Toby Kebbell, center, and Rob Kazinsky star in a scene from the movie "Warcraft." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. (CNS photo/Universal)

By Catholic News Service

Heavy-handed video game adaptation pitting an army of murderous orcs (including Toby Kebbell) led by an evil wizard (Daniel Wu) against the inhabitants of a fantasy version of Earth.

Heading the opposition to the invasion are a wise king (Dominic Cooper), a gallant knight (Travis Fimmel) and two practitioners (Ben Foster and Ben Schnetzer) of good magic, backed up by the guidance of an orc half-breed (Paula Patton) whose mistreatment at the hands of her own kind has made her anxious to thwart them.

Shifting loyalties, especially those of Kebbell’s character, whose devotion to family life makes him redeemable, keep the pot boiling. But director and co-writer Duncan Jones’ film bubbles over, in the end, and steams rapidly away.

Possibly acceptable for mature teens. Pervasive mayhem but with almost no blood, momentary gruesome violence, scenes of torment, a painful birth, a couple of sexual references. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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