Warcraft has all the makings of a traditional summer blockbuster: An epic “heroes” vs. “villains” story, a glut of special effects, and massively popular source material to boot. So why does it feel like such a gamble? Popular as they may be, the Blizzard Entertainment games on which the film is based didn’t necessarily have fans screaming for a movie adaptation—after all, how could years and years of highly intricate gameplay by millions of fans be condensed into a two-hour narrative? However, if anyone is up to the task, its Duncan Jones, whose previous two features (Moon, Source Code) prove that he’s more than capable of handling smart, fantastical movies with complex plotting. And though many of them will be hiding behind makeup and CGI effects, Warcraft has enlisted an enticing cast including Dominic Cooper, Paula Patton, Toby Kebbell, Ruth Negga, and Travis Fimmel.
Warcraft opens nationwide on June 10, but The A.V. Club and Warner Bros. Pictures have an opportunity for you to see it for free in Imax on Tuesday, June 7. For your chance to win a pair of passes to the advance screening, simply follow the link here and enter your information. Remember: Advance screenings are often intentionally overbooked, so be sure to arrive early if you want to guarantee yourself a seat. An official plot synopsis and trailer for the film can be found below.
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. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people and their home.
So begins a spectacular saga of power and sacrifice in which war has many faces, and everyone fights for something.