Cortyn watched the Warcraft movie – Warcraft: The Beginning – directly. The conclusion from our demon? The movie review probably won’t surprise anyone.
Let’s keep it short and painless: If you’re expecting me to tear the movie apart, you will be bitterly disappointed. I love the film. I have let the film sink in for a few hours now and discussed various points of the movie at length – and I am positively surprised by most elements. I will try to spoil as little story as possible, but I can’t completely avoid it – there will certainly be “minor spoilers”. Continue reading at your own risk!
“The CGI looks totally cheap!”
One of the most common criticisms I heard beforehand was that the “CGI looks really bad.” To be honest? Just no. When we saw the Orc Durotan in close-up early on, and his face was portrayed in all its detailed richness, we almost dropped our popcorn; it looked unbelievably good. Not just the Orcs, but also the dwarves, elves, and especially the effects of the spells convinced. The icing on the cake, though, were the fantastic environments that make every WoW player’s heart race. Whether it’s Elwynn, Westfall, Stormwind, or Ironforge, the environments looked wonderful and immediately evoked nostalgic feelings.
I was particularly excited about Khadgar, the young mage who plays a pivotal role in the film. Magic (through CGI) and acting go hand in hand here – it just fits. This is magic in Warcraft. This is exactly how I have always imagined it.
Details and References Without End
The film is bursting with references to World of Warcraft, without these points being glaringly obvious if one does not know Azeroth. A murloc by the lake, some harvest golems in Westfall, and even NPCs like “Moroes”, the servant of Medivh and boss in Karazhan, can be found in the film. Also, the music of the various locations immediately reminds one of their counterparts in the MMORPG – even with closed eyes, you can immediately tell when a scene in Stormwind begins.
What About the “Plotholes”?
First of all: The movie does some things differently than the official Warcraft lore. Some of these adjustments are definitely just for visual effect, like the detail that Dalaran is already flying – which happens in the games only years later. Other things, like Thrall’s green skin tone, which was rather questionable in the game, are wonderfully explained.
The concern that Garona appears illogical as a “half-orc half-human” has been circumvented by simply never explaining what exactly her other half is (which would logically have to be Draenei). In the original story, Garona was a hybrid born from the rape of a Draenei by an Orc; however, in the film, she has an orcish mother, which largely avoids the problematic drama of the rape – probably just a change to avoid a “16+” rating in America. Does this harm the film? Definitely not.
A Bit of Criticism in Conclusion
However, I can’t end without criticism. It is just a small point, and because I don’t want to spoil the story, I will describe it a bit: The “resolution” surrounding Garona’s role seemed a bit boring and very “cheesy,” as they say. There seems to be an effort to build a character for a second film instead of making her what she once was in the original lore (a dark villain).
A little more runtime would have done the film good – at just under 2 hours, the rather extensive story with many characters is told very quickly, and some developments happen too fast. But these are both points for “complaining at a high level”.
Conclusion – A Must-See for Every Fan
Warcraft – The Beginning is exactly the film I have waited years for. Although there are some laughs, like the Polymorph spell that randomly lasts “about a minute” and turns someone into a sheep, the film is significantly more serious than one would expect from World of Warcraft. The world is harsh, brutal, and in some scenes, I was surprised that the film still received a “12+” rating – I had not seen crushed heads and mass executions of defenseless victims before.
My role-player heart raced every second of the film, and anyone who can immerse themselves in getting to know Azeroth from a “different” side will not regret the cinema visit.
Is it the best movie of all time? No, there is room for improvement. Is it a good movie for Warcraft fans? Definitely.
P.S: 3D works very well for the film. If you have the chance, you should check it out.
Do you want to read more opinions on the Warcraft film? And how is it from the perspective of a non-WoW player?
- Warcraft: The Beginning Movie Review from a Non-WoW Player
- Warcraft: The Beginning Review – Press Review on the “WoW Movie”.
For more news about the film and the MMORPG, you can find it on our World of Warcraft game page.
