MOVIE REVIEW
“Warcraft”
Grade: C
Starring Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton and Dominic Cooper. Directed by Duncan Jones.
Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy violence. Check listings for theaters. 2 hours, 3 minutes.
Bottom line: A bold, hardcore fantasy that has a silly tone
The skepticism has been whirling around “Warcraft” since the first trailer dropped for the epic fantasy adaptation of Blizzard Entertainment’s massive multi-player online role playing game, directed by visionary sci-fi auteur Duncan Jones. Orcs … with feelings? And pierced tusks? No good can come of this. Critics have been gleefully sharpening their knives and have wasted no time in eviscerating the blockbuster franchise-launching hopeful. With that context, this may come as a surprise, but “Warcraft” isn’t all that bad.
It’s all in the expectations, and the lower yours are, the more fun you might have. “Warcraft” isn’t going to win any awards, but it’s bold, unapologetic, hardcore fantasy. There are times when it feels like watching an ’80s heavy metal album cover in cinematic form, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There’s an audacity in how it drops the audience into this fantasy land of orcs, wizards and mages with little to no context or explanation. The film is preposterously silly, but somehow manages to be transporting.
The problems the humans face in this world of “Warcraft” are all too familiar. They’re dealing with an immigration problem, as hordes of hulking, pony-tailed orcs pour through a magical portal, their sights set on conquering this new realm with brute force and black magic. There’s dissent among the ranks of orcs though, as Durotan (Toby Kebbell) strives for peaceful co-existence, and the evil Gul’dan (Daniel Wu) seeks total, apocalyptic domination.
Much of “Warcraft’s” marketing has centered around its technology and effects, bringing real performance to the CGI orcs, and Jones does manage to land some of the emotional moments in the relationship of Durotan and wife Draka (Anna Galvin), who fear the dissolution of their family in the conflict between the orcs. If only more of that had been directed to the interpersonal stories between the humans, which are slapdash or one-note.
For better or for worse, Jones has made a film that looks and feels like playing a multi-player role playing game, using high-angle shots to drop into and pull out of this world via an aerial saga map. That might feel jarring or less than cinematic to some, but it’s a daring way to visually imagine how a game of this type and film might find a unifying aesthetic. The effort is noted.
Some will assume that it’s only for pre-existing fans and gamers, but if you’re open to some insane, sometimes inane, but uncompromising fantasy, you just might enjoy yourself.
