To give a bit more perspective on my position, I’ll share my most hated WoW cinematics (not counting expansion introductory cinematics - none of which I hate, though some are better than others). To keep a bit of positivity and as an olive branch, I’ll share what I like about each of the cinematics, scarce though it will be.
Due to a tie for two of them, this won’t be a top 5 list. For those who’ve heard my views on a certain cinematic (involving a certain fel junkie fedora tipper), you might be surprised where it ranks on this list. So, here they are, from the least bad to the increasingly worse;
By Our Hand: Tyrande Elune cinematic
What I like: The first time we see two god-like beings (including at least 1 actual god) interacting with each other in WoW and the hopeful note it ends on.
Tie between Warbringers: Sylvanas/The Burning of Teldrassil and Rejection of the Gift/The Fate of Xe’ra
What I like: The burning could’ve worked if Sylvanas didn’t do it but was framed in-universe for it and her spite towards Delaryn was cut out. The quality of the CGI in “Rejection of the Gift” is top-notch.
Nya’lotha Raid Finale
What I like: Trying to integrate the PCs into a rendered WoW cinematic is a bold move, and the end reminds me of a movie I like lol - Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Warlords of Draenor ending
What I like: Khadgar’s dialogue.
Sanctum of Domination Finale
What I like: The Jailer gave an excellent quote to criticize disliked fiction, that I will use at some point: “Too long I endured the makers’ flawed design.”
Kor’vas tells the Illidari to avenge the master, but only the player character attacks.
After knocking down the first Warden, the player Fel Rushes to the other side of the room to attack a different Warden, rather than going for Maiev, whose back was turned.
The player only gets immobilized because they stepped in a trap, which is a visible black dot on the ground. How did the rest of the Demon Hunters get immobilized as well?
This cinematic was a neat bow on a problematic expansion. It kind of sums up what’s wrong with WoD. Yrel’s dialogue indicates a chekhov’s gun, which goes unused. “Draenor is free!” So dumb.
It’s not a bad concept, but I don’t like some things about it. Young Durotan sounds like an Orc that belongs in an anime. I don’t like that he killed his wolf. I don’t like his mother’s response to saving her, what the hell do you mean lady? You’re Orcs, those wolves weren’t people.
I don’t like Sylvanas’ and Varian’s comradery in this. It doesn’t make sense. It’s out of character for Sylvanas to be acting like this. Varian should not have positive feelings for the person who has raised Humans into undeath, especially after seeing what’s happened in Undercity. It’s forced, they should have had Vol’jin instead of Sylvanas here.
There are nitpicks here that you can’t unsee once you see them. Thrall crawling on the ground is one of the most pathetic things I’ve seen. They’re supposed to be evacuating but everyone is taking their time and walking at a leisurely pace. This can be seen in the Alliance version too with how damn slow the archers are in leaving. WaRcHiEf!
I despise this so much. This is a story arc that shouldn’t have happened. Despicable. Is He ThE bOmB?! Don’t ever bring back Derek.
As a hunter who has faced many a demon hunter in BGs, using and abusing their fel rush ability, I do not find it the least bit questionable that a demon hunter would fel rush right into a very visible immobilizing trap.
Presumably all the other demon hunters were likewise fel rushing around like derps.
The important part of Yrel’s sentence is the first half though, “If you need us”. It can be inferred she means against the Burning Legion, who they just fought, and are dealt with in the next expansion. Sentences like that are supposed to be foreshadowing. Otherwise some other phrase could’ve been used. Something like, “You have done so much for us, we are forever grateful.”
I know, I was just making fun of Blizzard’s tendencies to leave a promise of characters returning to take part in a something, then never delivering. Mal’ganis and ICC comes to mind.
I kinda like ‘An Unexpected Reunion’, it’s just that Derek was reduced to ashes, and even if he wasn’t his body was fish food for roughly 20 years. There’s no way enough of his corpse would be intact enough to raised as a regular Forsaken.
Cinematics I hate- every single Shadowlands one that features Azeroth characters instead of all-new SL characters. STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME CARE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS YOU’VE ALREADY RUINED, LET ME GET TO KNOW THE NEW HEROES/VILLAINS. Except for Ysera’s rebirth I guess. With a special ‘#### You, And The Horse You Rode In On’ award going to Tyrande vs Sylvanas.
I liked it. It looked like lighthearted fun compared to stuff like Arthas and Deathwing. Not everything needs to be OMFG, SO OMINOUS AND EPIC! I had a great time in MoP, the expansion overall is in my top three (after Wrath and BC) and it has my single favorite continent.
So why do they wear wolf skin outfits, but not Orc skin (not saying they should do the latter)? There is a clear difference.
I wanted to like Tyrande vs Sylvanas, but Sylvanas plot armoring her way to victory and Elune suddenly cutting off her power ruined it hard. So I fell similar to how you do about it.
I personally didn’t mind it but the cinematics up until then for each expansion were pretty awesome imo which makes the mist one look super tame. I love the original and bc ones with the guys fighting esp the scene where the orc gets shot down with arrows and gets a rez by the blood elf priest.
Bfa had it’s issues but I thought the opening cinematic was top notch warcraft work.
Controversial one but I will explain so for instance I never liked how they decided to bring ysera back I thought she had a tragic but otherwise good end to her story. Her becoming constellation for elune her soul in the stars watching over Azeroth is such a beautiful way to end the character. Then this cinamatic comes along and it’s so fan service it’s not even good. Then we have to deal with winter queen who is a bland and boring character. Honestly this cinamatic would’ve been much better if it was Ursoc that came back to life and ysera was wild seed that sustained ardenweald because that makes sense her power would sustain ardenweald much longer. But no we not only retcon her beautiful ending we see her places and milked to death being yet again another unimportant NPC.
it was so “We have bad apples tooo…Anduin”, not because the alliance didn´t have those, but because the moment was simple the wrong one…it would be much better if in an afterevent anduin explained this to the horde…why he insist on helpting them. “not only you are haunted by the sin of the past”, as a path forward after saurfangs dead.
The intro to BfA hasn’t aged well, for me. Taken by itself, out of context, it is pretty awesome. I really liked it when it was released. But I find that the story afterward has some how retroactively soured me on it. (It has “soured my fang”, if you will.)
I find it funny that I could really enjoy a cinematic when it is first revealed… and slowly come to dislike it as Blizzard unfurls their story.
I actually don’t have many negative feelings about most cinematics. I mean, specifically. In general - I could use a little less focus on Anduin, Jaina, Genn - well, Humans - and Thrall dominating everything. Sylvanas seems to be having her swansong, and will likely be shoved in the background. But it doesn’t look like Genn, Jaina, Anduin, or Thrall will loosen their grip on the spotlight.
Draenei are always nice to see, just because it is usually Night Elves or Humans or Orcs all over the place.
