Full disclosure: I have never played any iterations of World of Warcraft so perhaps I fall outside the target demographic for this big-screen adaptation, but this strangely lifeless and disengaging movie must be lacking any of the appeal of the hugely popular video games, which are loved by millions around the world.
Director Duncan Jones, a self professed WOW fanatic, tries in vain to give the story from the Warcraft games a cinematic edge - and is left with a thoroughly clunky, plodding two hour-long CGI fest that is likely to alienate fans and newbies alike.
The at times unintelligible plot sees a group of fearsome Orc warriors (the de facto bad guys) fleeing their dying home through a magical portal to the peaceful realm of Azeroth, home to humans, dwarves, elves and other good guys, led by the exceedingly young King and Queen, played by Dominic Cooper and Ruth Negga.
Durotan is the Orc with a conscience
Fighting on the side of the humans we have roguish and fearless warrior Anduin Lothar (Travis Fimmel), while on the Orcs team we have Durotan (Tony Kebbel), a chieftain who realises that peace between humans and orcs is preferable to endless battles and mindless slaughter.
Other characters have big parts to play - including the Guardian (Ben Foster), a revered wizard and protector of the people who is holed away in a sky-high tower, Garona (Paula Patton) a green-skinned half-orc, half human character whose loyalty is tested, and Khadgar (Ben Schnetzer) a wet-behind-the-ears apprentice wizard.
Dominic Cooper phones it in as the King
Jones wastes no time introducing the characters and world of Warcraft, so those not already familiar to the video game might have a hard time getting on board. Leaving the frequently confusing plot and jargon-heavy dialogue aside, the appearance of the movie is spectacularly unappealing and the 3D seems like a bit of a pointless exercise.
The orcs and humans clash
The performances across the board leave a lot to be desired, especially Cooper, who looks to be phoning it in, and the usually excellent Foster, who manages to suck the life out of what could have been an interesting character. Ruth Negga fares better as the Queen, giving her a bit of an edge, while Travis Fimmel provides the only vaguely amusing moments in this steadfastly earnest, tedious adaptation.
Although the film desperately tries to inject some emotion and gravitas to the proceedings, the CGI-heavy treatment and underdeveloped characters result in a curiously cold end result.
Sarah McIntyre
