Duncan Jones to Helm Warcraft
January 31, 2013 7:08 AM Subscribe
Hollywood Reporter: "Duncan Jones is taking on Legendary Pictures' adaptation of the popular video game universe"
Fans of the games-into-movies genre will be thrilled to read this news, but those of us who loved Jones' first two films, Moon and Source Code may be a little saddened at the possibility that a director of exciting yet elegant and poignant science fiction films may be heading for a Verhoeven-esque tailspin. Commence the firestorm of opinion.
Fans of the games-into-movies genre will be thrilled to read this news, but those of us who loved Jones' first two films, Moon and Source Code may be a little saddened at the possibility that a director of exciting yet elegant and poignant science fiction films may be heading for a Verhoeven-esque tailspin. Commence the firestorm of opinion.
Maybe he can trade projects with J. J. Abrams.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:16 AM on January 31, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:16 AM on January 31, 2013 [6 favorites]
When I heard this news yesterday, I had to double-check that the source wasn't Studio Exec.
posted by pxe2000 at 7:21 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by pxe2000 at 7:21 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
God please just let it be a psychological thriller about Sam Rockwell descending into the depths of MMORPG addiction and being unable to tell reality from a video game.
posted by griphus at 7:22 AM on January 31, 2013 [22 favorites]
posted by griphus at 7:22 AM on January 31, 2013 [22 favorites]
Based on Moon, can we expect this to be about an Elf who discovers that every time he dies he's replaced by a clone who has to run back to the previous corpse to collect his gear?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:23 AM on January 31, 2013 [22 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:23 AM on January 31, 2013 [22 favorites]
The entire film will be Medivh, alone in his tower. Eventually, he will open the dark portal, and the movie will end. The stage will be set for a sequel by Michael Bay.
posted by Going To Maine at 7:24 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 7:24 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Verhoeven-esque tailspin
Not sure what you mean by that, but don't be messin' with the Dutch Butcher in my presence.
As for this, I have racked my brain and I can think of literally no way an MMORPG movie could be good.
posted by selfnoise at 7:24 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Not sure what you mean by that, but don't be messin' with the Dutch Butcher in my presence.
As for this, I have racked my brain and I can think of literally no way an MMORPG movie could be good.
posted by selfnoise at 7:24 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
a director of exciting yet elegant and poignant science fiction films may be heading for a Verhoeven-esque tailspin
Come off it, Source Code was rubbish; I'd have taken Verhoeven any day. So this is just the rot spreading.
posted by ninebelow at 7:25 AM on January 31, 2013
Come off it, Source Code was rubbish; I'd have taken Verhoeven any day. So this is just the rot spreading.
posted by ninebelow at 7:25 AM on January 31, 2013
Based on Moon, can we expect this to be about an Elf who discovers that every time he dies he's replaced by a clone who has to run back to the previous corpse to collect his gear?
Night Elf or Blood Elf? Because it would make a difference in the movie's ...*puts on sunglasses* ... running time.
posted by jedicus at 7:26 AM on January 31, 2013 [21 favorites]
Night Elf or Blood Elf? Because it would make a difference in the movie's ...*puts on sunglasses* ... running time.
posted by jedicus at 7:26 AM on January 31, 2013 [21 favorites]
Perhaps it will be a small, intimate tale. A glimpse into the internal struggles of a lad growing up in the dark shadows of Duskwood with his hard-living Nightwatch father, a widower who lays his beloved's fate at the doorstep of the almost untrackable Defias Brotherhood, yet all the while ignoring the ever-growing threat from Raven Hill, rumors spoken under breaths and shadows that have no shape or source.
Or it'll just be orcs fightin'.
posted by grabbingsand at 7:28 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Or it'll just be orcs fightin'.
posted by grabbingsand at 7:28 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
This bumps the Ian Fleming biopic he was going to making. I'm now calling this sort of thing "Del Toroing".
(The opposite of a Del Toro being a Blomkamp, after the time we lost a Halo film and gained District 9.)
posted by Artw at 7:31 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
(The opposite of a Del Toro being a Blomkamp, after the time we lost a Halo film and gained District 9.)
posted by Artw at 7:31 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
Moon was excellent. The only thing I know about Warcraft is from the World of. I knew a few people in college who played that game. And that's all they did. They failed out of school, lost their significant others, lived in squalor, and became weird hermits.
posted by IvoShandor at 7:35 AM on January 31, 2013
posted by IvoShandor at 7:35 AM on January 31, 2013
This'll be the guaranteed cash cow that will finance and greenlight half a dozen more brilliant art thrillers. So, whatever.
posted by naju at 7:37 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by naju at 7:37 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
The only thing I know about Warcraft is from the World of. I knew a few people in college who played that game. And that's all they did. They failed out of school, lost their significant others, lived in squalor, and became weird hermits.
