The film, set 183 years before the events of “The Hobbit,” is a return to Middle-earth that, despite some very earnest storytelling, never supplies much of an answer as to why, exactly, it exists.

Animated under the direction of Kenji Kamiyama, the film easily surpasses the live-action Hobbits. Set 200 years before Bilbo Baggins gained possession of The One Ring, the film tells of the warring factions of Rohan.

The War of the Rohirrim has received a certified fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. The animated adventure hits cinemas this week and is the fourth animated offering in the LOTR franchise. The War of the Rohirrim is set 200 years before The Two Towers and tells the tale story of the House of Helm Hammerhand,

When it comes to J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is a tough act to follow. Look no further than the Hobbit movies, which floundered in their efforts to capture the original films' success.