Warcraft (2016)

Warcraft, directed by Duncan Jones, is a high-fantasy epic rooted in the lore of the popular Blizzard video game franchise Warcraft. Set in the world of Azeroth, the film serves as both an introduction to the franchise’s mythology and a foundation for potential sequels. While opinions are divided on the movie’s dense narrative, it’s packed with world-building, magic, and orc-on-human warfare.

Detailed Summary

Opening: The Orcs Cross Through the Dark Portal

The film begins in the dying orc world of Draenor, where the orcish warlock Gul’dan uses dark Fel magic to open a portal to Azeroth, a vibrant and living world. Gul’dan leads the Horde, a coalition of orc clans, through the Dark Portal, seeking new lands to conquer and populate. To fuel the magic, he uses the life force of Draenor’s captives.

The Humans React: The Alliance Mobilizes

In Azeroth, the humans of the Kingdom of Stormwind, led by King Llane Wrynn, learn of the mysterious attacks on their settlements. Anduin Lothar, the kingdom’s military commander, investigates these attacks, discovering the presence of the orcs. Alongside Khadgar, a young mage, and Medivh, the Guardian of Tirisfal, the humans begin to understand the threat posed by the Fel and the orcs.

Durotan’s Doubts: Orcs Turn on Themselves

Durotan, the noble chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan, grows disillusioned with Gul’dan’s brutal methods and the corrupting influence of the Fel. He secretly meets with Lothar to propose an alliance to stop Gul’dan. His aim is to save his people rather than conquer Azeroth. However, this alliance is disrupted when the meeting is ambushed, leading to Durotan’s arrest by Gul’dan.

The Half-Breed: Garona’s Role

Garona, a half-orc, half-human slave of Gul’dan, finds herself caught between worlds. She eventually joins the humans, forming a close bond with King Llane and Lothar. As a translator and warrior, she becomes a key figure in the unfolding conflict and symbol of potential unity between the two races.

Medivh’s Betrayal and the Battle for Azeroth

As the war escalates, it’s revealed that Medivh, the Guardian, has been corrupted by the Fel and is responsible for opening the Dark Portal from the Azeroth side. After a dramatic confrontation, Khadgar and Lothar manage to defeat Medivh, but not before many orcs have already entered Azeroth. In a climactic battle, Durotan challenges Gul’dan to mak’gora—a sacred orcish duel—but is killed dishonorably when Gul’dan uses Fel magic. This act sows dissent among the orcs, but Gul’dan remains in control.

Movie Ending

In the final moments of the film, King Llane, believing diplomacy with the orcs might be possible, allows Garona to kill him in public to gain the respect of the orcs and potentially lead them away from Gul’dan’s control. She does so, reluctantly, and earns the admiration of the Horde.

Lothar, discovering Llane’s body and Garona’s involvement, is devastated. However, he fights and defeats Blackhand, one of Gul’dan’s champions, in an honorable mak’gora. Lothar’s victory grants him safe passage among the orcs, and he returns to Stormwind with the king’s body, urging the Alliance to unite against the orcish threat.

The film ends with Durotan’s infant son, Go’el (Thrall), being placed in a river basket by his mother to escape the chaos—a symbolic gesture tying the film to the larger Warcraft lore and hinting at future developments in sequels that, as of now, haven’t materialized.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Warcraft does not have a post-credits scene. However, the ending does clearly tease future storylines involving the rise of Thrall and continued conflict between the Alliance and the Horde.

Type of Movie

Warcraft is a high fantasy action-adventure film with elements of dark magic, political intrigue, and mythological warfare. It blends CGI-heavy visuals with character-driven moments and tries to balance lore for fans with accessibility for newcomers.

Cast

• Travis Fimmel as Anduin Lothar
• Paula Patton as Garona Halforcen
• Ben Foster as Medivh
• Dominic Cooper as King Llane Wrynn
• Ben Schnetzer as Khadgar
• Daniel Wu as Gul’dan
• Toby Kebbell as Durotan
• Clancy Brown as Blackhand
• Robert Kazinsky as Orgrim Doomhammer

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Ramin Djawadi, known for his work on Game of Thrones, Westworld, and Iron Man. The music blends orchestral fantasy motifs with darker, war-themed tones, effectively capturing the tension between honor and destruction.