See, it sounds to me like there's a decent movie in that.
posted by COBRA! at 7:39 AM on January 31, 2013
See, it sounds to me like there's a decent movie in that.
posted by COBRA! at 7:39 AM on January 31, 2013
But will it star Jeremy Irons or any of the Wayans brothers?
posted by Nomyte at 7:40 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Nomyte at 7:40 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
God please just let it be a psychological thriller about Sam Rockwell descending into the depths of MMORPG addiction and being unable to tell reality from a video game.
So a remake of Mazes and Monsters, then ?
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:43 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
So a remake of Mazes and Monsters, then ?
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:43 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Does WoW have much distinct going for it, or is it just the dodgy Warhammer rip off it looks like? Outside of LotR epic fantasy has been a tough sell... But LotR and the Expanded Hobbit shows that epic fantasy that looks like videogames can work at the box office.
posted by Artw at 7:44 AM on January 31, 2013
posted by Artw at 7:44 AM on January 31, 2013
But will it star Jeremy Irons or any of the Wayans brothers?
Jeremy Piven and Iron Mike Tyson is what I've heard.
posted by COBRA! at 7:51 AM on January 31, 2013
Jeremy Piven and Iron Mike Tyson is what I've heard.
posted by COBRA! at 7:51 AM on January 31, 2013
Hrrm. Paul Verhoeven has directed two films since Black Book (which was excellent) that I've heard nothing about. I wonder if that's a bad sign.
posted by Artw at 7:53 AM on January 31, 2013
posted by Artw at 7:53 AM on January 31, 2013
Hopefully he leaves out the grinding.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:56 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 7:56 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
A tale of a humble gold-farmer...
posted by Artw at 7:57 AM on January 31, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:57 AM on January 31, 2013 [5 favorites]
A whole movie about fetching people arbitrary numbers of bear asses? Awesome!
posted by Sternmeyer at 8:11 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Sternmeyer at 8:11 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Does WoW have much distinct going for it, or is it just the dodgy Warhammer rip off it looks like?
Its parent company, Blizzard, is no stranger to Warhammer, but seems to prefer pilfering 40K for Starcraft (see the art for Starcraft 2 or the two races that are roughly Tau and Tyranids). Warcraft has a fluffier aesthetic and ranks rather lower on the grimdark scale considering the number of demons running to and from. However, it has a distinct visual identity. The first couple of installments had a minimal storyline, but Warcraft 3 had a well-crafted if unoriginal story for a RTS. I don't know what they did for WoW because it looked like too much of a grind.
Still they've got an audience of more than 10 million people, there's a ton of lore to the universe and they picked a proper director, so it's their game to lose.
posted by ersatz at 8:18 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Its parent company, Blizzard, is no stranger to Warhammer, but seems to prefer pilfering 40K for Starcraft (see the art for Starcraft 2 or the two races that are roughly Tau and Tyranids). Warcraft has a fluffier aesthetic and ranks rather lower on the grimdark scale considering the number of demons running to and from. However, it has a distinct visual identity. The first couple of installments had a minimal storyline, but Warcraft 3 had a well-crafted if unoriginal story for a RTS. I don't know what they did for WoW because it looked like too much of a grind.
Still they've got an audience of more than 10 million people, there's a ton of lore to the universe and they picked a proper director, so it's their game to lose.
posted by ersatz at 8:18 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
I think it's going to be about the PvP experience, which means half the team squats in the cave to leech and the other half calls each other 'fag'.
posted by Mister_A at 8:20 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 8:20 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
a director of exciting yet elegant and poignant science fiction films may be heading for a Verhoeven-esque tailspin.
*sputters* You leave Paul ALONE!
posted by brundlefly at 8:22 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
*sputters* You leave Paul ALONE!
posted by brundlefly at 8:22 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Moon was excellent. The only thing I know about Warcraft is from the World of. I knew a few people in college who played that game. And that's all they did. They failed out of school, lost their significant others, lived in squalor, and became weird hermits.
Damn, there are several shitty comments already in this thread. Kinda sad.
posted by Brocktoon at 8:24 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Damn, there are several shitty comments already in this thread. Kinda sad.
posted by Brocktoon at 8:24 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
"As for this, I have racked my brain and I can think of literally no way an MMORPG movie could be good."
I haven't played Warcraft, but the easiest way to do this is to follow the protagonist as he progresses along one of the more interesting paths from the game. Sort of like watching another person play, but in fast forward and with no save points.
posted by Kevin Street at 8:31 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
I haven't played Warcraft, but the easiest way to do this is to follow the protagonist as he progresses along one of the more interesting paths from the game. Sort of like watching another person play, but in fast forward and with no save points.
posted by Kevin Street at 8:31 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Michael Caine on Jaws 4 - "“I have never seen it, by all accounts it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific.”
