I've been hyping myself for this movie for an entire decade. Not only because it's Warcraft - but also because we could finally see the events that started it all - the First War depicted in Warcraft: Orcs and Humans - fully fleshed-out. Along with The Last Guardian, which is among my favorite pieces of Warcraft lore.
Visually, the movie leaves little to be desired, at least where the orcs are concerned. They are every bit as realistic and lively as The Hulk in MCU, and that's saying something. Now, we've seen Blizzard's latest cinematics, but orcs on the big screen, just as they looked in the games, not one bit less hulking and brutish, that was a sight.
Would that I could say the same about the plot. The First War is there, but we don't see much of it. There is no prelude for the orcs - how it came to the invasion, to their corruption and coalescing into the Horde. Khadgar's plot is underwhelming. Orgrim is reduced to being an undecisive nobody instead of an honorable leader. Gul'Dan rules openly, which ruins his dark charm of a behind-the-scenes manipulator.
This is not helped by the lot of the human characters, who I found unimpressive. Travis Fimmel might be a good actor, but his cocky smirk ruined the wise and seasoned knight I pictured Lothar to be. Llane is a background prop. Medivh invokes Jesus and it isn't helped that his struggle with fel magic is just that - no inherent corruption since before his conception, no quirky mentor relationship with Khadgar. Khadgar himself is adequate, but his adventure is only glossed over and ends with a "chosen one" ordeal. Garona's loyalty conflict does not exist, and with it her main character trait is gone. The hints that Medivh might be her father do not improve the situation, although it's better than them being lovers. Queen Taria was promised to be a strong female character but does nothing except bring Garona some blankets. Lothar's son was inserted as a plot device so his death can drive a wedge between Lothar and Medivh.
That said, the film did have some cool features beside visual effects. The explanation of Thrall's green skin as a result of Gul'Dan assisting his birth, and the birth itself being premature because of Draka's passing through the portal did sound plausible. Khadgar recognizing the fel. The orcs honoring Lothar after his victory over Blackhand. Even Durotan and Gul'Dan's duel was a nice thing to see, although out of character for the warlock. The opening of the Dark Portal by Draenei sacrifice, as well as the initial rift leading into the Black Morass kept me glued to my seat.
And still, I would have liked to see Khadgar and Garona summoning visions to discover Medivh's treachery, or Grom drinking Mannoroth's blood, or Stormwind being sacked - all pivotal events in the Warcraft lore. All in all, while I'm left underwhelmed, I'm willing to give Blizzard a chance to make a next film truer to the game's plot - because those games do have stories worth telling.
Not bad, but less than expected
I've been hyping myself for this movie for an entire decade. Not only because it's Warcraft - but also because we could finally see the events that started it all - the First War depicted in Warcraft: Orcs and Humans - fully fleshed-out. Along with The Last Guardian, which is among my favorite pieces of Warcraft lore.
Visually, the movie leaves little to be desired, at least where the orcs are concerned. They are every bit as realistic and lively as The Hulk in MCU, and that's saying something. Now, we've seen Blizzard's latest cinematics, but orcs on the big screen, just as they looked in the games, not one bit less hulking and brutish, that was a sight.
Would that I could say the same about the plot. The First War is there, but we don't see much of it. There is no prelude for the orcs - how it came to the invasion, to their corruption and coalescing into the Horde. Khadgar's plot is underwhelming. Orgrim is reduced to being an undecisive nobody instead of an honorable leader. Gul'Dan rules openly, which ruins his dark charm of a behind-the-scenes manipulator.
This is not helped by the lot of the human characters, who I found unimpressive. Travis Fimmel might be a good actor, but his cocky smirk ruined the wise and seasoned knight I pictured Lothar to be. Llane is a background prop. Medivh invokes Jesus and it isn't helped that his struggle with fel magic is just that - no inherent corruption since before his conception, no quirky mentor relationship with Khadgar. Khadgar himself is adequate, but his adventure is only glossed over and ends with a "chosen one" ordeal. Garona's loyalty conflict does not exist, and with it her main character trait is gone. The hints that Medivh might be her father do not improve the situation, although it's better than them being lovers. Queen Taria was promised to be a strong female character but does nothing except bring Garona some blankets. Lothar's son was inserted as a plot device so his death can drive a wedge between Lothar and Medivh.
That said, the film did have some cool features beside visual effects. The explanation of Thrall's green skin as a result of Gul'Dan assisting his birth, and the birth itself being premature because of Draka's passing through the portal did sound plausible. Khadgar recognizing the fel. The orcs honoring Lothar after his victory over Blackhand. Even Durotan and Gul'Dan's duel was a nice thing to see, although out of character for the warlock. The opening of the Dark Portal by Draenei sacrifice, as well as the initial rift leading into the Black Morass kept me glued to my seat.
And still, I would have liked to see Khadgar and Garona summoning visions to discover Medivh's treachery, or Grom drinking Mannoroth's blood, or Stormwind being sacked - all pivotal events in the Warcraft lore. All in all, while I'm left underwhelmed, I'm willing to give Blizzard a chance to make a next film truer to the game's plot - because those games do have stories worth telling.