"Warcraft" Review

Title: Warcraft

Directed by: Duncan Jones

Written by: Charles Leavitt and Duncan Jones

Year: 2016


Warcraft is a movie that rides into theatres with a whole lot of pressure on its back. Video-game-based movies have had an abysmal track record so far, and Warcraft and Assassin's Creed have been deemed as "the chosen ones," the films that will determine the future of the genre. Was this title unfairly placed? Yes, but that does not give this movie an excuse to be bad. So then, how did this fantasy epic fare?

In the world of Azeroth, the orcs have invaded the seven kingdoms and have caught the attention of the humans. Desperate to end the destruction, the humans meet with a group of orcs who defy their leader in an attempt to create an alliance to bring peace once more to the land.

What is interesting about this film's cast is that it is filled with lesser-known actors. The movie is relying on its story and visuals to sell tickets rather than household names, which is quite admirable. Travis Fimmel stars as the human commander Lothar, and he does a fine job. Nothing Oscar-worthy, but also nothing terrible. He gets the job done alright, but does not leave much of an impression. Someone who did leave an impression though, was Toby Kebbel as Durotan. Kebbel has proved himself a talent in the area of motion-capture performance, and he brings that talent with him into this film. Durotan is a strong character backed by a strong performance. Kebbel's acting is one of the best aspects of this film; an excellent choice for the role.

Ben Foster and Dominic Cooper both feel terribly miscast as Medivh the Guardian and King Wrynn, respectively. They neither look the part nor sell it, especially Ben Foster (greatly due to his American accent). Their performances are not all that bad, but it does feel as if they are in a different movie altogether. Paula Patton is rather good as Garona, the orc-human hybrid. Near the beginning, her acting is very stiff and hard to watch, but as the film progresses, her performance improves gradually. Ben Schnetzer plays the surprisingly compelling Khadgar. Though his American accent feels completely out of place in this world, Schnetzer brings a likability and charm to the character that makes him an engaging personality.

The storytelling found in this film is very odd for the picture it is trying to be. The beginning of the film is interesting because it sets up a mystery for the humans and an invasion story for the orcs. But this interest is quickly lost once the plot becomes a dispute over land. The humans' side of the story is quite boring and uneventful. Most of the characters are bland, it is hard to buy into the drama, and the dialogue is not all that great. Lothar is good, but his relationship with his son is not explored enough. Khadgar's storyline as a mage-in-training is very interesting and strangely appealing. But the Guardian is more annoying than helpful, which makes him quite irritating. And the King does not come across as a sound leader.

But everything that has to do with the orcs is very good. They follow a ruthless leader who abandons tradition, thus provoking a moral dilemma; should they follow their leader or the traditions set by their ancestors? The dialogue is more polished, with every line having great weight to it. The characters are much more intriguing; Durotan is the perfervid yet conflicted chieftan; Orgrim is the orc with whom Durotan consults; Blackhand wants power; and Gul'dan is a colorful villain that you love to hate. It seems that all the effort in writing the script went towards the orcs and little thought was given to the humans.

Warcraft is a film that heavily features special effects, which are excellent for the most part. The motion-capture for the orcs is exceptional. The visual effects capture every little inflection and nuance of these creatures, which makes them seem life-like and real. The orcs look fantastic, and so do the environments. Azeroth is very lively, with lush, green forests and rustic structures that are very detailed. The stylistic use of magic is also a takeaway, and some of the sets look really good. However, there is the occasional green screen background that looks really bad and takes you of the the experience.

One thing I cannot fault, is the music for this movie. The main theme is incredibly resonate and powerful, with the notes immediately placing you in the world of Azeroth. The rest of the tracks do a good job at evoking the mood of both the story and the visuals. The humans have more regal and elegant sounding music, while the orcs are underscored with heavy drums and loud horns, which is definitely fitting for the races.

Duncan Jones is known for his great storytelling abilities as a director, and some of those talents come to fruition in this film. His creative vision is vividly demonstrated throughout the movie, particularly when it comes to some of the action and the orcs' story. The sweeping shots and overhead angles are memorable and striking, and the way the fight scenes are filmed highlight the brutal nature of war. The hand-to-hand fight that Durotan has with another orc is very well handled. Not only are the camera movements and close-ups apposite for the scene, but the sound design ensures that every punch has the impact of thunder. However, Jones' abilities come up short with the humans. He fails to make their story engrossing as a whole, succeeding with only a few characters.

I also feel it is important to mention that there are plenty of easter eggs in this film. I am certain fans of the game will be pleased to see many of these extras, but I myself found some of them unnecessary. The inclusion of the dwarves is great because they seem like an interesting race and I wish to know more about them. But the elves are thrown in mainly for fan service and do absolutely nothing. Yes, it does expand the world a little bit, but we get so little of them that they seem irrelevant by the end. The story also assumes you are familiar with a lot of the lore of Azeroth. Because I know quite a bit of the history of the world, I was not totally out of the loop. But I can see a casual moviegoer becoming lost in the plot because the film does not bother to explain certain parts.

Warcraft is quite the mixed bag. For every positive I mention, a negative springs to mind. The story of the orcs is very entertaining, but the same cannot be said for the humans. Some of the characters are winsome, while others fall flat. The storytelling is superb in some parts, but lacking in others. The motion-capture is well animated, but some of the green screen is obvious. Warcraft is an enjoyable film that passes the time and takes you to another world. I just wish the story we received was more interesting and not so muddled in its own mythology. I had a reasonably good time with Warcraft, but I find that most of the film is forgettable. Is it the game-changing video-game film we have been waiting for? No. But it is one of the better products of the genre we have gotten. It will make your clock move faster, but I cannot guarantee solid enjoyment.

Grade: C+