Duncan Jones may be the first director to turn a video game into a good movie since the original Tron, but even if he isn't, after Moon and Source Code, he's allowed one for the money in my book.
posted by IanMorr at 8:36 AM on January 31, 2013
Duncan Jones may be the first director to turn a video game into a good movie since the original Tron, but even if he isn't, after Moon and Source Code, he's allowed one for the money in my book.
posted by IanMorr at 8:36 AM on January 31, 2013
I'd still like to see griphus's movie about MMORPG addiction, though. Talk about a theme that's relevant to the times!
posted by Kevin Street at 8:41 AM on January 31, 2013
posted by Kevin Street at 8:41 AM on January 31, 2013
Maybe he's just entering his Tin Machine phase.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:44 AM on January 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 8:44 AM on January 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm going to say what we're all thinking: I sure hope Duncan is Horde.
posted by Mister_A at 8:48 AM on January 31, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 8:48 AM on January 31, 2013 [5 favorites]
Dudes we could get a snakes on a plane thing going here - let's start a petition to make sure lines like this are included!
"OMG WTF hunter pet soloed my doomy!"
posted by Mister_A at 8:49 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
"OMG WTF hunter pet soloed my doomy!"
posted by Mister_A at 8:49 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
I haven't played Warcraft, but the easiest way to do this is to follow the protagonist as he progresses along one of the more interesting paths from the game. Sort of like watching another person play, but in fast forward and with no save points.
The game world itself is littered with protagonists and long story arcs. They could just sew together the cinematics from the Lich King story line and make a decent enough movie.
Although - truth told, most of that is because Blizzard always had some of the best cinematic scenes. Humans Vs. Orcs and Warcraft II were fairly rudimentary in game play (exploding sheep notwithstanding), but the cutscenes were top notch. WoW was similar - the gameplay could be rudimentary, but the larger stories and depth of the universe were pretty compelling.
I agree with the above - there is a ton of lore for them to make 10 decent movies. It's their game to lose.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:50 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
The game world itself is littered with protagonists and long story arcs. They could just sew together the cinematics from the Lich King story line and make a decent enough movie.
Although - truth told, most of that is because Blizzard always had some of the best cinematic scenes. Humans Vs. Orcs and Warcraft II were fairly rudimentary in game play (exploding sheep notwithstanding), but the cutscenes were top notch. WoW was similar - the gameplay could be rudimentary, but the larger stories and depth of the universe were pretty compelling.
I agree with the above - there is a ton of lore for them to make 10 decent movies. It's their game to lose.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:50 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Warcraft/WoW has a number of interesting characters/personalities/ideas for characters that it consistently ignores or lets fall by the wayside. The designers of the game have consistently pandered to the basest sterotypes of their (possibly former) largest demographic (Single Males 18-24) and provided 'characters' that fit those stereotypes (grim lone wolf types who growl when they talk and have cool scars and stuff!)
The setting has amazing potential to tell stories about interracial tension, environmental responsibility, war crimes (one of the races was basically created by biological warfare) and the impact of generational warfare on a populace. They have of course done nothing with these things and have instead sent up huge flags of disbelief within WoW at least that these things aren't being addressed.
The game (WoW) is utterly absurd, yet still compelling if you're playing with the right people. A movie could clear up the absurdity but it will most likely just cash in on its established name and embrace the shallowness of its assumed stereotypes.
As someone said above, hopefully this gives us more movies like Moon as a result after the fact.
posted by Fuka at 8:55 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
The setting has amazing potential to tell stories about interracial tension, environmental responsibility, war crimes (one of the races was basically created by biological warfare) and the impact of generational warfare on a populace. They have of course done nothing with these things and have instead sent up huge flags of disbelief within WoW at least that these things aren't being addressed.
The game (WoW) is utterly absurd, yet still compelling if you're playing with the right people. A movie could clear up the absurdity but it will most likely just cash in on its established name and embrace the shallowness of its assumed stereotypes.
As someone said above, hopefully this gives us more movies like Moon as a result after the fact.
posted by Fuka at 8:55 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
I tell you what I'd like to see - I'd like to see this as an animated epic. That would be cool! Not that 3D animation either, like a Don Bluth or classic Disney job. That would be really neat! You could make it episodic, like the first Heavy Metal movie. Point is you have a lot more options and freedom with an animated treatment. Plus I just fear that with the goofy armors they have in game, Jones is going to be compelled to make everyone look like they're in GWAR.
posted by Mister_A at 9:01 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 9:01 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Fuka: The setting has amazing potential to tell stories about interracial tension, environmental responsibility, war crimes (one of the races was basically created by biological warfare) and the impact of generational warfare on a populace. They have of course done nothing with these things and have instead sent up huge flags of disbelief within WoW at least that these things aren't being addressed.
