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Issue: Autumn 2016

Warcraft: The Beginning (2016) movie review

A Portal Opens

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movie poster, Warcraft The Beginning, Festivale film review page; 400x593

Movie poster, Warcraft: The Beginning
Two worlds. One home.

3D epic adventure of world-colliding conflict based upon Blizzard Entertainment's globally-renowned universe. 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.

Yes, that's the PR spiel. It's a sword and sorcery series, and in this case a prequel to an established fantasy and gaming universe. This film is squarely in a genre. It does not load itself with subtext and metaphors, or messages. It isn't designed to make the audience think. In fact, it's a thinking-free zone.

movie still, Warcraft: The Beginning, Festivale film review page; 599x249

A mixture of CG characters and creature makeup characters and 'humans', this is another 3D adventure of the fantasy kind.

The effects are quite nice, the 3D is impressive, except when it goes out of focus during pans, and the writing is good for what it is. This is a fan film. It seems to be satisfying key pieces of the back story of the series, and so is probably more satisfying for those familiar with the universe.

movie still, Warcraft: The Beginning, Festivale film review page; 599x249

Kudos especially for the strong female characters. They are more than a plot device, and this is always good to see in a film that is targetting the younger audiences.

movie still, Warcraft: The Beginning, Festivale film review page; 599x249
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by Ali Kayn
Australian release 16 June 2016
For credits and official site details, see below
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Just the facts:

Title: Warcraft: The Beginning (2016)
Written by: Duncan Jones, Charles Leavitt, Chris Metzen
Directed by: Duncan Jones
Running time: mins
Rating:

The Players: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton,

Official website: http://www.warcraftmovie.com/
IMDb entry

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