I read a bit of the description of how Frealaf took back Edoras with a smaller force and John Wick’d Wulf, and honestly I would have loved to see that on screen. I digress, though.Saw it yesterday. I liked it.
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I give it 3½ out of 5 stars. A worthy addition to the Middle Earth media, but not without its problems.
↓ *Possible Spoilers* ↓
It managed to stay pretty much inside the canonical lines of the couple pages of Appendix A that covers Helm Hammerhand and family. It handled fairly the major characters of the story... Helm, the brothers Haleth and Háma, Fréaláf, Freca, Wulf ... and added a little development to some of them. Háma for instance was a bard, and more culturally immersed than Haleth, his big brother and heir to the throne. It sort of had that Boromir/Faramir relationship vibe between them sans the hateful father bit. Helm loved all his children.
The depiction of 'the long winter' was good, and I liked what they did in portraying the Hornburg. The Eagles were a nice touch as well... it wasn't too far-fetched from PJ's Tolkien world. I worried the whole 'wraith' concept that was mentioned in the trailer would be a bone of contention, but it worked. He was only thought of as a wraith by the Dunlendings when he raided their camps in the snowy frozen nights. As far as Saruman goes, you see all there is in the Japanese trailer. They used a line spoken by Christopher Lee from his filmings decades earlier, and it was well done
The story gets a bit reachy with the introduction of the Southrons and the Mûmakil. Outside of a question being asked "What are Southrons doing this far north?" there is no mention of how they got that far north, or how they managed to become allies with Wulf, etc. They just kind of appear with Wulf's army of Dunlending hill-clans.
The animation was good for the most part with a few flaws that shown through. The worst one of note was a dancing Mûmakil in the background during Wulf's attack on Edoras. It was more a nitpicky thing, and maybe it was a hat-tip to Ralph Bakshi? Who knows.
Ok, Héra... They had a blank slate really with the 'unnamed daughter' and youngest child of Helm, and this is what they came up with? No serious complaints on my part really. She just seemed ... flat ... two-dimensional. She was the primary character of the movie, and she plays the part well for the most part, but I think there could have been more to her. the movie starts out with her riding free in the mountains and communing with eagles, and she has the cliché 'rebellious young daughter' vibe coming in. She gets along with her brothers, and of course she is 'protected' and the whole Éowynesque 'I can fight' when not allowed to go to war thing going on, and is central to the storyline all through. She is just ... perfect from start to finish, with little to no character development or flaws. She fits the definition, even if she is more 'girl' then 'boss'. No real complaints. Just seemed there should have been ... more.
As for the whole Order of the Shieldmaidens thing, it was just a loose string they hung on the wall. Didn't really come into play in the story. Mapping the look of Héra, and the inclusion of an older 'shieldmaiden' turned Héra's maid was pretty much all they presented of Alqualisse's development of the concept.
I don't think I'd call it a sarashi, because that is meant to cover the entire chest (and would be worn underneath her jacket). You know when you sometimes see fantasy women wearing a tube-top made of what looks like bandages? That's what a sarashi is, basically.Might be a off topic question. But in "Other M" game (Which was a bad Metroid game) but i have seen it in other Japanese entertainment aswell. But is there a reason why women often have belt or something under their breasts. Is that a fashion thing or meant to give support? Since i always wondered the reason with it. Or maybe its to make it look cool. But legit curious?
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Closest to a source i could find. But... this might just be me guessing.
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I tried to look up "Empire waistline".. but usually thats more for specific dresses. I have never seen it be used in a casual way like on a jacket of some sort.I don't think I'd call it a sarashi, because that is meant to cover the entire chest (and would be worn underneath her jacket). You know when you sometimes see fantasy women wearing a tube-top made of what looks like bandages? That's what a sarashi is, basically.
Here's an example (It's not a great one, but you can see the tops of the wrap):
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Mulan also wears one in the Disney movie, though impart because she was injured and actually needs the bandages, it works the same way:
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(In this case you probably wouldn't call it a Sarashi because that's a Japanese term, and Mulan is Chinese, but it's the same thing in practice).
These are worn to bind the chest down so it doesn't get in the way, typically when fighting. And of course, I'm sure you've seen women bind their chest to disguise themselves as men many times in media. Hera's little belt is clearly something else though, in my opinion.
A similar Japanese accessory might be the Obi, which is the belt worn on top of a kimono:
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(Here you can see a dark red one)
It sits in the same place, right underneath the chest, but is much thicker. It's also worth nothing that the obi and the silhouette of a kimono in general is meant to flatten the chest, emphasizing the neck and shoulders instead. That appears to be the opposite with Hera's design though, it's clearly not meant to flatten her form at all.
In the end I don't think the one on Hera's design is meant to be something specific. It's not similar enough to actually be intended as an obi, and the designs are all trying to be very western in this movie, for obvious reasons. (Not that having a belt right under the chest isn't a western thing, there's the classic empire waistline, but Hera's design doesn't follow the right silhouette). One thing you find when you start really looking into fantasy character design is that belts will be put everywhere, and in excess. It's honestly kind of funny 😂. They give a nice hardy and rustic look, and somehow when we see extra belts, we think 'this person must be extra prepared!' Or something along those lines.
It's probably meant to emphasize Hera's chest, in a more subtle way perhaps. It allows them to give her a very form-fitting top even though the heavier fabric she's wearing wouldn't realistically be form-fitting at all. The designers certainly weren't shying away from giving her shapely figure. I'm pretty sure that any clothing pieces actually intended to have a supporting function would need to be worn underneath her jacket/top.
So yeah, I think it's most likely just there for the cool factor. I don't think it looks particularly comfortable, as a woman myself 😅.
That's the extent of my knowledge on the subject, I'd be interested if anyone did know more.