Totally agreed. As a WoW player who plays both factions, I actually do kinda hope that whomever they get to write the screenplay can do something interesting with the fact that there are some racial groups that totally don't belong with other racial groups and should totally split off and form a third faction (tauren, worgen, and some of you trolls, I'm looking at you).
Also, if Moon can keep in the whole awkwardness of having one race having to fight members of their own kind who happened to join the other faction (analogy to people living in the border states during the Civil War, anyone?) that would also be awesome.
posted by TrishaLynn at 9:06 AM on January 31, 2013
Totally agreed. As a WoW player who plays both factions, I actually do kinda hope that whomever they get to write the screenplay can do something interesting with the fact that there are some racial groups that totally don't belong with other racial groups and should totally split off and form a third faction (tauren, worgen, and some of you trolls, I'm looking at you).
Also, if Moon can keep in the whole awkwardness of having one race having to fight members of their own kind who happened to join the other faction (analogy to people living in the border states during the Civil War, anyone?) that would also be awesome.
posted by TrishaLynn at 9:06 AM on January 31, 2013
Also would be funny if they kill a big boss and then decide to go back and kill it again in 4 days so they can get the hat they want.
posted by Mister_A at 9:07 AM on January 31, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 9:07 AM on January 31, 2013 [6 favorites]
I haven't played since The Burning Crusade, as I left the game in preparation in advance of becoming a dad and having a new time sync. But, from my time in the game - the game was rich with story line. Yes, it was simplified compared to a Dickens novel, but if Dickens existed in the time of computer games, a Tale of Two Cities would be one hell of a video game with a lot less depth than it had, but awesome awesome avatars for you to run around as.
All I'm saying is - as a framework, WoW is a pretty rich blank slate. Yeah, you could mess it up in the vein of Super Mario Brothers the movie, or you could put something on par with the overall quality of the game - something I'm thinking that will be closer to the truth.
Will A blue troll win the Oscar? Probably not, that's a right reserved for James Cameron only.
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:09 AM on January 31, 2013
All I'm saying is - as a framework, WoW is a pretty rich blank slate. Yeah, you could mess it up in the vein of Super Mario Brothers the movie, or you could put something on par with the overall quality of the game - something I'm thinking that will be closer to the truth.
Will A blue troll win the Oscar? Probably not, that's a right reserved for James Cameron only.
posted by Nanukthedog at 9:09 AM on January 31, 2013
Don't conflate the game with the lore. The lore is rich, and the characters are complex. Ninety percent of the players in WoW care nothing for the lore. The game itself isn't based on lore, just elements of the lore are used to string together an almost coherent narrative. Enough to make a quest line, or give reason for such and such dungeon existing.
The game developers have been very good at managing the lore-as-product, and a number of books and other products testify to that. One reason they haven't integrated the narrative into the game story more is that they are aware many players aren't interested in that, and want to get to the gameplay as quickly as possible.
It would be entirely possible to make a really good movie based on WoW lore. However, there are a number of caveats. WoW is not Lord of the Rings - a book that can be transcribed directly onto the screen. There are too many pitfalls in the WoW background, the lore is not as coherent as it needs to be to provide a story. It's game lore, not the Mahabharata.
The developers need to give the writer and director control of the narrative, and for God's sake, control of the dialog. There are numerous cringe worthy moments in WoW cut scenes, and I am not the only one who is truly tired of bad guys sounding like something from Saturday morning cartoons. The potential for a WoW movie to be an epic failure and a colossal embarrassment for Blizzard and the fans alike is huge. They very much need to sit down and divorce themselves from the game - not to contradict lore, it's not necessary to deliberately disappoint the fans - but to say that judicious editing is required really understates the task.
tl;dr there is lots of good wow material; don't just copy it though
posted by Xoebe at 9:20 AM on January 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
The game developers have been very good at managing the lore-as-product, and a number of books and other products testify to that. One reason they haven't integrated the narrative into the game story more is that they are aware many players aren't interested in that, and want to get to the gameplay as quickly as possible.
It would be entirely possible to make a really good movie based on WoW lore. However, there are a number of caveats. WoW is not Lord of the Rings - a book that can be transcribed directly onto the screen. There are too many pitfalls in the WoW background, the lore is not as coherent as it needs to be to provide a story. It's game lore, not the Mahabharata.
The developers need to give the writer and director control of the narrative, and for God's sake, control of the dialog. There are numerous cringe worthy moments in WoW cut scenes, and I am not the only one who is truly tired of bad guys sounding like something from Saturday morning cartoons. The potential for a WoW movie to be an epic failure and a colossal embarrassment for Blizzard and the fans alike is huge. They very much need to sit down and divorce themselves from the game - not to contradict lore, it's not necessary to deliberately disappoint the fans - but to say that judicious editing is required really understates the task.
tl;dr there is lots of good wow material; don't just copy it though
posted by Xoebe at 9:20 AM on January 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
Mister_A: GWAR? I think you mean Elite Tauren Chieftain.
