Unwarranted Criticism of a Cinematic Gem

Rating: 8/10 (1 June 2016)

In the build-up to the release of Warcraft, there have been a few embargo-dodging reviews popping up on the internet. All of them have been overly critical of the film simply because it's based on a video game.
Duncan Jones has mastered the source material and succinctly transferred it to the silver screen. In order to cover all the back story and lore contained in the Warcraft Universe would take over 4 hours of screen time, however, Jones picks the most crucial elements of the plot from 1994's 'Warcraft: Orcs and Humans'.
The most striking thing about the film is the meticulous attention to detail that Jones shows. It enables him to provide very sly moments of fan-service without detracting too much from the narrative. If you've played World of Warcraft, you'll be sure to catch a glimpse of something you recognise from your in-game adventures; but equally, Jones makes sure the story isn't too contrived so as to keep the general public engaged in the story.
Aside from the lore detail, the CGI is simply breathtaking. This is the first noteworthy film where the magic looks and feels believable. Not only that but the specifics of the CGI Orcs made them even more eye-catching than the faithful recreations of Azeroth's fabled landscape.
The one criticism of the film I can muster is that the dialogue at times seemed a bit forced. Understandable for a project of this size and scale, it seems the interactions between characters focused more on reminding you of everyone's name at times rather than focusing the plot. It doesn't detract too much from the film, however it is noticeable.
Overall, the critics will say the film is a dud simply because of the origin of the source material. But as the early indicators from the international box office have shown, there is a demand for more from Jones' Azeroth. And with both the U.S. and China being massively underestimated - the film could yet prove the naysayers wrong. It certainly is on it's way to doing so. A diamond in the rough, but it could yet turn out to be a 'Millennium Star'.