Warcraft

Hardcore gamers and fanboys might enjoy seeing some of their favorite “World of Warcraft” characters on the big screen, but even they would agree that being immersed in the venerable online role-play game is exponentially more fun than simply watching it.

So we’re left with Warcraft, an ill-conceived, big-budget fantasy hybrid of spectacle over substance that too often feels like a disjointed collection of rejected Lord of the Rings outtakes.

The adventure story is based on bits and pieces from the expansive “World of Warcraft” mythology, an origin story of sorts taking place within the kingdom of Azeroth, whose humans and dwarves are threatened by an invading army of tusked orc warriors who are fleeing their homeland.

After their arrival through a portal, it soon becomes apparent that peaceful coexistence is impossible, which sets up the war implied in the title, with the fate of the kingdom in the balance.

Among the main combatants are human warrior Lothar (Travis Fimmel), the land’s King Llane Wrynn (Dominic Cooper), orc warlock Guldan (Daniel Wu), and his chieftain Durotan (Toby Kebbell). In general, hints at social issues in the film are never fully realized.

As directed by Duncan Jones (Source Code), who co-wrote the screenplay with Charles Leavitt (In the Heart of the Sea), the film never lands on a consistent tone, taking its subject matter way too seriously one minute and treating it as high camp the next.

Warcraft floods the screen with elaborate medieval battle sequences and seamless 3D special effects in an effort to mask a cheesy and incoherent story. Fortunately for the actors, most of them aren’t recognizable beneath their beards, makeup or costumes.

There’s plenty of visual imagination on display, and some of the creatures are appropriately menacing. However, it’s dull and derivative at best, and destined to be confusing for those not familiar with the source material. At least in the game there’s a rooting interest.

Speaking of which, various versions of the source material are on the decline within the gaming community, and Warcraft — apparently intended as a franchise starter — is likely to meet the same fate on the big screen.

Rated PG-13, 123 minutes.