Also - races made just for angry loners? WTF were Blood Elves (aka: Ken and Barbie)? Panda Bears? Gnomes? Sure you had Orcs and Undead and the like. You're comment is a disservice to the variety of races you can be.
I would love to see some non-sexual fan-service. You know, maybe a Leeroy Jenkins moment kinda thing.
posted by symbioid at 9:25 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also - races made just for angry loners? WTF were Blood Elves (aka: Ken and Barbie)? Panda Bears? Gnomes? Sure you had Orcs and Undead and the like. You're comment is a disservice to the variety of races you can be.
I would love to see some non-sexual fan-service. You know, maybe a Leeroy Jenkins moment kinda thing.
posted by symbioid at 9:25 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Let's just hope they use a Donald Cameron storyline and not one from Devin Skraelin.
posted by Telf at 9:28 AM on January 31, 2013
posted by Telf at 9:28 AM on January 31, 2013
It just hit me: forget WoW. Duncan Jones would be perfect for an EVE Online movie.
posted by naju at 9:32 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by naju at 9:32 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
The lore is rich, and the characters are complex. Ninety percent of the players in WoW care nothing for the lore.
As an party who is as interested in WoW as one can be but has never actually played it (addictive personality who has learned some of his limits), I think that's the most depressing thing I've ever heard about a game that, admittedly, I've heard very many depressing things about.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:39 AM on January 31, 2013
As an party who is as interested in WoW as one can be but has never actually played it (addictive personality who has learned some of his limits), I think that's the most depressing thing I've ever heard about a game that, admittedly, I've heard very many depressing things about.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:39 AM on January 31, 2013
I feel almost as sad about this as the discovery that Aronofsky is making Noah. At least del Toro stopped working on the Hobbit!
posted by opsin at 9:42 AM on January 31, 2013
posted by opsin at 9:42 AM on January 31, 2013
Damn, there are several shitty comments already in this thread. Kinda sad.
I should have mentioned that I'll be seeing the movie despite my limited and negative experiences with WoW and its players, mostly because of Moon, which, as I said, was excellent. Sorry, if my experiences with WoW make you feel bad.
posted by IvoShandor at 9:53 AM on January 31, 2013
I should have mentioned that I'll be seeing the movie despite my limited and negative experiences with WoW and its players, mostly because of Moon, which, as I said, was excellent. Sorry, if my experiences with WoW make you feel bad.
posted by IvoShandor at 9:53 AM on January 31, 2013
Duncan Jones would be perfect for an EVE Online movie.
OK, I feel a little less bad about thinking the same about a Mass Effect film.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:08 AM on January 31, 2013
OK, I feel a little less bad about thinking the same about a Mass Effect film.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:08 AM on January 31, 2013
I would think that fans of the games-into-movies genre will be a little saddened to read that a director of elegant and poignant science fiction films like Moon and Source Code would be taking on Warcraft.
posted by hydrophonic at 10:10 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hydrophonic at 10:10 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Duncan Jones would be perfect for an EVE Online movie.
OK, I feel a little less bad about thinking the same about a Mass Effect film.
Clint Mansell soundtrack.
posted by Artw at 10:15 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
OK, I feel a little less bad about thinking the same about a Mass Effect film.
Clint Mansell soundtrack.
posted by Artw at 10:15 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think this has the potential to be Epic, as in Avatar level Epic. Warcraft has a ton of story potential, but it is very hardcore fantasy when compared to LoTR (as in, it is way off the mainstream), so it might completely flounder. I am curious whether this will be an animated film or live action, both have obvious pitfalls and could lead to disaster.
Consider me optimistic.
posted by Vindaloo at 10:18 AM on January 31, 2013
Consider me optimistic.
posted by Vindaloo at 10:18 AM on January 31, 2013
Nobody thought to link to the trailer yet?
posted by MartinWisse at 10:32 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MartinWisse at 10:32 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've been playing WoW almost since it started and I'd watch grabbinssand's Duskwood movie anyday. There have been so many amazing soap opera-esque storylines through the years (Garrosh's decline vs Thrall's evolution, the Bronzebeard family, Katrana Prestor!) that I couldn't just one that I'd like to see.
But yeah...it'll be stupid bouncy looking CGI orcs fighting rubbery looking humans. I'd pay the matinee fee if they came up with a good mage sheeping animation.
I'd also love if they didn't name the movie "World of Warcraft: blah blah" so I could duck the "hey, isn't that the game you play?" question.
posted by kimberussell at 10:39 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
But yeah...it'll be stupid bouncy looking CGI orcs fighting rubbery looking humans. I'd pay the matinee fee if they came up with a good mage sheeping animation.
