One big shiny mess. But oh boy, is it shiny

Rating: 5/10 (2 June 2016)

First of all, I didn't expect much from Warcraft:The Beginning. If it was a shallow fantasy action film, I would be content. But sadly Warcraft tries to be many things it is not.
Let's start with the things that were done well, though. The film looks perfect. The designs of the characters, the CG effects on the fantastic beasts, everything looks superb. I myself have only played World of Warcraft for a few hours, and none of the original Warcraft games. but I do play my fair share of Hearthstone, the card game based on the world of Warcraft. And I can say that a lot of the fun comes from recognising the characters. Most of the designs are almost one to one with the original video game designs.
Also, the opening scene is gorgeous, but it sets expectations too high, sadly. The rest of the movie doesn't live up to the very first scene.
Now comes my biggest gripe with the film. With Warcrafts extensive lore, the makers of Warcraft:The Beginning tried to stuff as many aspects of this lore into the film, which doesn't work out that well. The story feels extremely rushed and left me with a face struck with disbelief. The viewer does not have enough time to develop a bond with the characters, which damages the story, as there are many events that are supposed to have a huge emotional impact on the viewer. And then, during the last quarter, everything goes to sh*t. I will not go into detail since I do not like to spoil anything, but oh man, is it bad.
Overall, Warcraft:The Beginning is a pleasure for the eyes, and I'm sure that hardcore Blizzard fans will enjoy it, but if you are a regular movie goer without any knowledge of the world of Warcraft, you will most likely not find this film worth it. 5/10