Do you like The Lord of the Rings? Do you like anime? If the answer to any of those questions is a “no,” then this movie may not be for you. While Kenji Kamiyama nails the operatic drama of Tolkien’s work, the overstuffed runtime and old school animation style will push at the limits of even the most ardent fan. That said, there are still some bright sparks throughout. The story is an interesting one. The characters are well drawn. Helm is every bit the badass we wanted him to be, and Hera — who is unnamed in Tolkien’s footnote about the War of the Rohirrim — makes for a fantastic new addition to the heroic canon of the franchise. It can be thrilling at times, with one frostbound set piece in particular that is especially stunning. For the most part, however, this one still feels like too much of a side quest.