I'd also love if they didn't name the movie "World of Warcraft: blah blah" so I could duck the "hey, isn't that the game you play?" question.
posted by kimberussell at 10:39 AM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
OK, I feel a little less bad about thinking the same about a Mass Effect film.
Yeah, but they'd probably screw it up and use the male Shep.
posted by mrgoat at 10:43 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
Yeah, but they'd probably screw it up and use the male Shep.
posted by mrgoat at 10:43 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
He should make something that sort of loosk like it might be an Eve or Mass Effect movie, and then... BOOM! Culture movie.
posted by Artw at 10:54 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 10:54 AM on January 31, 2013 [2 favorites]
Duncan Jones would be perfect for an EVE Online movie.
EVE online the movie would be getting punched in the kidneys while waiting for popcorn and having your wallet stolen. This would be followed by a discussion of the geopolitical implications of your mugging on everyone else in the theater.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:07 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
EVE online the movie would be getting punched in the kidneys while waiting for popcorn and having your wallet stolen. This would be followed by a discussion of the geopolitical implications of your mugging on everyone else in the theater.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:07 AM on January 31, 2013 [4 favorites]
Night Elf or Blood Elf? Because it would make a difference in the movie's ...*puts on sunglasses* ... running time.
I saw this comment as I was closing the browser window and had to come back just to favorite it.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 11:16 AM on January 31, 2013
I saw this comment as I was closing the browser window and had to come back just to favorite it.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 11:16 AM on January 31, 2013
The best game-based movie is the first Silent Hill, and that's really saying something. I have.. not good hopes for this one.
I just hope they announce that the main characters will be pandas so I can watch my Twitter feed explode with rage.
posted by jess at 12:30 PM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
I just hope they announce that the main characters will be pandas so I can watch my Twitter feed explode with rage.
posted by jess at 12:30 PM on January 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Its parent company, Blizzard, is no stranger to Warhammer, but seems to prefer pilfering 40K for Starcraft (see the art for Starcraft 2 or the two races that are roughly Tau and Tyranids).
This again! Both Starcraft and Games Workshop have extensively, ruthlessly mined the same popular culture sources. One might well have taken some ideas from the other from time to time, but that's tiny compared to the amount they've both taken from books, movies and comics.
Humans Vs. Orcs and Warcraft II were fairly rudimentary in game play
It's easy to forget now just how popular Warcraft II was in the day -- Warcraft I (a DOS game) was okay, but it was WCII that truly kicked off the series, and it lasted a very long time, as Blizzard got distracted by Diablo and Starcraft. It wasn't the first RTS, by any means, nor even the first popular one, but it was the first game to get it solidly right, to make it really playable.
Don't conflate the game with the lore. The lore is rich, and the characters are complex.
For a computer game, maybe.
I think this has the potential to be Epic, as in Avatar level Epic.
You might come to regret that hope. I've spent my movie-watching life avoiding films like that. I can't understand this attraction to spectacle.
I just hope they announce that the main characters will be pandas
They'd probably have to pay royalties to Dreamworks.
posted by JHarris at 12:33 PM on January 31, 2013
This again! Both Starcraft and Games Workshop have extensively, ruthlessly mined the same popular culture sources. One might well have taken some ideas from the other from time to time, but that's tiny compared to the amount they've both taken from books, movies and comics.
Humans Vs. Orcs and Warcraft II were fairly rudimentary in game play
It's easy to forget now just how popular Warcraft II was in the day -- Warcraft I (a DOS game) was okay, but it was WCII that truly kicked off the series, and it lasted a very long time, as Blizzard got distracted by Diablo and Starcraft. It wasn't the first RTS, by any means, nor even the first popular one, but it was the first game to get it solidly right, to make it really playable.
Don't conflate the game with the lore. The lore is rich, and the characters are complex.
For a computer game, maybe.
I think this has the potential to be Epic, as in Avatar level Epic.
You might come to regret that hope. I've spent my movie-watching life avoiding films like that. I can't understand this attraction to spectacle.
I just hope they announce that the main characters will be pandas
They'd probably have to pay royalties to Dreamworks.
posted by JHarris at 12:33 PM on January 31, 2013
JHarris, I should outsource some of my comments to you. Warcraft II was possibly the most fun RTS of its era, as it was streamlined and it offered choices. The production values were top and it had a brilliant difficulty curve after the introductory chapter: challenging but enjoyable.
posted by ersatz at 3:41 PM on January 31, 2013
posted by ersatz at 3:41 PM on January 31, 2013
I'd be willing to bet that this never gets made. If the Halo movie didn't happen because Microsoft wanted too big a cut, I can't imagine Activision being any more reasonable.
posted by Sibrax at 3:58 PM on January 31, 2013
posted by Sibrax at 3:58 PM on January 31, 2013
Don't conflate the game with the lore. The lore is rich, and the characters are complex.
