Warcraft: 8 Things It Actually Did Right

For as long as its existed, high fantasy depicted in cinema has had a fairly one-dimensional take on the whole “good versus evil” débâcle. As The Lord Of The Rings trilogy established back in the early 2000s, the large, muscular beasts with sharp teeth, protruding horns and massive, rusted weapons are evil through and through, whereas the people who look like humans are good, just and noble.

The use of the word “orc” is synonymous with evil, yet Warcraft does a fantastic job at reinterpreting the race. Seeing orcs with husbands, wives and children is incredibly humanising for lack of a better term, showing the intimate moments they share.

Not only that, but the vast majority of the orcs are depicted as following Gul'dan primarily out of fear, ignorance and a desire to protect their clan. When it comes down to it, they honour tradition over tyranny and show no real predisposition to killing humans. The story may not always be satisfying, but the narrative attempting to be told is laudable for going far beyond a typical high fantasy Hollywood depiction.