Yeah, the empire waistline is usually done for dresses, and sometimes blouses. By definition, all that an empire waistline needs is for the waist to be right under the chest, but almost always the fabric under the higher line flares out/ is left loose (The particular style is based on ancient Grecian clothing, I believe, and was revived in the early 1800's).I tried to look up "Empire waistline".. but usually thats more for specific dresses. I have never seen it be used in a casual way like on a jacket of some sort.
Example, here is one in Metroid Other M
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And here is "Empire waistline".
I dunno. Its a mystery. It might just be done in fiction like this, because they think it looks cool.
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That might represent more tunic belts in medieval times, like Zelda games etc. But maybe i am overthinking it. But one example is in that Mel Brooks movie called "Robin Hood and Men in Tights 1993" movie.Yeah, the empire waistline is usually done for dresses, and sometimes blouses. By definition, all that an empire waistline needs is for the waist to be right under the chest, but almost always the fabric under the higher line flares out/ is left loose (The particular style is based on ancient Grecian clothing, I believe, and was revived in the early 1800's).
A fantasy design example might be Falin from Dungeon Meshi:
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She's not really wearing a dress, but her waistline is in the right place and the excess fabric at the bottom is loose.
Hera's belt is in the right place for an empire waistline, but she has another belt that keeps her jacket from being loose that sits on her hips. The second belt creates more of a low-rise waistline, and is in a more normal place for belts. It's kind of odd how she sort of has two waist-lines going on with that jacket situation 😂
My comment about the empire waistline was simply to acknowledge that it could sort of count as one, but it doesn't feel like one because her jacket is very formfitting above and below the waist.
As for the Metroid screenshot, the belt under her chest actually appears to be a part of a harness that is also going around her shoulders and neck. This likely has a more practical-adjacent intention, as belts across the middle are used to better hold equipment to your body (Hiking backpacks often have them). I've never played the game, but it looks like the sort of thing that might be used in climbing equipment, or if she sometimes carries something large and heavy on her back. (It also conveniently highlights the shape of her bust, same as Hera, which is also probably intentional). Fashion harness's also exist, but the leather-like material and lack of decoration makes me think it's intended as a 'practical looking' feature for the character.
Hera's little belt doesn't appear to be a part of harness though, so I don't think that was intended with her design the way it seems to be with the Metroid design.
I do think my example of Falin resembles the typical belt+tunic combo, because the waist is on the lower side, but I don't think Hera's really does . . . The belt around her hips creates that visual connection more then the little one.That might represent more tunic belts in medieval times, like Zelda games etc. But maybe i am overthinking it. But one example is in that Mel Brooks movie called "Robin Hood and Men in Tights 1993" movie.
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Considering it was common for women in middle ages to... not wear pants ehem. I guess this might be "What if" scenario of fantasy writing. Thats my guess. To show how thin they are as fashion.I do think my example of Falin resembles the typical belt+tunic combo, because the waist is on the lower side, but I don't think Hera's really does . . . The belt around her hips creates that visual connection more then the little one.
But yeah, I think it's just there to look neat.
At the end of the day, belts are a very safe accessory you can add when designing medieval based clothing because they've been around for so long, and they're still seen as cool-looking.
Certainly! With fantasy, how 'historical' you decide to have your setting and character designs can vary vastly. In the end, it'll work if it all looks cohesive. The belt might not be in a place that is common for the setting it's inspired by, however they did have belts, and a women could've worn it like that if she wanted too. We just don't have any famous or wide-spread examples of it happening that would lead to it having a specific name or being a part of a specific style.Considering it was common for women in middle ages to... not wear pants ehem. I guess this might be "What if" scenario of fantasy writing. Thats my guess. To show how thin they are as fashion.
Screams Disney making Live action remakes for the same reason.Now that the fashion show is over, some news about War of the Rohirrim. There is credible mentions that Warner Brothers made War of the Rohirrim as a $30 million charge to keep the right.... you know... the ten year rule. it has been ten + years since the last Hobbit movie, and they had to get started on this before ten years were up or chance losing the rights.
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Absolutely. Maybe shouldn't even have made the Hobbit but definitely should've quit for good after that. This constant regurgitation of the ever same vision is starting to do more harm than good to Middle-Earth.We need Tolkien without PJ
I thought this was known well before the release date? It is why I called it a two hour display of Warners Middle Fingers. It's cheap slop to feed us only to keep their money making machine. Absolutely no respect for the work or the fandom.Now that the fashion show is over, some news about War of the Rohirrim. There is credible mentions that Warner Brothers made War of the Rohirrim as a $30 million charge to keep the right.... you know... the ten year rule. it has been ten + years since the last Hobbit movie, and they had to get started on this before ten years were up or chance losing the rights.
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I thought this was known well before the release date? It is why I called it a two hour display of Warners Middle Fingers. It's cheap slop to feed us only to keep their money making machine. Absolutely no respect for the work or the fandom.
We need Tolkien without PJ
It wasn't Sharknado bad, if you mean that, yes. But considering the basis for the movie, the capital involved and the creative potential working on it...it's THAT bad. If this had been some obscure Indie-Studio Project, I would judge it more leniently. Maybe even enjoy it a little bit. But it is the third-biggest Studio in the world with a revenue of over 12 Billion Dollars and that is all they came up with? Shameful.I wouldn't say it was THAT bad.
Screenrant? Dont bother. Its clickbait websites as quality tested as Kotaku. Its brainrot and very much non serious website.Now that the fashion show is over, some news about War of the Rohirrim. There is credible mentions that Warner Brothers made War of the Rohirrim as a $30 million charge to keep the right.... you know... the ten year rule. it has been ten + years since the last Hobbit movie, and they had to get started on this before ten years were up or chance losing the rights.
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