The War is Just Beginning

Rating: 5/10 (12 June 2016)

Flushed with astounding CGI and epic scale fights, Warcraft is the next big blockbuster of 2016 that will wow viewers with its flare. Unfortunately, its messy plot and questionable character choices drown what could have been the next great Fantasy flick.
Initially the largely CGI/green screen world building had me hesitant after seeing 2014's Hobbit installment, but that's not at all the problem here. The motion capture of the orcs and colorful landscapes that director Duncan Jones displays may very well be the best thing about Warcraft. The story centers around the orcs arrival in a human world and the inability for the two to coexist. Surprisingly, I found myself more emotionally connected to the orcs, and in particular, Durotan.
Toby Kebbell isn't new to mo-cap. He burst onto the scene in 2014 as Koba in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and his performance in Warcraft proved to be just as impressive. Durotan is one of the few orcs who saw the need for the humans and orcs to work together against the all too powerful, Gul'dan. His arc didn't necessarily go the route I had hoped, but it was the part of the film I felt most invested with.
On the other side of things, the humans, led by King Wrynn (Dominic Cooper) and Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmel) were far less interesting. Not only is not enough time taken to explore the depths of each of the main humans, but the story is taken in a frustratingly predictable route. In order for me to feel the weight of an emotional scene, there has to be enough character depth set up, Warcraft fails to do that on numerous occasions.
What Warcraft does have going for it is promise. While I wasn't all that invested in the story they were trying to tell, I see potential for future films taking a more daring approach to the battle between orcs and humans. Shave off the confusing lore of Warcraft that seemed shoved into the first act and balance mind-blowing action with intriguing character drama. Even if this wasn't Duncan Jones at his best, I believe there was a good film here somewhere. There seemed to be quite a few missing scenes or background information that could have been helpful with a longer cut. Hopefully, that cut will see the light of day.
+Great CGI
+Kebbell's mo-cap performance
-Didn't feel emotionally invested
-Missing scenes and confusing lore make for a messy-feeling plot
-Could have been more daring, less derivative
5.5/10