Duncan Jones' Warcraft - Part 3

[Rincewind]

Would you guys that have seen it say its as bad as Jackson's Hobbit trilogy?

I liked it much more than the Hobbit trilogy. It's not nearly as bloated, the CGI and the visuals are better, and the fight scenes don't feel as cartoony and silly. The only thing the Hobbit films have done better is having better actors portray the characters.

 

[Steelsheen]

wow... why is Warcraft doing badly in the US? i mean... too niche? im not a WoW gamer, but i am interested in seeing it in the theater. i just need to get my health back in order and a good seat at IMAX.

 

[The Big G]

wow... why is Warcraft doing badly in the US? i mean... too niche? im not a WoW gamer, but i am interested in seeing it in the theater. i just need to get my health back in order and a good seat at IMAX.

TO be honest i think its a multitude of factors:

-I think it favors WoW players a slight bit more than the General Audience

-The marketing/trailers has been ****

-I think we may be officially hitting adaptation fatigue

-Its a video game movie.

-People are a bit more gun shy nowadays when it comes to movies, and I think they are more in line to see what critics think.

 

[:eek:]

wow... why is Warcraft doing badly in the US? i mean... too niche? im not a WoW gamer, but i am interested in seeing it in the theater. i just need to get my health back in order and a good seat at IMAX.

After three Hobbit-movies that weren't exactly memorable I think you might need something really special to make people that aren't die hard fans interested in another fantasy-movie.

 

[Tony Stark]

The movie is a bit of a mess. I think visually it's fantastic, and one of the few films I'd recommend seeing in 3D. I still fill they missed on a few opportunities to showcase the environments better. There's way too many small sets that don't really give a larger scale.

I just think this could have been so much bigger and making a film that appeals to more than just WoW players would have been so much better.

 

[Kyle]

a film that appeals to more than just WoW players would have been so much better.

This. While I absolutely hated what I saw to the point that I didn't want to watch anymore of it because it felt still-born to me. I have no idea if that's because I came in with no connection or affection for the property. What didn't connect with me at all, may have connected a lot with Warcraft game fans because of a built-in connection. But, a movie - needs more than just a niche audience or it will get a niche response (but hey, they're getting China - so they're getting someone).

As to pr0xyt0xin who might still go "you can't judge it, you haven't seen it!" I've acted as a script reader for notable film studios, the number one thing you'll learn is that readers, executives, producers, etc. typically only give a script 10 pages to make a decision about it. Why? Because in those first ten pages, hell you can even tell before then - you can tell if you're in good hands or not. In this one, it was obvious that as a member of the mass audience - I wasn't in good hands with this, so I didn't torture myself by continuing on (like I've had to with many scripts as a reader, but there I was at least getting paid for it). Bottom line is, in Hollywood - yes, it's often your job to know in the first ten pages (or one page a minute - 10 minutes). That, plus the reviews lining up with my thoughts told me everything I needed to know. No reason to torture myself any longer than need be. As said, it might catch on with fans of the game - it just had nothing at all for me and felt still born.

 

[Victarion]

wow... why is Warcraft doing badly in the US? i mean... too niche? im not a WoW gamer, but i am interested in seeing it in the theater. i just need to get my health back in order and a good seat at IMAX.

People that're unfamiliar with the property like myself might see it as a Hobbit or Avatar -lite movie.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

This. While I absolutely hated what I saw to the point that I didn't want to watch anymore of it because it felt still-born to me. I have no idea if that's because I came in with no connection or affection for the property. What didn't connect with me at all, may have connected a lot with Warcraft game fans because of a built-in connection. But, a movie - needs more than just a niche audience or it will get a niche response (but hey, they're getting China - so they're getting someone).

As to pr0xyt0xin who might still go "you can't judge it, you haven't seen it!" I've acted as a script reader for notable film studios, the number one thing you'll learn is that readers, executives, producers, etc. typically only give a script 10 pages to make a decision about it. Why? Because in those first ten pages, hell you can even tell before then - you can tell if you're in good hands or not. In this one, it was obvious that as a member of the mass audience - I wasn't in good hands with this, so I didn't torture myself by continuing on (like I've had to with many scripts as a reader, but there I was at least getting paid for it). Bottom line is, in Hollywood - yes, it's often your job to know in the first ten pages (or one page a minute - 10 minutes). That, plus the reviews lining up with my thoughts told me everything I'd need to know. No reason to torture myself any longer than need be. As said, it might catch on with fans of the game - it just had nothing at all for me.

Yeah, when I walked out after Loki's escape in Avengers, I decided the movie was absolute crap and had no redeeming qualities.