QFT.
You don't see much of it in WoW itself, apart from a few Easter eggs and name references, but in the solo games (Warcraft 3 and Frozen Throne) where a clear cut storyline was more feasible, there was some great drama.
Arthas' story in particular is somewhat unique and quite compelling. (for comparison, imagine Boromir if he had gotten The One Ring and been able to "save his people", with predictably disastrous results)
There's also fertile ground for exploring political/racial issues. Since the WoW universe does not have a clear cut "good guys vs. bad guys" division, at least as far as the Alliance and Horde are concerned. There are uneasy alliances between races, and even hostile factions within races (Scourge vs. Forsaken, etc.)
There are a ton of great characters in the WoW universe, all with great backstories, any one or two of which would make a great movie. (Watch any of the Warcraft cinematic scenes for proof)
But man, I really REALLY hope it doesn't turn out to be another Dungeon Siege misfire.
posted by ShutterBun at 5:23 PM on January 31, 2013
QFT.
You don't see much of it in WoW itself, apart from a few Easter eggs and name references, but in the solo games (Warcraft 3 and Frozen Throne) where a clear cut storyline was more feasible, there was some great drama.
Arthas' story in particular is somewhat unique and quite compelling. (for comparison, imagine Boromir if he had gotten The One Ring and been able to "save his people", with predictably disastrous results)
There's also fertile ground for exploring political/racial issues. Since the WoW universe does not have a clear cut "good guys vs. bad guys" division, at least as far as the Alliance and Horde are concerned. There are uneasy alliances between races, and even hostile factions within races (Scourge vs. Forsaken, etc.)
There are a ton of great characters in the WoW universe, all with great backstories, any one or two of which would make a great movie. (Watch any of the Warcraft cinematic scenes for proof)
But man, I really REALLY hope it doesn't turn out to be another Dungeon Siege misfire.
posted by ShutterBun at 5:23 PM on January 31, 2013
Don't conflate the game with the lore. The lore is rich, and the characters are complex.
For a computer game, maybe.
You know there have been about 50 full-length novels published set within the Warcraft universe? There's literally more lore than game, at this point.
posted by ShutterBun at 5:30 PM on January 31, 2013
For a computer game, maybe.
You know there have been about 50 full-length novels published set within the Warcraft universe? There's literally more lore than game, at this point.
posted by ShutterBun at 5:30 PM on January 31, 2013
I always raise this issue when Warcraft lore comes up, but how in the Twisting Nether are Warlocks an acceptable player class*? Nearly every problem in the Warcraft universe can be traced back to trafficking with demons.
*I'm sure the answer is "because it's awesome," but bear with me.
posted by lumensimus at 7:24 PM on January 31, 2013
*I'm sure the answer is "because it's awesome," but bear with me.
posted by lumensimus at 7:24 PM on January 31, 2013
There have been a lot of D&D novels too.
Indeed. Plenty of D&D lore to warrant a film treatment, though perhaps not enough of a "single cohesive storyline" that fans would instantly recognize. (maybe something along the lines of Neverwinter Nights would work)
Anyway, the point is that Warcraft has plenty of backstory to make a movie about, whereas something like Street Fighter or Super Mario Brothers becomes a complete mess.
posted by ShutterBun at 9:05 PM on January 31, 2013
Indeed. Plenty of D&D lore to warrant a film treatment, though perhaps not enough of a "single cohesive storyline" that fans would instantly recognize. (maybe something along the lines of Neverwinter Nights would work)
Anyway, the point is that Warcraft has plenty of backstory to make a movie about, whereas something like Street Fighter or Super Mario Brothers becomes a complete mess.
posted by ShutterBun at 9:05 PM on January 31, 2013
I always raise this issue when Warcraft lore comes up, but how in the Twisting Nether are Warlocks an acceptable player class?
We need 'em for summons.
posted by ShutterBun at 9:08 PM on January 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
We need 'em for summons.
posted by ShutterBun at 9:08 PM on January 31, 2013 [3 favorites]
"I would think that fans of the games-into-movies genre will be a little saddened to read that a director of elegant and poignant science fiction films like Moon and Source Code would be taking on Warcraft."
It's not like Terry Gilliam is doing Warcraft. Duncan Jones has one excellent, surprising SF film to his name, and one so-so SF film after that. He's still got a whole career ahead of him. This movie could be the success that makes Jones a big name in Hollywood, or a learning experience. Either way it's a good move for a young director.
posted by Kevin Street at 9:53 PM on January 31, 2013
It's not like Terry Gilliam is doing Warcraft. Duncan Jones has one excellent, surprising SF film to his name, and one so-so SF film after that. He's still got a whole career ahead of him. This movie could be the success that makes Jones a big name in Hollywood, or a learning experience. Either way it's a good move for a young director.
posted by Kevin Street at 9:53 PM on January 31, 2013
Anyway, the point is that Warcraft has plenty of backstory to make a movie about, whereas something like Street Fighter or Super Mario Brothers becomes a complete mess.