Filming Locations

The movie was primarily filmed in British Columbia, Canada, including areas around Vancouver and Coquitlam. Interior scenes were shot at studios like Mammoth Studios, while massive green screen setups were used for the CGI-heavy environments of Draenor and the magical world of Azeroth.

Awards and Nominations

While Warcraft didn’t receive major critical awards, it found success in visual effects categories and was nominated for several international and fan-voted awards:

• Visual Effects Society Awards: Nominated for Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature
• Teen Choice Awards: Nominated for Choice Fantasy Movie
• Golden Trailer Awards: Nominated for Best Fantasy Adventure

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Duncan Jones, a fan of the Warcraft games, pushed to make the film faithful to both factions rather than paint a simple good vs. evil narrative.
• Extensive motion capture was used for the orcs, with Toby Kebbell’s performance as Durotan being praised for its emotional depth.
• The film had over 2000 visual effects shots, making it one of the most digitally intensive productions of its time.
• Jones insisted on practical sets for many of the human interiors to give the film a grounded feel amidst the CGI.
• The original script was more human-centric, but Jones rewrote it to balance the story between the Horde and the Alliance.

Inspirations and References

• Based on Blizzard Entertainment’s video game franchise, primarily drawing from Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994) and Warcraft: The Last Guardian, a novel by Jeff Grubb.
• Many characters are taken directly from Warcraft lore, particularly the early history of Azeroth and Draenor.
• The movie also pays homage to classic fantasy themes seen in The Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Several scenes were trimmed from the theatrical release for pacing reasons, including:

• An extended battle sequence showing more of the orc clans’ power dynamics.
• Additional scenes between Garona and King Llane developing their relationship.
• A longer epilogue showing Thrall’s early journey after being placed in the river.

No known alternate endings were filmed, though fans have long speculated that the film’s ambiguous ending left the door open for different sequel paths.

Book Adaptations and Differences

A novelization of the film by Christie Golden offers expanded lore, internal monologues, and background on characters like Garona and Medivh.
Differences include:

• More in-depth explanations of Medivh’s corruption.
• Expanded scenes of Durotan’s leadership struggles.
• A clearer portrayal of the political structure within Stormwind.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The Dark Portal opening, with Gul’dan’s horrific magic on full display.
• The duel between Durotan and Gul’dan—a dramatic breaking point for the Horde.
• Lothar flying on a gryphon into battle against the orcs.
• Medivh’s transformation into a Fel demon during his betrayal.

Iconic Quotes

• Durotan: “We must fight together. Or we will perish alone.”
• Gul’dan: “From light comes darkness, and from darkness… light.”
• Khadgar: “Sometimes the hand of fate must be forced.”
• Medivh: “The Fel doesn’t just destroy. It feeds.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The character Go’el is better known to fans as Thrall, a major figure in Warcraft lore.
• The Stormwind armor designs are based on in-game character models from World of Warcraft.
• Murloc cameo: A blink-and-you-miss-it moment features the game’s iconic fish-like creature.
• The name Blackrock references one of the most well-known Warcraft raids, Blackrock Spire.
• Several locations like Karazhan, Elwynn Forest, and Westfall are pulled directly from the game.

Trivia

• Duncan Jones is the son of music legend David Bowie.
• The movie was a box office flop in the US, but a massive hit in China, earning over $220 million there.
• The film took nearly ten years from initial development to release.
• Blizzard was heavily involved in the design of the world and approved the final cut.
• The character Orgrim was originally going to be the lead but was made secondary to focus on Lothar.

Why Watch?

Warcraft is a must-watch for fantasy fans, gamers, and anyone who appreciates detailed world-building. While it’s not a perfect film, its commitment to the lore, gorgeous visuals, and emotional performances by the CGI characters (especially Durotan) make it a unique entry in the genre. It’s a rare fantasy film that shows both sides of a conflict with empathy, which is worth appreciating.

Director’s Other Movies

• Moon (2009)
• Source Code (2011)
• Mute (2018)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• The Chronicles of Narnia (2005)
• Eragon (2006)
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
• Assassin’s Creed (2016)
• The Last Witch Hunter (2015)