Warner Bros. Discovery's latest foray into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings has been met with disappointment from critics. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated film directed by Kenji Kamiyama, has been panned for its poor character development, predictable storyline, and lackluster visuals.

The film, based on Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Appendix A, tells the story of King Helm Hammerhand and his daughter, Princess Héra, as they defend the people of Rohan against the forces of darkness. While the film attempts to bring a feminist energy to the Lord of the Rings canon, critics argue that the characters are two-dimensional and the story is plodding.

One of the main issues with the film is its failure to take advantage of animation's ability to present fantasy worlds in unique and imaginative ways. Instead, the settings and action sequences feel like uninspired approximations of reality, with digitally crafted flames and poorly animated frame rates detracting from the overall experience.

Critics have also noted that the film relies too heavily on nostalgia for the live-action Lord of the Rings films, with musical cues and cameos alluding to future events. However, this nostalgia is not enough to carry the film, which lacks the nuance and depth of its predecessors.

The War of the Rohirrim's poor reception is a blow to Warner Bros. Discovery's plans to create a sprawling Lord of the Rings universe, with multiple films and TV shows in development. The studio had hoped to recreate the monumental success of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, but it seems that they may need to go back to the drawing board.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim hits theaters on December 13th, but it remains to be seen if audiences will respond more positively to the film than critics have.

In a crowded entertainment landscape, Warner Bros. Discovery will need to do better if they want to capture the hearts and minds of fans. With Amazon's Lord of the Rings TV series, The Rings of Power, having received a more positive response from critics and audiences alike, it seems that Warner Bros. Discovery still has a lot to learn about bringing Middle-earth to life on screen.