Hello ! I am a french guy who saw the warcraft movie yesturday. So, I'm sorry if my english is not perfect.
I want to share you my feelings about this movie without spoilers. Why? Because i saw the notes from Metacritics and RT. To be honest, I must bring justice for this movie, because I can assure you this: Warcraft movie deserves a chance and a shot from you guys.
If you like the warcraft universe, please, go watch this movie, give it a chance, it deserves it!
At the moment, it's the best movie based on video games (by far) and it didn't suck!! The trailers were really bad. If you like the warcraft universe and you are not reluctant about some changes in the lore (some are better), well you will enjoy the movie.
Let's talk about the movie. It's been since Warcraft 3, I wait a Warcraft movie. Since Warcraft 3, I'm a fan of this universe, the lore and the ambiance. The movie respect very well those 3 aspects. You are feeling you are in Azeroth!
In general, I liked the movie. Even if it's far from perfect and they made some changes from the lore (some are better, some are worst). But it's really feel like a true movie and not like a cinematic, or a movie with only fan service (like mortal kombat...)
The movie respects well the main story and the universe of warcraft. The CGI is really great and make you enter in the movie! I generally don't like the CGI, but this one is great, even if it has some wierd and bad CGI rarely. The armor and weapons feel less plastic than in the trailers, but still a little bit.
About the actors and the characters:
- Lothar (Travis) is for me, the only character who doesn't feel like «feudal». All the characters are, except him. He is a great actor, and unique don't get me wrong. But I didn't feel like a true commander of a human army in a feudal universe. He acts more like his character Ragnar in Viking, like an actual person on our world (with funny jokes).
- Khadgar is good. It is really the young apprentice who is a geek tand who is in search of the knowledge and want to learn the truth of Medivh. Pretty good (even with his pedo mustache). Probably my third favourite character of the movie (its between him and Durotan for the third place).
- Medhiv was my favorite character. He is very good Powerful and mysterious at the same time, such as should being Medivh! The only disappointment was that the movie did not enough develop his "twist" (if you are a fan of the lore, you know about what I speak).
- King Llane was .... OK. Nothing transcendent. However, I loved his decision at the end of the movie. A good change from the original lore. Great job Duncan Jones for this change!
- Garona...Believe me or not, she was for me the biggest surprise in term of actor's game and character development. Yeah you heard this ! My mind was blown apart ! It is a really well realized character and Paula Patton really put a lot in this character ! Her final twist is really great, even better than the original lore. My second favorite character of the movie!
- For orcs, they are great in general except Orgrimm who was a little bit disappointing, and BlackHand at the end.
For me the main issue I have with this movie was its duration. Too SHORT, way too short ! It's feeled a little rushed sometimes. It was really lacking one half an hour to develop certain moments and certain scenes. For example, we do not show enough that Draenor is a dying world.
Other scenes were less good also. The changes on the lore are sometimes good (especially why Garona makes "this" to king), others were less good.
In term of fan service (the BAD ONE), the movie only bring one fan service, which make it feel like a real movie. It was not only a movie made for fans and for the wrong reasons!
This fan service was: We saw quickly a murloc and he yell the famous «mrgrlglrlglr»
Overall, I like this movie ! Far from perfect, but still better than some Marvel movies which are endless....It's a fresh, new and unique movie. If you are a fan of Warcraft, don't listen RT and Metacritics, go see and judge yourself! Since the movie will be out in the 10 June in USA, why they are already critics on RT and Metacritics? Answers: mainly Trolls (well not everyone) !
If you have questions, I will answer them with pleasure !
I hope you liked this quick review !