I was responding to the idea that the setting is good by looking at it from a literary standpoint, which I tend to reject. That doesn't mean a good movie can't be made from it, but my idea of what's good and yours might be different. Hollywood fantasy, especially lately, hasn't had a very good track record, and whatever its strengths a lot of WoW comes across as a big ol' generic fantasyland in exactly the way D&D does, and I think that's unsuited to strong moviemaking.
I could be wrong. I'm not hoping it'll fail, but I'm not expecting anything out of this other than raw brand exploitation.
posted by JHarris at 10:24 PM on January 31, 2013
I was responding to the idea that the setting is good by looking at it from a literary standpoint, which I tend to reject. That doesn't mean a good movie can't be made from it, but my idea of what's good and yours might be different. Hollywood fantasy, especially lately, hasn't had a very good track record, and whatever its strengths a lot of WoW comes across as a big ol' generic fantasyland in exactly the way D&D does, and I think that's unsuited to strong moviemaking.
I could be wrong. I'm not hoping it'll fail, but I'm not expecting anything out of this other than raw brand exploitation.
posted by JHarris at 10:24 PM on January 31, 2013
It's not like having lots of fluff is proof of worth - fluff expands to fill the space available, like Tribbles. Fluff is born pregnant with other fluff, but that's no indication of worth whatsoever, it's just the nature of fluff.
And I say that as someone who has willingly read WH40k books.
posted by Artw at 11:47 PM on January 31, 2013
And I say that as someone who has willingly read WH40k books.
posted by Artw at 11:47 PM on January 31, 2013
I'm probably an idiot for saying this, but I really want to see this movie.
Hi, I'm deborah and I'm a WoW addict.
posted by deborah at 12:26 AM on February 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hi, I'm deborah and I'm a WoW addict.
posted by deborah at 12:26 AM on February 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hi deborah! I give you the heartiest of welcomes, unless of course you are Horde scum.
posted by 8-bit floozy at 3:18 PM on February 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by 8-bit floozy at 3:18 PM on February 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's not like having lots of fluff is proof of worth
There's plenty of fluff in the WoW universe, to be sure. The latest Pandaria expac has added dozens of hours of "Mo Shu begat Shadow Pan who sought the sacred jade amulet of so-and-so, yada yada yada" which doesn't do much for me.
And yeah, the general setting if Warcraft is pretty generic Rolkien-esque fare. But there are still a handful of specific core stories in the mythos that would make a great feature.
posted by ShutterBun at 8:40 PM on February 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
There's plenty of fluff in the WoW universe, to be sure. The latest Pandaria expac has added dozens of hours of "Mo Shu begat Shadow Pan who sought the sacred jade amulet of so-and-so, yada yada yada" which doesn't do much for me.
And yeah, the general setting if Warcraft is pretty generic Rolkien-esque fare. But there are still a handful of specific core stories in the mythos that would make a great feature.
posted by ShutterBun at 8:40 PM on February 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Its parent company, Blizzard, is no stranger to Warhammer, but seems to prefer pilfering 40K for Starcraft (see the art for Starcraft 2 or the two races that are roughly Tau and Tyranids).
Except of course, for the fact that the first Starcraft was released in early 1998, and Games Workshop didn't introduce the Tau until late 2001.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with the sentiment in general (I have been known to post links to Penny Arcade's "I Hope You Like Text" in comment threads due to blinding personal rage) but the devil's in the details, you know.
posted by radwolf76 at 2:38 AM on February 3, 2013
Except of course, for the fact that the first Starcraft was released in early 1998, and Games Workshop didn't introduce the Tau until late 2001.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with the sentiment in general (I have been known to post links to Penny Arcade's "I Hope You Like Text" in comment threads due to blinding personal rage) but the devil's in the details, you know.
posted by radwolf76 at 2:38 AM on February 3, 2013
I reckon Jones was likely raised as a goblin anyways, so if nothing else he probably can relate to the subject matter pretty well.
posted by juv3nal at 5:06 AM on February 3, 2013
posted by juv3nal at 5:06 AM on February 3, 2013
Except of course, for the fact that the first Starcraft was released in early 1998, and Games Workshop didn't introduce the Tau until late 2001.
Schooled, thanks.
posted by ersatz at 9:50 AM on February 3, 2013
Schooled, thanks.
posted by ersatz at 9:50 AM on February 3, 2013
« Older NSFW: We like to entertain… ourselves mainly... | Cool for cats Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Eh well. Turn and face the stranger, I guess.
Is there a subset of would-be blockbusters with a lower batting average than "video game adaptations"?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:11 AM on January 31, 2013