthetic, and inspiration behind the hybrid animation approach.
3. Héra: A New Hero for Middle-Earth (6:53)
   • Spotlights the film’s lead warrior-princess and the expansion of Tolkien’s lore.

All extras are in HD with optional subtitles. Sadly, no commentary or deeper Tolkien lore explorations are included.

⭐ Final Verdict

Movie: ★★★½☆
️ Video: ★★★★★
Audio: ★★★★★
Extras: ★★☆☆☆
Overall: ★★★★☆

Bold, beautiful, and blessed with a booming Atmos track, The War of the Rohirrim is a worthy side tale from Tolkien’s vast mythos. Though its script plays like high-end fan fiction and the narrative leans predictable, the emotional weight and visual style more than make up for it. Warner’s 4K disc delivers reference-level picture and sound, even if the supplements are slim.

️ Recommended for Tolkien devotees, anime fans, and anyone hungry for more Middle-earth magic.

Rent The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray today!