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Director: Duncan Jones
Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Toby Kebbell, Ben Schnetzer
Genre: Fantasy
Duration: 123 mins
Rating: 6.5/10
Looking to escape from their dying world, the orcs - a race of giant warrior beasts - turn to dark magic to open a portal to the peaceful human realm of Azeroth. There, they wage a full-scale attack on unsuspecting humans for control of the land with support from the fierce fighter Blackhand. On the other hand, uniting to protect Azeroth from these hulking invaders are King Llane, the mighty warrior Anduin Lothar and the powerful wizard Medivh. As the two races collide, leaders from each side start to question if war is the only answer.
Thumbs Up
The two realms, built out primarily on soundstages and enhanced via Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) are meticulously detailed and are such a visual spectacle. Die-hard film fans will be impressed by the sheer number of characters, their exotic names and locations, and the quick pace of the movie. The drama is also relatable and boasts a few out of this world battle sequences.
Thumbs Down
If you have watched World of Warcraft, the role-playing online game from which the movie is adapted, the first thing you notice is how short it falls in its artistic impression of the mythical creatures. That pretty much ruins the movie for you. While the characters are many, most are underutilised.
Verdict
The movie forms a great platform for a sequel. So much to be explored.