 

[Kyle]

Yeah, when I walked out after Loki's escape in Avengers, I decided the movie was absolute crap and had no redeeming qualities.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. If you're not, hey it's your opinion. Unlike you I'm not going to jump down your throat about it. Film is subjective. Hell, even majority opinion is still subjective. To most critics the film is 3/10 and with that I agree, I even enjoyed 'Eragorn' so me not being able to get through a movie outside of the first 10 minutes says something obvious to me about my view on it, that's only happened once before - Last Airbender (and yeah I can say Eragon is a bad film, haven't seen it in many years - but at least it felt fun to me, my opinion - not universally shared, but on the same hand I don't care if someone's opinion isn't the same as mine). You don't agree with me or the critics - power to you for having your own opinion. That's my motto.

 

[The Big G]

I fanboyed at the Murloc cameo

complete with the "MRGGGLLLGGLL" sound

 

[Logan0327]

so crazy look at box office Warcraft make 156 million in first 5 days in china

makes 24 million opening weekend in north America lol

 

[rogue trooper]

Saw this yesterday and, vaguely knowing of the game, just went along for the ride. A very fun ride it was! I'm very glad this has found pulse despite the negative voices. An extended cut should be even better. Shouldn't be long until a sequel is given the green light much like Pacific Rim, and hopefully Warcraft's success can be the one to finally make other S&S properties like He-Man, Fire and Ice, and Legend of Conan start taking more solid shape.

 

[Kyle]

I'm confused. Why would He-Man and Conan rest upon Warcraft? Warcraft is an all-out fantasy film whereas aren't the other two more heroic films and properties? I know in genre this is a terrible connection, but in terms of hero film - wouldn't they be more similar to Mad Max than Warcraft? With the more apt analogy being John Carter, unfortunately (which I enjoyed that film a lot, mentioning since in tone and angle it seems similar to He-Man and Conan). If Tarzan is a success, that could lead to He-Man and Conan maybe... just always group those with science-fiction heroes outside of superhero genre.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

Yeah, if anything I'd say this (and potentially Assassin's Creed) would only open the doorway to other video game properties.

with, logically at least, potential for:
- More Warcraft films obviously, as well as Starcraft and maybe Diablo and Overwatch.
- More Ubisoft films, Assassin's creed sequels, Splinter Cell, Watch Dogs, etc.
- Nintendo might/could/should get in on the action with Metroid and Fire Emblem movies.
- Valve? Portal/Half-Life

Who knows what else, bottom line being, I'm ready and waiting.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

My biggest problem with the reviews for this movie is that they are lower than that of the Prince of Persia movie, the first Hitman movie, the Max Payne movie, etc.

This just completely baffles me.

 

[Kyle]

Although I know you hate that I hated it and couldn't stand to continue watching it, I will say that it's kinda equal to Prince of Persia actually.

The first Hitman movie and Max Payne were bad, but they were at least entertaining to me. Plus, they were a lot easier to latch onto because everyone can understand hitmen and everyone can understand a revenge film. Especially a revenge film because they strike at something very human and very primal in all of us.

On the other hand, I'm still at a loss on what the beginning of Warcraft was... so one human and one orc met each other one day out in the desert, the orc attacked him and the actions of two suddenly determines the lot for all? Probably have a lot of these details wrong or this story was a lot more fleshed out in the games and books that have come out over the years outside of what was shown on screen, it just seemed like very little to have as strong as a division as spoken about. That was one of the first things that hit me. This huge division they're talking about came down to one human and one orc in the middle of the desert. There's probably a lot more to it than that, but that would knock some/a lot astray in just the first minute. I was already entering a world I didn't have any idea about and a huge part about the conflict was over and done with in about two minutes or less, leaving me having to play catch up because I didn't play the games... now compare that to how Peter Jackson brilliantly set up the world of LOTR - he let the time play, he let the consequences of actions play, he showed and took time showing how the LOTR world became what it was when Fellowship's story began, he didn't race through it as a footnote information dump.


For gamers who are very aware, that scene described will play out as common sense - for masses and critics are masses, that comes off as a fast information dump. It's so fast and plays out so "you already know this, so let's just show it and move on" that there's very little time to connect to the key heart of the conflict. That's why as said, and as critics have said, gamers are bound to experience this film very different from the uninitiated.

So why does Hitman and Max Payne have better reviews? Simply put, the stories are streamlined for the masses.

 

[rogue trooper]

I'm confused. Why would He-Man and Conan rest upon Warcraft? Warcraft is an all-out fantasy film whereas aren't the other two more heroic films and properties? I know in genre this is a terrible connection, but in terms of hero film - wouldn't they be more similar to Mad Max than Warcraft? With the more apt analogy being John Carter, unfortunately (which I enjoyed that film a lot, mentioning since in tone and angle it seems similar to He-Man and Conan). If Tarzan is a success, that could lead to He-Man and Conan maybe... just always group those with science-fiction heroes outside of superhero genre.

