Yet another video-game adaptation makes its way to cinemas by way of Blizzard Entertainments’ Warcraft from production houses Legendary and Universal Pictures. Duncan Jones (aka David Bowie’s son) has been attached to the project for a number of years, having worked on intellectual sci-fi flicks like Moon and Source Code. With the official trailer release for the film, comes Duncan’s foray into large scale fantasy.
Much like the games, it appears the story is about a conflict between orcs and humans, with the possibility of the two races teaming up to face a greater threat. Placing emphasis on the relationship and dilemmas faced between the two factions, it makes a lot of sense for the world, building and developing characterization in a way that matches the style of the game’s setting.
I also can’t help but make parallels between this film and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, especially when Toby Kebbel (Koba from Apes) does another mo-cap performance as the orc protagonist, plus all the live/CGI action going on. Warcraft also stars Travis Fimmel as the lead human character, Ben Foster, and Daniel Wu, check out the trailer below.
As a fan of Duncan Jones’ work, it was a pleasant surprise to hear he would be making Warcraft, elevating what could be a standard fantasy epic into something well written, dramatic and well executed. After watching the trailer, I’m not too keen on the CGI which breaks my immersion the moment you see live action actors appear alongside cartoonish, exaggerated orcs. Feels more like it should be an animated film, some fairly standard fantasy trappings on what little we know of the plot. Expected to be released on June 2016, here’s a little plot synopsis:
“The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people and their home”.
#Peace.Love.Warcraft
