A Few Good Men/The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

A Few Good Men

An inexperienced military lawyer takes on the defense of two Marines accused of murdering a fellow soldier. A 1992 courtroom drama based on a play, written by Aaron Sorkin, which, in my opinion, is one of the best legal thrillers in the history of American cinema.

The film stars Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, Kevin Bacon, and Demi Moore. It received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Jack Nicholson's performance.

The courtroom scenes are charged with tension, which is the film's strong suit, especially the final 20 minutes of the courtroom showdown between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson—one of the best you'll ever see in a courtroom setting (call me dramatic 😅).

Screenwriter Sorkin, who later gave us many great hits, already showed here that he could write and adapt compelling stories for the big screen that capture the audience's interest—and he proves it brilliantly.

The entire cast delivers top-notch performances, although Demi Moore feels slightly off to me. Tom Cruise, in a role unlike his usual ones up to that point, manages to pull it off successfully.

From a directorial standpoint, the moral values and the military code of honor are developed ideally and presented solidly throughout the film, making A Few Good Men a movie worth watching if you haven’t already.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

Two centuries before Bilbo and his ring, a young warlord witnesses his father’s death in a duel with Helm, the King of Rohan. Determined to seek revenge, he secretly raises an army, and years later, launches an attack that forces the Rohirrim to fortify themselves in the Hornburg fortress. Does this new anime film from Warner take advantage of the Lord of the Rings brand? Well, yes and no...

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It’s enjoyable to watch.
The production is well-crafted.
I found the second part of the siege more engaging, full of energy.
The character Hera had the grit and intelligence that a heroine like her should have, standing out for me, along with the king.
Thankfully, it’s directed with a sense of urgency and intensity, especially in the second half.
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Unfortunately, the animation style didn’t impress me much here. The final visual result feels somewhat "poor," especially considering the wonders that animation can achieve these days.
While there’s action, it lacks the intensity I’d expect from a film of this kind.
The script also has issues, as the entire story revolves around a single confrontation, with little character development.
It definitely could have been shorter.
If you’re expecting strong connections to The Lord of the Rings, you’ll be disappointed—aside from a few scattered references.
The ending will leave you with a bittersweet aftertaste.