There is a conflict at the center of Warcraft, and Im not just referring to the war between orcs and humans.
The film presents the inner turmoil of director and co-writer Duncan Jones, who must appease two major studios that invested years (and millions) in a hopeful franchise while delivering a film that is rich in theme and character. And it must be done while entertaining longtime fans of the video game as well as newbies.
Thats a major order for any director, even one like Jones, who precluded Warcraft with successes like Moon and Source Code. Where J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin built mythologies through multiple books and adaptations, Jones and his team have the near-herculean task of cramming over a decade of storytelling and world-building into a stand-alone movie while laying groundwork for sequels if the project is successful.
When boiled down to its basic elements, Warcraft revolves around the first meeting between the realms of men, or The Alliance, and orcs, also called The Horde. Spoiler alert: Things go less than exceptionally.
Its up to respected orc chieftain Durotan (Toby Kebbell) and the kings right-hand man Lothar (Vikings Travis Fimmel) to formulate a plan that prevents both groups mutually assured destruction. This comprises the storys backbone as a number of subplots and side stories concerning a cavalcade of other characters fill out the action.
The sheer level of detail on display throughout Warcraft is staggering and begs for multiple viewings to soak in everything, whether crafted by computer or built practically. The orcs are some of the best CGI-rendered characters committed to film, and their plight to escape their dying home world is perhaps the best element the movie offers as far as its story is concerned.
Much like the gaming and entertainment franchise from which it is adopted, Warcraft presents a world of moral grays. Not every orc is bad, just as not every human is good.
In presenting both sides of the conflict, the film almost achieves a rare balance in vying for audience sympathies.
However, there are so many other story elements throughout its two-hour runtime, the film ends up playing tug-of-war with viewers brains.
This is exacerbated as the story continually jumps from location to location, giving viewers little time to register what happened in the previous scene. On multiple occasions, I felt lost, confused by numerous locations and characters.
For every well-developed personality, there are four or five more characters that are flat.
Ultimately, Warcraft is a bit of a mess, but it isnt without merit and certainly isnt worth the critical beating its receiving. Warcraft takes commendable risks by showing palpable enthusiasm for its source material. Its just unfortunate that material wasnt granted more room in which to soar.
https://youtu.be/-vwPitt1XMQPrint headline: Cramped tale, Even with a two-hour runtime, Warcraft cant escape the suffocating weight of complexity.