Director predicts Warcraft film will break video game movie trend

In the article, Jones says he believes it's possible to make a good adaptation -- it just has to be approached properly. "A good game adaptation is where you find the story or the emotional aspect that's at the heart of a computer game and you replicate that on film. It doesn't mean you need to have first person perspective or try and capture the mechanics of a game," he says.
Jones thinks the Warcraft film will be the film to break the mold because director Sam Raimi seems to be approaching the film correctly. "From the little I've read of interviews with him, the way he's approaching it makes so much sense. It's what I was talking about – it's not worrying about how the game plays, it's about creating the world of the game and investing the audience in that world."
Jones explains that he's a serious gamer himself and is skeptical about other directors who claim the same. He doesn't think most directors have the time to be both hardcore gamers and filmmakers. Jones, on the other hand, says he stays up all night to accommodate his gaming habit and cites titles like Starcraft 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops. He also says he's looking forward to Diablo 3.
Jones admits that he's "hugely jealous" of Raimi's getting the chance to direct the Warcraft film; the writer of the article goes so far as to suggest that Jones have a chance at directing it, since Raimi set it aside to work on The Great and Mighty Oz. That's not really quite how Hollywood works, though, so unless Raimi steps down from the project himself, I wouldn't count on his losing the project just yet.
Filed under: Warcraft Movie
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Mobe1989 Jan 2nd 2011 5:56PM
Its going to make alot of money regardless, but I just hope it actually deserves to. W shall see.
cvelcm Jan 2nd 2011 6:18PM
What I would like to know is why Sam Raimi for this project in the first place? I mean, just look at Legend of the Seeker. It's not horrible, but it's FAR from great. And if i'm not mistaken the project (LOTS) was started in 2008, meaning this director/producer couldn't have gotten any better.Personally i'm happy to wait for this film. What are your thoughts on this?
unexpectedeof Jan 2nd 2011 6:41PM
Legend of the Seeker isn't great because the Sword of Truth series is far from great. Remember that Raimi also did Hercules and Xena, both of which were a good example of being tongue in cheek like WoW is. He also did, you know, the Evil Dead movies and the Spiderman series.
scott Jan 2nd 2011 7:14PM
Let us put a couple concepts together....IF the movie ever gets made is not for us to debate, that is something that the powers at be will decide....The concept of WOW has more than enough story lines that those of us that care about the concept will gladly pay our 15 dollars(20 something in 3d, us geeks will have to see it in, myself included).....Next, Sam Raimi, come on, he is one of us....It is like having stan lee come in and start playing with our garage made comic book. We, as wow fans, would not really want our movie to be put in anyone else's hands....If it is made, and that may take some time, then I would feel much better about Raimi taking control of this project, and doing it justice. Sorry, don't post much, but I still get a laugh from Army of Darkness even after all these years...So Raimi deserves a bit of creative credit, and I for one am dieing to see what he can do with this rich world we have been living in for the last 6 years.
Fernin Jan 2nd 2011 7:21PM
I think Raimi is the perfect person to do this. WoW is a highly stylized universe, which, if you look through Raimi's previous works is something the man seems specialize in. I've enjoyed his works for years and everything I've ever seen of his personality and approach to things leads me to believe he'll be more than capable of doing the WoW universe justice in all its aspects; from the silly, to bold, to the grim. I think he can work it all in, and in a way that'll be great.
eman.yomon Jan 2nd 2011 7:36PM
Duncan Jones is a FANTASTIC director. Moon was my favorite movie of 2009 and stands as my 4th favorite movie of all time. Sam Ranmi is a very competent director, and I even liked Spider Man 3. I believe Jones has the right idea, and if he is really looking at this correctly I wouldn't doubt his word.
Mal Jan 2nd 2011 7:53PM
I just hope they make the film about a small group of adventurers (be they Alliance or Horde, or even better, both) and not about one of the big lore figures. That would help put the movie and the audience in the perspective of the players characters.
Aaron Hoffman Jan 3rd 2011 3:20AM
You, sir, are an idiot.
Chris Jan 3rd 2011 3:15AM
LOL that made me laugh :D
Clo Jan 3rd 2011 7:40AM
I'm not at all fond of the idea of live actors. With the technology and method created by Cameron's Avatar, I'm sure they could produce something like the cinematics we get, but without the long timespan. They could use live actors but still have it smooth CGI and incorperate all the bodyparts and magics that you can't really do with makeup, prosthetics and GCI sparkles.
Mau Jan 3rd 2011 8:22AM
WHY of all things must they do the movie this way?
Simply contact great machinima people, hire them with WoW's staff at their disposal, and years ago you could've gotten a "Fantasia"-like production that would cost an inch, and would've already been nominated for the Oscars
Urza Jan 3rd 2011 9:54AM
To make money.
Urza Jan 3rd 2011 9:54AM
Wait wait wait.. what someone who isn't making the movie thinks is post worthy... you guys must be desperate to justify everyone on staff.
perderedeus Jan 3rd 2011 10:10AM
The WoW movie needs heart. It needs emotion, and it needs less whizz-bang and more character development and growth. I want to see less "Med'an" nonsense (a lot less) and more "Camp Taurajo" type storytelling. I'm a little worried, because Raimi can get a little goofy at times... and Metzen is very, very into comic books. They have to be careful to strike middle ground between say, Iron Man and The Dark Knight.
Regarding Raimi and comic-bookiness... I feel Darkman was a generally triumph in blending character drama with comic book appeal, so I think he can do it. Spiderman went a little over the top in certain areas, however, so he'll have to watch it.
Wilhem Jan 3rd 2011 11:20AM
He had me until "Sam Raimi". Sam did the tv series adaptation of the Wizards First Rule. If you came to the show without having read the books, I guess it was ok. However, if you did read the books it was a horrible travesty that was barely recognizable as the same thing.
Rachey Mar 17th 2011 10:33AM
I don't think it's fair to say that CGI would ruin the movie. I mean, ok the storyline of Avatar sucked a little (it was years old), but visually the film was incredible and allowed visual artists to portray worlds, creatures and humanoids that just were not plausible without the help of CGI.
I agree that CGI is a vital tool in fantasy films, it supports the actors in the film. But to shoot the film completely in CGI is the wrong move. It needs actors, the film needs a heart, and with no actors there is no heart. People won't be interested in an animated version of a computer game. If they wanted it to look like WoW does online, they'd go play it online. The movie will allow film-makers to reach out to everyone, not just the fans.
I'd agree Peter Jackson would be better for the project than Sam Raimi. I wasn't keen on the Spiderman films and wouldn't really want to see WoW go the same way. I just hope they cast it properly and do the game justice, if they don't, a lot of people will be pissed!