WoW Moviewatch: The Fall of Cairne
by Michael Gray 
Apr 11th 2011 at 12:00PM
This video sheds some interesting light on The Fall of Cairne. It sticks relatively close to the lore of the game, and it does a good job of presenting "the other side of the story."
There are two things that hold back my unmitigated love of this video. First, the vocals seem a little tinny in places. This is a challenge a lot of dialogue-driven movies have, since it can be hard to get audio compression just right. Second, the storyline feels a little decompressed; there are a few reaction and framing shots that could be a little shorter.
I adore this choice of topic, though, and I hope to see Captlightning keep going.
Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.Filed under: WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kook Apr 11th 2011 12:26PM
When I saw the length of the vid, I thought "ah, too long, I'll just watch a bit of it", but it soon caught me up with the story and I watched avidly right till the end.
Really loved it! Great music, great emotion, engaging story... even brought a tear to my eye at the end.
Looking forward to part 2!
Micheal Apr 11th 2011 7:26PM
Same here, I thought I'd watch the first minute or so but then suddenly it was over and I was upset that there wasn't a part 2 yet.
Very well done.
RIP CAIRNE :(
Michael C Apr 11th 2011 12:39PM
I read the book The shattering the day it came out and was blow away by it. It's nice to be able to witness the fight in video rather than words on a page. I'm no fan of Garrosh but you gotta feel for him because he had absolutely no idea. RIP Cairne
thekaboobie Apr 11th 2011 12:40PM
Cairne's death was absolutely the single worse thing to ever happen in this game and the only thing that has actually hit me on an emotional level.
Chris Apr 11th 2011 3:55PM
I agree, i have been playing the same Tauren Druid since 06 as my main and I was very sad to see now only how Cairne died, but also what has happened to Molgore since the cataclysm. I can only hope that Magatha will be a raid boss someday soon, because she has a lot to pay for.
Fadmin Apr 11th 2011 12:49PM
Maybe some rough edges, but still had a good feel to it all - weighty.
That and I think Garrosh might be a keyboard turner.
magicjamie Apr 11th 2011 12:57PM
This was so good it gave me shivers. Choice of music was impressive, and the sound quality in some of the voicing could be ignored.
I too loved the Shattering and this illustrates it perfectly.
Jacofalltoons Apr 11th 2011 1:08PM
I read the book The Shattering as well. I never really played a horde toon. I cried when I read this in the book and had to run and make a Tauren just to go /hug Bane.
I think this followed the story line very well. I also am looking to part two.
/cheer Captlightning for doing this.
RIP Cairne
Dreyja Apr 11th 2011 1:12PM
It is well done. It's a tough story to tell without text. There is so much below the surface.
I recognized some of that music from the Lord of the Rings soundtracks and it was perfectly chosen. I LOVE that music. LOVE IT!
The story is impactful and close to my heart. I will always blame Garrosh for Cairne's death because he trusted those his elders knew to be treacherous. The only reason he did so - she flattered his GIGANTIC EGO! I loathe him. ;)
I love the video though. It's well done and presents the story well. I hope a lot of people who may not want to read the novel (they really should though) will at least give this a try.
Sorry. I meant to just comment on the video and refrain from my opinion of Garrosh but I can't help myself when it comes to that moron. XD
Gratz Captlightning for a great video.
Khoonda Apr 11th 2011 1:39PM
Even as an alliance its hard for me not to cry for poor Cairne he was a Hero in the truest sense of the word
Prelimar Apr 11th 2011 3:48PM
agreed. speaking as someone who only plays alliance, and has no interest in the horde at all, this was really awesome. RIP cairne.
Dreyja Apr 11th 2011 4:47PM
I'm Alliance-only but I totally cried while reading The Shattering. I don't care who knows it. ;) Cairne was a great leader and I always respected him. He and Thrall were always the reason I'd never get that black bear mount. I still won't because Cairne's kid is a good egg! :)
Hillazon Apr 11th 2011 2:24PM
One of the many fails & shortcomings of Cataclysm is that the whole Cairne storyline happens off stage, and you have to read a book to find out about it.
Matthew Apr 11th 2011 3:44PM
I totally agree - I have some unique insight into this too.
I met Christie Golden (author of the Shattering) at Blizzcon. I hadn't read it then - i asked her should I wait for the shattering to happen or read her book first.
She said, what you will be doing in Cat IS the book.
Naturally, I couldn't wait, so I read the book. However, I was disappointed that alas, what was the book wasn't in the game. The scene where the fire elementals burn Org is done in game, sure, but only as a fire. Not why.
I agree with you Hilla, and wish that like the intro-to-wrath Scourge Invasion, the Cataclysm's prelude was better. (I'd also have liked a Haunted Momento type thing but thats different)
I guess this proves the adage, the book is better than the movie. :)
Ronin Apr 11th 2011 3:16PM
Not perfect in a technical sense, but still a very well done Machinima! I'm no Hordie (the few Horde characters I've tried to play all end up languishing in their teens) but this was really a moving and well-told story. I'm looking forward to part 2!
Ciiren Apr 11th 2011 3:19PM
I signed up to comment on this video, even though I've lurked WoW.com since they were well.. WoW.com.
This video is an amazing capture of two of the most emotional happenings in The Shattering and honestly brought tears to my eyes, despite being an Alliance player for the past 5 years.
Namus Apr 11th 2011 3:52PM
I've always said that Cairne's death was his own doing, Garrosh might be dumber than a bag of rocks, but he has honor and always looking for all up front combat, not a backstabber or a liar like Magatha Grimtotem, Cairne should've been a better judge of character and believed Garrosh when he told him he had nothing to do with what happened in Ashenvale.
..And what is Darth Maul doing in that vid? (13.:36)
Dreyja Apr 11th 2011 6:23PM
Well, Cairne was actually a VERY good judge of character. He was wrong about the specifics of the attack on the druids but even Thrall wasn't sure that Garrosh hadn't been responsible for the attack on the sentinels before he left.
Cairne would never have trusted Magatha BECAUSE he was a good judge of character. :)
Micheal Apr 12th 2011 10:12PM
Maybe his own doing, but you don't expect to be poisoned in a duel of honor. He would've kicked Garrosh's ass without the poisoned blade.
Namus Apr 11th 2011 7:37PM
Exactly, he didn't have all the facts and went to confront Garrosh to a duel to death, you don't do that unless you are sure you have the right person, he fought Thrall about the decision of putting Garrosh in charge because he thought he was a mindless warmonger so he had it for him way before the Druid incident, poison or not he gambled his life and he lost, true, he might have won but as Garrosh himself says we will never know if he could defeat Cairne in combat.