Home » Culture » Warcraft: A terribly Orcward watch
 

Warcraft: A terribly Orcward watch

Ranjan Crasta | Updated on: 11 June 2016, 22:40 IST

With gripping plots, suspense galore, mind-blowing in-game scenery and well constructed characters, today's videogames are more like interactive movies than just something to keep children occupied with. They've developed massive fan followings worldwide, enough to rival any book or movie.

With that being the case it's only natural that Hollywood is banking big on videogame-to-movie adaptations. The problem is that Hollywood's videogame adaptations seem to absolutely suck. Take Prince of Persia - iconic game, woeful movie. Max Payne - great game, shit movie. Hitman - phenomenal game, terrible movie. See a pattern forming?

Also read - The Conjuring 2 review: James Wan hits the horror sweet spot again

But, even I, a cynic at best when it comes to these game-to-movie adaptations was excited for Warcraft. After all, I couldn't remember an out and out fantasy game being turned into a movie. And, if you've ever played the campaign mode of the games, you'd know that Warcraft would make a great movie.

Sadly, Warcraft the movie doesn't do justice to the game's plotline. Director Duncan Jones sets the movie up grandly - a battle for supremacy between Orcs and Men. But then, even with endless action sequences that would have done Michael Bay proud, the movie's actual impact is more of a whimper.

With multiple different plotlines unfolding simultaneously, one isn't quite sure which one to actually follow or root for. In fact, certain story arcs that seemed promising get overshadowed, and sometimes downright forgotten, thanks to Jones' need to throw in another action sequence.

Evidently, Jones' spent the entire budget on the CGI, because that's the movie's only truly redeeming feature. The visuals remind you of Peter Jackson's Lord of The Rings, however, everything else is forgettable. The action sequences look stunning, but they don't set your heart pounding like in Mad Max: Fury Road nor do they make your hair stand on end like in LOTR 3. That being said, if you've never played the game, you might be tempted to after watching the action sequences.

The movie ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, which means we're going to get a sequel. Whether they use it to redeem the franchise or end it forever though, is anyone's guess.

RATING: 2 out of 5

More in Catch - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows review: marginally better than the first

Me Before You film review: a cheery sob fest that's super faithful to the book

First published: 11 June 2016, 22:40 IST