I see what you're getting at. Yes, Conan is more akin to Tarzan, John Carter, and Mad Max as it does center primarily on one(titular) character. Same with He-Man. However, He-Man's world is a very rich one as far as its fantasy elements, much like that of Warcraft. So, having as powerful visuals as Warcraft, could be a key selling point for a He-Man movie. I think.

 

[Silvermoon]

On the other hand, I'm still at a loss on what the beginning of Warcraft was... so one human and one orc met each other one day out in the desert, the orc attacked him and the actions of two suddenly determines the lot for all?

Well, you have the voice-over dialogue that's going along with that:

There has been a war between orcs and humans for as long as can be remembered.

But there was once a time, when we did not even know who our enemy was. Or what that evil green magic, the fel, had done to us.

So the opening/prologue scene was at some (unknown) point in the future beyond the bulk of the story (with humans and orcs still fighting), it then goes back to tell the story of how they came into conflict in the first place.

They could have made that a bit clearer.

 

[terry78]

Yeah, the entire story is a flashback. If you play the games you know where it is right now.

 

[Kyle]

Yeah, the entire story is a flashback. If you play the games you know where it is right now.

This is why I couldn't really continue watching it and from reviews it just gets more confusing from there for the uninitiated.

The opening scene visually is a very weird choice then because it would have been a lot less confusing if they just had the classic fly-by with that voice over. Plus it would have cost a lot less money.

 

[regnak]

This is why I couldn't really continue watching it and from reviews it just gets more confusing from there for the uninitiated.

The opening scene visually is a very weird choice then because it would have been a lot less confusing if they just had the classic fly-by with that voice over. Plus it would have cost a lot less money.

I never played the games and had no problem with the intro or understanding what was going on. Some of the why people were doing things was cut out.

 

[DorkyFresh]

My biggest problem with the reviews for this movie is that they are lower than that of the Prince of Persia movie, the first Hitman movie, the Max Payne movie, etc.

This just completely baffles me.

Prince of Persia, despite being a mediocre film, is kinda fun to watch. But it's also somewhat self aware. It knows it's a video game movie and doesn't take itself so seriously. On the other hand, Warcraft takes itself WAYYY too seriously. Unless you're already a fan, it's a chore to get through the movie. There were honestly a couple of parts where I was literally dozing off. If it weren't for the fact that my friend, who used to LOVE Warcraft, was right beside me I totally would've taken a short nap. There's so much exposition, clunky dialogue, and there's not much pay off for sitting through it all. Warcraft aspired to do great things, that's why it's being held at a higher standard than Hitman or Max Payne. No one expected those movies to be very good. On the other hand, there were a lot of people in the industry who really thought Warcraft had the potential to be the next Lord of the Rings.

Max Payne and Hitman weren't very disappointing because the trailers didn't set a very high standard, but to many people Warcraft looked like it could've been a good movie, so when it turns out to be not-so-good then it's all the more disappointing.

The movie is a bit of a mess. I think visually it's fantastic, and one of the few films I'd recommend seeing in 3D. I still fill they missed on a few opportunities to showcase the environments better. There's way too many small sets that don't really give a larger scale.

This! I was talking another one of my buddies who loves WoW and he got upset when I made him realize that, despite the sweeping vistas and beautiful shots of the cities and locations, everything felt small because you never really got to see those cities in the background with the actors in the same shot. Any time they showed a beautiful location the next shot were humans indoors, so you never really get to feel the scale or size of the environments.

 

[OutOfBoose]

My biggest problem with the reviews for this movie is that they are lower than that of the Prince of Persia movie, the first Hitman movie, the Max Payne movie, etc.

This just completely baffles me.

Outside Prince of Persia (which is one of better game-based movies), yes, absurd. Those were irredeemable trash.

 

[Victarion]

I'm confused. Why would He-Man and Conan rest upon Warcraft? Warcraft is an all-out fantasy film whereas aren't the other two more heroic films and properties? I know in genre this is a terrible connection, but in terms of hero film - wouldn't they be more similar to Mad Max than Warcraft? With the more apt analogy being John Carter, unfortunately (which I enjoyed that film a lot, mentioning since in tone and angle it seems similar to He-Man and Conan). If Tarzan is a success, that could lead to He-Man and Conan maybe... just always group those with science-fiction heroes outside of superhero genre.

Conan is pure fantasy. Sorcerers, magic and strange creatures, bizarre elder gods.

 

[Kyle]

Conan is pure fantasy. Sorcerers, magic and strange creatures, bizarre elder gods.

Beyond that for many it's seen as a classic Arnold Swartzenagger (spelling incorrect?) property. That already built in past helps it. I would liken it more to Mad Max in that way. Classic 80s film (more than one film?) making a comeback in some form. Might sound silly, but that actually helps it in studio eyes to make it look safe/r - having an already built in film history with a popular or cult popular history behind it. So it's comeback relies more on 80s action hero comebacks since for studios that's mostly how it's seen because of Arnold.