All Things:Video Game Movies

Saw the AC trailer in front of X-Men and there were people in the crowd saying things like 'Is that a video game?' Not sure how well it will do.

But I do know that Warcraft will be box-office-bomb-a-licious next week.
 
jerseydevil said:



So you don't have to actually go to the article. Weird...when they did the presentation on the triple screens in Hall H, this footage looked so much better. Might be because those were state of the art screens with, I assume amazing projection. On the computer, it loses a LOT. Maybe in a theater there will be a happy medium. Seems kind of pointless to try to expand the visual effects/filming techniques, when the standard projection is not up to snuff. It was an issue with Hateful 8, and I keep reading how Ang Lee's new movie is visually gamebreaking, but only with projection equipment that is not going to be available for regular viewing.
Also, as much as I want Duncan Jones to have another hit, and fulfill the promise of Moon...this don't look like it. Shame, because he has spent what???? 4 years working on it?
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For what it's worth, I know a couple of people who were at the premiere last night and they universally enjoyed it. Might be more fun for fans than non-fans, but this seems like a critical failure...and a fan service type thing. So, there's that. Going on Thursday to see it and I'll let you know what I thought.
 
‘Warcraft’ Invades International Box Office, Sets Records in China
http://collider.com/warcraft-box-office-record-china/

While poor reviews have some analysts convinced that Duncan Jones’ Warcraft adaptation will fail to rise above $30 million in its opening weekend here at home, the fantasy video game film is invading international box offices with gusto. In fact, the film is already setting records in one of the world’s biggest markets: China, where an estimated 10 million “World of Warcraft” fans are expected to turn out to see this big-screen spectacle.

Warcraft might not win the opening frame in the States this weekend, since New Line’s The Conjuring 2 and Lionsgate’s Now You See Me 2 opening, along with a second frame for Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, but perhaps a round of sequelitis will hit movie-going audiences, making them more eager to seek out the big, bold fantasy epic. That’s certainly the hope, but with China clearing the way for a big box office performance, the domestic performance might not be the end all, be all.
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I want to see this even though I am not a gamer. Kingsqueen on the other hand...well, I may have to wait and see by myself. Yeah, I think the embargo is still in effect review wise, but a few have leaked out and they haven't been kind. Blizzard seems to know what they are doing, so I think if you get the core fanbase...and maybe 50% of the others, well...by no means will that be great, but it looks like U.S. Box Office may be irrelevant. Further shifting studio priorities to the overseas territories.
Just based on all I have seen so far, this looks like one of those simple sword and sorcery concepts that really didn't need a director like Duncan Jones. But I will hold off until I see it. Besides, Moon is really Jones' only good work so far. So that may have been a fluke. 4 years though...visually, this better be spectacular.
 
jerseydevil said:
‘Warcraft’ Invades International Box Office, Sets Records in China
http://collider.com/warcraft-box-office-record-china/



I want to see this even though I am not a gamer. Kingsqueen on the other hand...well, I may have to wait and see by myself. Yeah, I think the embargo is still in effect review wise, but a few have leaked out and they haven't been kind. Blizzard seems to know what they are doing, so I think if you get the core fanbase...and maybe 50% of the others, well...by no means will that be great, but it looks like U.S. Box Office may be irrelevant. Further shifting studio priorities to the overseas territories.
Just based on all I have seen so far, this looks like one of those simple sword and sorcery concepts that really didn't need a director like Duncan Jones. But I will hold off until I see it. Besides, Moon is really Jones' only good work so far. So that may have been a fluke. 4 years though...visually, this better be spectacular.
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I think one of the main reasons he was on it is because of his fandom. He's been a fan of the franchise for so long and, according to the folks I know, he nailed the aesthetic of the game and world. One person, who works at Blizzard and on the game (and is way low on the totem pole so it's not like Aykroyd pimping the new Ghostbusters) said she was so happy to see the world she's worked and played in brought to life.

I think you're right about the simple sword and sorcery thing. Some reviews (that didn't like it) said it had the weight of movies like Krull or Dragonslayer from the 80's so, take that for what it's worth. If you're going in looking for Lord of the Rings storytelling, you might be disappointed. If you're looking for some simple fare that looks cool, you might enjoy it a whole lot. If you played the game for a decent amount of time, you're likely to love it.
 
‘Warcraft’ Review: Summoning Ambivalence
http://collider.com/warcraft-movie-review/

I feel conflicted about Duncan Jones’ Warcraft. On the one hand, it’s a movie that comes off as bloated, loaded down with exposition, and constantly trying to service too many characters while ultimately serving almost none of them. And yet it’s also a film that left me wanting more. Jones’ ambition sucks us in with his unabashed high fantasy world building. Warcraft is a film that is loaded with problems, and yet I couldn’t help but admire what it was trying to accomplish...
...I wouldn’t go so far to call Warcraft a good movie. It’s crushed under its own ambition, and yet that ambition is highly admirable in the same way as films like John Carter where it might not work, but it earns points just for being bold and different in an increasingly homogenized landscape. And while Warcraft suffers from throwing too much at the audience, I would happily return for a sequel, assuming it’s more focused.

Rating: C
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Ok, in my mind, this is a good review. Especially referencing John Carter, because that movie is so much better than people are willing to admit.
 
jerseydevil said:
‘Warcraft’ Review: Summoning Ambivalence
http://collider.com/warcraft-movie-review/



Ok, in my mind, this is a good review. Especially referencing John Carter, because that movie is so much better than people are willing to admit.
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A lot of the complaints sound viable because, after talking to more friends who saw it already, there's a lot of stuff in there that fans of the game/world will grasp pretty easy which could make the story a little easier in flow and context. Non-fans might find it, as the review said, bloated.

But hey, you can ask me questions and I can help answer them. :)

Also, here are some thoughts from people that saw it with some context of their positions:

@ManMadeMoon Thank you for such a wonderful film. I am looking forward to seeing it many times to take in all the details. (Blizzard employee)

All of Blizzard is buzzing with adoration for the #WarcraftMovie today, and my heart is full. Thank you, @ManMadeMoon ��❤️ (Blizzard Social Media Manager)

I can't even begin to describe how much I loved Warcraft. (Casual friend who LOVED Fury Road. Called this his favorite movie of the year so far.)

Thank you @ManMadeMoon @Blizzard_Ent @Legendary for an awesome movie and the time of my life! (invited to the premiere as a community member of note)

There's more but those are just a couple. Like I said, fans of the game/world will probably enjoy it a lot. People who aren't in it...hit or miss probably.
 
Just got back. Have to say, I absolutely loved it. Granted, I'm the target audience so I'm sure it was colored by that, but I'm not quite sure what movie the critics were watching. It's not groundbreaking. It's not high art. It's just a bunch of fun with swords and magic.

I will say that I can see how people might get a little confused with who people are, what's going on, some context...but the information is out there if you want to know more about the characters. LOTS of information out there in fact.

Basically, give it a shot. You might like it.
 
SmytheKing said:
Just got back. Have to say, I absolutely loved it. Granted, I'm the target audience so I'm sure it was colored by that, but I'm not quite sure what movie the critics were watching. It's not groundbreaking. It's not high art. It's just a bunch of fun with swords and magic.

I will say that I can see how people might get a little confused with who people are, what's going on, some context...but the information is out there if you want to know more about the characters. LOTS of information out there in fact.

Basically, give it a shot. You might like it.
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Same. Thought it was good.
 
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