Social Media

#What’s in Store for the Franchise’s Cinematic Future?

“What’s in Store for the Franchise’s Cinematic Future?”

It’s been six years since Warcraft released its feature film debut, directed by Duncan Jones. The 2016 movie was produced on a $160 million budget and brought in only $47 million domestically, but the movie raked in an impressive $391 million internationally. While critics mostly panned the over-produced big-budget video game adaptation, audiences were more forgiving, hopeful it would be the start of a multi-film franchise.

Warcraft as a cinematic property holds a lot of promise for fantasy genre movie fans. While the domestic disappointment may have deflated the mega-budget franchise plans that Blizzard and Legendary had hoped for, there may be a more economical approach with direct-to-video and streaming that could explore more of the Warcraft universe using scaled-down plots and proven formulas for compelling narratives that leverage the beloved property. The movies could be more niche-focused this way, filled with Easter eggs for franchise fans, which dates back to a 1994 video game called Blackthorne. The action/fantasy side-scroller was a nifty little genre blender that pitted a shot-gun-wielding hero against Orcs in a dark corner of Blizzard’s vast universe called Tuul, where much of Warcraft’s aesthetic was first realized.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY


The Warcraft brand may have an opportunity to explore some stand-alone tales that could help fill out a rich universe, leveraging countless in-world stories ripe for development into movies or series. World of Warcraft Presents: Blackthorne as a lower-budget feature film may be a great place to start. Blackthorne also crossed over into the real world so fantasy elements could be used sparingly, saving on cost. The tighter confines of a production pipeline may also benefit from more practical creative elements, in-camera effects, and an atmosphere that feels somewhat lost in the modern, picture-perfect fantasy epics we have seen over the last twenty years. While Lord of The Rings may be considered the modern benchmark for the genre, it too can be criticized for having a slew of the following issues.


Let’s take a look back at some of the best fantasy films and what Warcraft may be able to draw from them to improve their next ventures into cinema.

Modern vs. Retro Fantasy Films


Peter MacNicol in Dragonslayer
Paramount Pictures

1981’s Dragonslayer is a lesser-known entry in the fantasy genre but a great example to cite for style and atmosphere that Warcraft could benefit from. The argument can be summed up with “less is more.” There are particular techniques that may help direct an audience’s sense of imagination. What’s happening offscreen is sometimes more important than what’s onscreen, and modern filmmaking often removes the spectator from having the opportunity to imagine things for themselves. The contemporary tools are so robust, crisp, and clean. You have to do work to lessen the quality of your image to achieve a greater sense of wonder.


Related: Here Are the Best High Fantasy Shows Similar to Elden Ring

A similar example can be found when horror buffs assert The Evil Dead is best experienced on VHS or LaserDisc. The theory is digital clarity can actually detract from the more ambiguous glow of analog noise and blurring. On a more overt level, as tempting as it is to establish a scene with sweeping aerial shots showing just how vast a computer-generated landscape can be, the overdose of information can often detract from an audience’s curiosity that drives them to subconsciously imagine more details about the world they have been dropped into. Often in these older titles, there is greater use of fog and natural light to achieve a more visceral atmosphere. Perhaps by decreasing the budgets on Warcraft films, directors will be forced to lean on some of these more traditional methods, which may ultimately improve the end product.

The Excellence of Excalibur


Patrick Stewart in Excalibur
Orion Pictures

While the mold may have been broken for the brilliance that is John Boorman, much can be learned by studying the director’s work. In particular, 1981’s Excalibur is an exquisite blend of realism and fantasy that speaks to the director’s understanding of tone and the power of performance. While the film also benefits from the old-school aesthetics mentioned above, the fantasy elements of Excalibur arrive abruptly, achieving a level of dreamlike realism that casts a spell over the audience, leaving more room for introspection and imagination.

Related: God of War Live-Action Series Adaptation Reportedly Lands at Prime Video

Warcraft could benefit from digging a bit deeper into the realism of medieval culture, arguably achieved by HBO’s Game of Thrones. The contrast between a feudalistic society’s brutal and harsh conditions and magic is incredibly effective. The fantastical elements inspire a kind of hope within an audience rooting for their heroes to overcome their narrative obstacles. Warcraft could easily achieve a similar vibe, especially if operating outside the boundaries of PG-13. Blackthorne, for example, could only be accurately realized with an R-rating.

All The Fantasy Flavors


Atreyu - Neverending Story
Warner Bros.

Warcraft also has the benefit of interpretation. Considering the real-time-strategy gaming format and multiplayer online user experience of the brand, the property means many things to many people. With a more economical approach to their films, they could experiment with various flavors of fantasy and potentially draw in their core fan base no matter what kind of story they’re putting on shelves. DC and Marvel have had success with products leveraging various tonal interpretations of their characters and worlds.

From babies to senior citizens, there’s something for everyone. We may see the Warcraft brand attempt another play at narrative content in time. For now, we are left to ponder the Warcraft movie for all that it is and the potential for what may come next for this monolith brand that has yet to fully realize a market they’ve cornered for fantasy films and television that customers are eager to consume.


James Carrey
Jim Carrey Felt ‘Sickened’ by Will Smith’s Standing Ovation After Chris Rock Attack

Read Next


About The Author

If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Google News too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.

For forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com

If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our Social Media category.

Source

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
Close

Please allow ads on our site

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker!