After watching a great SAGA I had to see this one! But unfortunately it just doesn't work for me. Dumb Orcs with swords and shields, who are shot down and slayed in dozens by people with guns, who are more or less never missing their target, is not cool. Even the dead orc bodies are vanishing magically. Don't get me wrong, I want Arrowstorm Entertainment to go on, and I am looking forward for their new Mythica, but Orc Wars as a crossover Fantasy <=> our world just failed. For a low budget movie the costumes and effects are in general OK, the dragon is great, and the princess is very sweet (although Danielle Chuchran in SAGA is much cooler), but all the action with the shooting is just not my thing: The effects, when the Orcs are hit, are often quite bad and also the fighting scenes are not nice. And there is only a poor story. With a big bonus for Indie-movies it is just a 4/10.
30 Reviews
Dumb Orcs with swords and shields versus guns don't work.
sven-49-69477628 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Awful but still entertaining
systemic-aps5 October 2013
I agree with the other comment on the stupidity of the Orcs and that the heroes of the film never missing a shot and about the dead disappearing. However I was still entertained by the movie up until I watched a dead Orc being rolled off the front porch. The Orcs were said to be from a dimension that did not have or understand technology or modern weapons and yet the one rolled off the porch had on a pair of modern boots with dimpled molded soles. You would expect anyone going over the film for continuity or accuracy would have noticed that small point.
I was entertained, there was nothing on the TV and I was bored, so it served it's purpose, but it is never going to win them any awards, nor make them their fortunes.
I see I had to remove the u from between the o and l in the word molded as I could not post unless I corrected it to a US dictionary spelling. Never mind the fact that the soles of the boots were made in a M O U L D.
I was entertained, there was nothing on the TV and I was bored, so it served it's purpose, but it is never going to win them any awards, nor make them their fortunes.
I see I had to remove the u from between the o and l in the word molded as I could not post unless I corrected it to a US dictionary spelling. Never mind the fact that the soles of the boots were made in a M O U L D.
It isn't actually that bad
Leofwine_draca19 May 2015
Yeah, ORC WARS isn't too bad for what it is: a really cheesy and unbelievable action-packed B-movie that happily rips off the look of the orcs from THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. I mean, the orcs in this film are EXACTLY the same as in those Peter Jackson movies: so much so that if I worked for Weta Workshop I'd be tempted to sue. The orcs are the most entertaining part of this movie, but I'm not too sure about their presence in the real, contemporary world.
I mean, seeing orcs interacting with modern-day human characters, farmhouses, and vehicles is just plain odd and realism is never going to be a priority in that situation. Still, given that this is a B-movie with the usual problems (absolutely fake looking CGI fire, fake looking black blood clouds for the orcs, rubbish acting and a non-existent script) it's actually quite entertaining by the standards of the sub-genre.
ORC WARS incorporates an absolute ton of action into its running time, particularly in the second half which involves a running battle between humans and orcs. Sure, a lot of it is repetitive, but they even manage a dragon in the budget, which is quite impressive. By the standards of normal film this is a complete waste of time, but as a B-movie you can do much, much worse.
I mean, seeing orcs interacting with modern-day human characters, farmhouses, and vehicles is just plain odd and realism is never going to be a priority in that situation. Still, given that this is a B-movie with the usual problems (absolutely fake looking CGI fire, fake looking black blood clouds for the orcs, rubbish acting and a non-existent script) it's actually quite entertaining by the standards of the sub-genre.
ORC WARS incorporates an absolute ton of action into its running time, particularly in the second half which involves a running battle between humans and orcs. Sure, a lot of it is repetitive, but they even manage a dragon in the budget, which is quite impressive. By the standards of normal film this is a complete waste of time, but as a B-movie you can do much, much worse.
Wow... and not in a good way
the-aemish30 September 2013
I watched this movie only because I wanted to see just how bad it actually was. Talk about a horrible plot. This movie is soo low budget, the heroine is actually using a Lord of the Rings replica of 'Sting'. I have never before seen a movie rip off such a known piece and try to pass it off as original. Of course, after seeing that, I have to wonder - are all of those orcs wearing Extra's costumes from the Lord of the Rings films? With the number of folks hired to participate in those films, they'd be easy to find and hire in.
The only reason I didn't give this movie a '1', is that I enjoyed the cheesy Eastwood impression that the first Sentinel was passing off.
The only reason I didn't give this movie a '1', is that I enjoyed the cheesy Eastwood impression that the first Sentinel was passing off.
Ahhhh.....nooooooooo......
kellycomar21 October 2013
I created an account just for this movie. I had very low expectations as with most lesser known movies these days and this one slid under the bar (world record in the limbo dancing world)! Story bad, acting okay, costumes well done, directing sufficient, wardrobe good, filming not bad......and you'd think okay - we're onto something.....WRONG! I love low budget movies, but this one left me asking why I attempted to make it through the whole movie (and I did, as punishment for even trying)....save your precious time on the planet people and watch something like paint drying. (or an idiom pondering?) All in all - entertaining for some, disturbing for most and laughable to the masses!
Bad Movie Mondays - #9
hollywoodpsychic17 April 2018
I moderate a bad movie screening series that's described as "A celebration of awful movies through semi-regular Monday night screenings by rotating hosts. From the polluted minds behind Good Things About Bad Movies and Halloween Horror Picks."
Dragonfyre was the ninth bad movie we watched, and most of us thought it was actually rather decent. What follows is the mini review I shared with the group shortly after first watching the movie.
Tonight's Bad Movie was pretty watchable, at least compared to the no budget SOV garbage we usually watch. That's not to say that Dragonfyre was good, exactly, but we all agreed that it has been undeservedly kicked in the shins on IMDb... 3.4 is definitely lower than our estimations.
Still, at its core, this is a movie about a retired soldier (played by an underwear model) who finds himself the guardian of a dimensional portal that allows LARPers in Lord of the Rings costumes to hassle rednecks. There's something in there about an elf princess and a Native American stereotype too, not to mention a witch and a "fyre" breathing CGI dragon. Truthfully, the obnoxious spelling in the title might be the worst thing about this movie as I otherwise kinda enjoyed watching a redneck kill orcs with a shotgun for 90 minutes.
Dragonfyre was the ninth bad movie we watched, and most of us thought it was actually rather decent. What follows is the mini review I shared with the group shortly after first watching the movie.
- - - - -
Tonight's Bad Movie was pretty watchable, at least compared to the no budget SOV garbage we usually watch. That's not to say that Dragonfyre was good, exactly, but we all agreed that it has been undeservedly kicked in the shins on IMDb... 3.4 is definitely lower than our estimations.
Still, at its core, this is a movie about a retired soldier (played by an underwear model) who finds himself the guardian of a dimensional portal that allows LARPers in Lord of the Rings costumes to hassle rednecks. There's something in there about an elf princess and a Native American stereotype too, not to mention a witch and a "fyre" breathing CGI dragon. Truthfully, the obnoxious spelling in the title might be the worst thing about this movie as I otherwise kinda enjoyed watching a redneck kill orcs with a shotgun for 90 minutes.
This is private property
nogodnomasters10 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
John Norton (Rusty Joiner) is not named John Carter because that would be too obvious. He buys an isolated farm and is an ex-soldier. The farm is located near a cave that is a portal to "The Nine Worlds." He has reluctantly obtained the position of "The Sentinel" a guardian of the portal between worlds. He is aided by a blind Native American.
He is also tasked in saving the Elf Princess (Masiela Lusha) from an acting career and the hordes of Orcs who desire to capture her for sacrifice, a sacrifice that would open the portals and allow the Orcs to conquer other worlds with their bows and swords. Seriously. Oh yes they also have one Nazgul.
The Orcs looked and grunted convincingly. The fire was all CG, apparently fire insurance is hard to come by. The storyline, as you can tell, wasn't great and at one point I had wished they had copied "John Carter" more, however the lack of a budget prevent exotic scenery . The production starts out as if it was going to be a decent film. But then suddenly everything takes place down on the farm. The idea of getting real help to combat an army of Orcs seems alien to John Norton, who would rather fight them alone save for the occasional person who drops by.
This film is in no way connected to LOTR except for the fact it borrows species from it.
A desperation rental.
Parental Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Filmed in Salt Lake City.
He is also tasked in saving the Elf Princess (Masiela Lusha) from an acting career and the hordes of Orcs who desire to capture her for sacrifice, a sacrifice that would open the portals and allow the Orcs to conquer other worlds with their bows and swords. Seriously. Oh yes they also have one Nazgul.
The Orcs looked and grunted convincingly. The fire was all CG, apparently fire insurance is hard to come by. The storyline, as you can tell, wasn't great and at one point I had wished they had copied "John Carter" more, however the lack of a budget prevent exotic scenery . The production starts out as if it was going to be a decent film. But then suddenly everything takes place down on the farm. The idea of getting real help to combat an army of Orcs seems alien to John Norton, who would rather fight them alone save for the occasional person who drops by.
This film is in no way connected to LOTR except for the fact it borrows species from it.
A desperation rental.
Parental Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Filmed in Salt Lake City.
awful movie
dsu-cs0284 October 2013
This movie is perfect for comedy purpose and to entertain the kids but not the movie even to pass the time....seriously are u kidding me...swords vs guns...is this a match? it looked funny to me...what kinda arc were they? speaking so good English playing role of ancient...look like monsters and powerful but stupid....only the princess i like...Ale ya...the princess is so sexy...the movie i just watched her because there was nothing in movie to put my interest in. she is the lucky one to get my interest..her makeup was fine...outfit was perfect...there should be at least one romantic scene when the princess is so hot...the ex-force mercenary should had that chance even in the end like they have peaceful life after war...
Someone brought a digital video camera to a LARP event...
paul_haakonsen25 February 2014
"Orc Wars" (aka "Dragonfyre") was like watching a recording of a LARP event. And personally I am not one to enjoy the whole LARP scene, and I surely wasn't impressed by this movie.
The orcs, well they looked like something that was copied and pasted right out of something from the Tolkien universe. So whether or not that was good, well that is debatable. Sure, the costumes and armors were great, but it was just lacking originality, because it had all been seen in the "Lord of the Rings" movies. But they get an effort for trying and for putting this much effort into the costumes.
For the story, well just don't get your hopes up here, because the storyline was just downright embarrassing to witness. It was as stupid as it was uninspiring.
The acting was fair enough, just don't expect anything groundbreaking or overly innovative here.
As much as I enjoy sword and sorcery fantasy, then "Orc Wars" was just bad entertaining and a waste of time. And truth be told, then I actually fell asleep during this and had to get up and turn it off to find something else to catch my interest and attention. I got no idea how it ended, because I gave up about half way into the movie or so, and even there having missed out on a lot of it from falling asleep...
The orcs, well they looked like something that was copied and pasted right out of something from the Tolkien universe. So whether or not that was good, well that is debatable. Sure, the costumes and armors were great, but it was just lacking originality, because it had all been seen in the "Lord of the Rings" movies. But they get an effort for trying and for putting this much effort into the costumes.
For the story, well just don't get your hopes up here, because the storyline was just downright embarrassing to witness. It was as stupid as it was uninspiring.
The acting was fair enough, just don't expect anything groundbreaking or overly innovative here.
As much as I enjoy sword and sorcery fantasy, then "Orc Wars" was just bad entertaining and a waste of time. And truth be told, then I actually fell asleep during this and had to get up and turn it off to find something else to catch my interest and attention. I got no idea how it ended, because I gave up about half way into the movie or so, and even there having missed out on a lot of it from falling asleep...
Why did I watch this film?
jhn-5575116 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I watched this film, all of it, and at the end I wondered why?
Where was the set-up? Was I supposed to have read something or watched something else to know what this was about?
Who or what was the woman in white? Who or what was the girl I think they were after? What was with the blind man? Why did he need to guard the tunnel, could it not have just been blocked with several tons of rock?
But as the hero said, it could all be a dream while he was injured on a tour of duty with the army.
Perhaps I was just dreaming and did not waste my time on this nonsense.
Where was the set-up? Was I supposed to have read something or watched something else to know what this was about?
Who or what was the woman in white? Who or what was the girl I think they were after? What was with the blind man? Why did he need to guard the tunnel, could it not have just been blocked with several tons of rock?
But as the hero said, it could all be a dream while he was injured on a tour of duty with the army.
Perhaps I was just dreaming and did not waste my time on this nonsense.
It was really cute!
mishypiranha16 October 2013
I watched it expecting something really crappy. And the effects weren't the best obviously. The orcs weren't the best looking but they weren't the worst... So when it started out this was all I saw, and I thought I probably wouldn't finish watching. But once the story got moving I found the acting & dialogue to be surprisingly good. The camera work was good too.
I was just REALLY surprised that such a cheesy premise & low budget film could be so entertaining. If you ONLY want to see perfect effects & action sequences, then you'll be disappointed, but I thought they were good enough to tell the story without being so jarringly terrible that it breaks the 4th wall.
I give it a 9 for taking a really odd story and making it fun without a massive budget to fall back on.
I was just REALLY surprised that such a cheesy premise & low budget film could be so entertaining. If you ONLY want to see perfect effects & action sequences, then you'll be disappointed, but I thought they were good enough to tell the story without being so jarringly terrible that it breaks the 4th wall.
I give it a 9 for taking a really odd story and making it fun without a massive budget to fall back on.
Guardian of the gate
unbrokenmetal6 October 2014
Former soldier John Norton buys a ranch in the middle of nowhere (shot in Utah) and is surprised to find that his new neighbors are an elf princess and an army of Orcs chasing her. He happens to live next to a gate to another world and is destined to become guardian of the gate. Not an easy task, as evil creatures are coming through every day. Since the Orcs do not know guns, though, they think Norton is a sorcerer with magic weapons, but when he defends the princess, the Orcs summon a powerful ally to strike back: a fire-breathing dragon...
Despite the low budget, simple countryside setting and unknown actors, this was surprisingly good fun. The script has a great sense of humor (for example when Katie gets a gun to fight the Orcs because they wrecked her car), nobody takes it too seriously, and the overall feeling is like watching an 1980s trash classic rather than a new digital production. Nothing wrong with that!
Despite the low budget, simple countryside setting and unknown actors, this was surprisingly good fun. The script has a great sense of humor (for example when Katie gets a gun to fight the Orcs because they wrecked her car), nobody takes it too seriously, and the overall feeling is like watching an 1980s trash classic rather than a new digital production. Nothing wrong with that!
Hmmm, lawsuit material?
douglaswhidden11 April 2016
Sort of wondering about the legal implications of using what is clearly a slightly altered (in the hilt) or knock-off version of the LOTR licensed Sting sword. Clearly there's some fandom going on, including dialogue references to LOTR, so maybe it's all in good fun, but they even showed the sword in the end credits, with clearly visible Elvish script and all.
However, have to give props; the practical make-up was pretty darn good, almost as good as the digital fill-ins were bad, and the voice acting at least was on the verge of stirring at times. Given the budget, good effort.
However, have to give props; the practical make-up was pretty darn good, almost as good as the digital fill-ins were bad, and the voice acting at least was on the verge of stirring at times. Given the budget, good effort.
DON'T BELIEVE THE HATE!
benribble23 February 2019
Henry and Kristl did not see this movie
meritcoba24 December 2013
I used to write reviews as any other person does..speaking from own viewpoint and found myself forced to give it a value. I actually did not like this idea because you can look at a movie in many ways and how does a movie from one genre compare to another? A movie can be a piece of art, yet be very boring. Or well made, but very gruesome.(I read Saw falls in that category, but I do not like those kind of movies, so I did not see Saw and thus I can not tell much about it.).
I therefore use Henry and Kristl to create a kind of dialog in which two persons watch the same movie, but experience it in a different way. But there are limits to this idea and one limit is a movie that is so utterly appalling that it is a true waste of time. Orc Wars is such a movie.
Now normally I would not even write a review for a movie like Orc Wars, but it amazes me when people give such a bad movie points for odd reasons. For one.. the fact that a movie is made with a low budget is not an reason to give it more points. A movie is bad because it is badly written, badly acted, badly shot and badly cut. It is bad because each and every step in the making of the movie has been done in bad and sloppy way. And to underscore ad nauseum: Orc Wars is such a movie.
There are fan movies on you tube which are more watchable than Orc Wars. And made by people with no budget at all and only a handy cam. Orc Wars has at least a production team of sorts and look how it turns out.
Now I could try and hammer down on the badly made stuff, but let me direct myself to the people who made this movie happen. And I do not mean the actors, but the director, director of photography, the producer. The people who took the decisions.
Rule 1: Be original. Stop trying to making another Lord of the Rings! You do not have the money, the talent, the actors and all the other stuff that is needed. And any cheap rip-off will just look like what it is: a cheap rip-off. And no, your movie will not become a cult classic, for you need a good script and good dialogue.
Rule 2: Do not be cheap. When you do not have the money for it then do not substitute with a cheap version. Why have a dragon in a movie, when you haven't got the money to make it look awesome?
Rule 3: Visual style. Stop using drab colors because others use it or you need to hide your bad costumes. Stop using those mediocre shots and angles. Do not show something that looks bad. Just do not have it in the movie at all. Here is where you can make a difference without having to spend a lot. Use fitting colors and a good shooting plan. It makes your movie so much better.
Rule 4: Invest in your actors. Most actors who have finished successfully an acting study will be decent enough to do the job. In a fantasy you can actually get away with using starting actors as adventures so there is a lot of possibilities. Bad acting is usually caused by the lack of good dialog and script. It is here were you lot should provided your actors with the proper equipment. In my country they got something that is called back to the stage.. in which actors are put on the stage without any script. Without a script most of the time the actors will start joking. Very few actors can create a good serious dialog and act it out at the same time.
Now let's give an example from the opera. What you basically are doing is pushing aside Mozart or Verdi or Wagner. Put a bunch of singers and actors on a stage, throw in some scenery and voila, you think that a new opera has been created. It has.. but it will be an utter mess.. Like this movie.
Rule 5: For godsake..invest in a script. A script is the framework that keeps the whole thing together. Orc Wars has no script..it has just one single idea: Orcs invade our world and a lonely hero fights them using modern weaponry. Nothing else is going on. No character development. No drama. No twists. No deeper insights. It is an idea that has fifteen minutes of running time at the most. You need to have more.
Rule 6: Use good fitting music and sounds! Being cheap with the sound and music is just bad. There are many starting artists that would love to make a good soundtrack. And some are talented.
This movie is a classic example of a movie that should not have been made. I read it was a sort of sequel to Orcs (whatever). It would not be surprising that there will be a third. The infamous orcs-trilogy. Where the heck do these people get the money to finance it?
I therefore use Henry and Kristl to create a kind of dialog in which two persons watch the same movie, but experience it in a different way. But there are limits to this idea and one limit is a movie that is so utterly appalling that it is a true waste of time. Orc Wars is such a movie.
Now normally I would not even write a review for a movie like Orc Wars, but it amazes me when people give such a bad movie points for odd reasons. For one.. the fact that a movie is made with a low budget is not an reason to give it more points. A movie is bad because it is badly written, badly acted, badly shot and badly cut. It is bad because each and every step in the making of the movie has been done in bad and sloppy way. And to underscore ad nauseum: Orc Wars is such a movie.
There are fan movies on you tube which are more watchable than Orc Wars. And made by people with no budget at all and only a handy cam. Orc Wars has at least a production team of sorts and look how it turns out.
Now I could try and hammer down on the badly made stuff, but let me direct myself to the people who made this movie happen. And I do not mean the actors, but the director, director of photography, the producer. The people who took the decisions.
Rule 1: Be original. Stop trying to making another Lord of the Rings! You do not have the money, the talent, the actors and all the other stuff that is needed. And any cheap rip-off will just look like what it is: a cheap rip-off. And no, your movie will not become a cult classic, for you need a good script and good dialogue.
Rule 2: Do not be cheap. When you do not have the money for it then do not substitute with a cheap version. Why have a dragon in a movie, when you haven't got the money to make it look awesome?
Rule 3: Visual style. Stop using drab colors because others use it or you need to hide your bad costumes. Stop using those mediocre shots and angles. Do not show something that looks bad. Just do not have it in the movie at all. Here is where you can make a difference without having to spend a lot. Use fitting colors and a good shooting plan. It makes your movie so much better.
Rule 4: Invest in your actors. Most actors who have finished successfully an acting study will be decent enough to do the job. In a fantasy you can actually get away with using starting actors as adventures so there is a lot of possibilities. Bad acting is usually caused by the lack of good dialog and script. It is here were you lot should provided your actors with the proper equipment. In my country they got something that is called back to the stage.. in which actors are put on the stage without any script. Without a script most of the time the actors will start joking. Very few actors can create a good serious dialog and act it out at the same time.
Now let's give an example from the opera. What you basically are doing is pushing aside Mozart or Verdi or Wagner. Put a bunch of singers and actors on a stage, throw in some scenery and voila, you think that a new opera has been created. It has.. but it will be an utter mess.. Like this movie.
Rule 5: For godsake..invest in a script. A script is the framework that keeps the whole thing together. Orc Wars has no script..it has just one single idea: Orcs invade our world and a lonely hero fights them using modern weaponry. Nothing else is going on. No character development. No drama. No twists. No deeper insights. It is an idea that has fifteen minutes of running time at the most. You need to have more.
Rule 6: Use good fitting music and sounds! Being cheap with the sound and music is just bad. There are many starting artists that would love to make a good soundtrack. And some are talented.
This movie is a classic example of a movie that should not have been made. I read it was a sort of sequel to Orcs (whatever). It would not be surprising that there will be a third. The infamous orcs-trilogy. Where the heck do these people get the money to finance it?
Exactly what I expected
kendallwehr29 October 2018
Movies like this are never made to be blockbusters. Think Sharknado. Overall the acting isn't half bad, special effects could be made on a laptop. We watch these movies for pure entertainment and I feel this one delivers the perfect B rated look and feel I enjoy so much. The Orcs wearing work boots is just an added bonus. So sit back, relax and maybe do your taxes at the same time.
A bit of fun but no LotR
govvy15 June 2023
A wizard, nope not really! Other worlds? Maybe, but it all looks like Utah to me. The story is very flat and pretty straightforward. An ex-army guy buys an old farm with all the old secrets and takes over from a previous defender. Then you have a Princess to save.
After all the massive firepower in one arsenal vs an army of orcs, who keep raising from the dead, appearing in other places to die again against some shockingly poor visuals in another place.
I have to mention the makeup here as the orcs looks really good, whoever was behind that did a really good job and we must give the film credit here for that, as this was one of the few things that showed production value. The costume design was also fairly good.
The acting, so so. And there we go, not a bad watch, not a long film and I am sure a lot of people will be satisfied and enjoy the movie.
After all the massive firepower in one arsenal vs an army of orcs, who keep raising from the dead, appearing in other places to die again against some shockingly poor visuals in another place.
I have to mention the makeup here as the orcs looks really good, whoever was behind that did a really good job and we must give the film credit here for that, as this was one of the few things that showed production value. The costume design was also fairly good.
The acting, so so. And there we go, not a bad watch, not a long film and I am sure a lot of people will be satisfied and enjoy the movie.
So bad it's bad
Jaymz138 May 2021
No one else on Earth noticed a second moon?
Do you flap your arms over your head like that when you run too?
Yes, by all means. Give the blind guy a gun.
Did anyone else notice the orcs run like old men with a bad knee?
At least the princess is really pretty. That's why I rated it 3 stars instead of 1.
Do you flap your arms over your head like that when you run too?
Yes, by all means. Give the blind guy a gun.
Did anyone else notice the orcs run like old men with a bad knee?
At least the princess is really pretty. That's why I rated it 3 stars instead of 1.
Lord of the rings mixed with hobo with a shotgun
KoolCatReviews6 April 2021
Low budget but honestly not thay trash. Has some funny money and doesn't really frag on. The special effects are bad but orcs costumes are pretty good. This has got some good set pieces too. Overall maybe not worth a watch but not to bad.
the worst kind of bad
TheRatBoi23 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I know this is a movie that about 10 people will see but in my opinion that's far too many.
Upon seeing the trailer for this movie I thought to myself "wow that looks awful. But it also looks kind of fun." I was expecting a movie like the Room or Birdemic, A movie that's bad but enjoyable in how bad it is. I mean the trailer shows a Lord of the rings Orc pointing a gun at someone. it looked bad but the good kind of bad. So let me tell you know that scene is the only entertaining part of the film and its about 10 seconds long.
You may have noticed that i'm putting off actually reviewing this movie and that's because I don't know how to review this movie, I mean what can I say? I can say the acting is atrocious the effects are Asylum level bad and the whole thing looks like a low budget porno. Everything about this movie is wrong.
also as a side-note the poster is a huge lie there is no huge scale war in the movie it all boils down to like 13 people hitting each other with plastic weapons.
this is less of a review and more of a warning to anyone thinking of watching this movie. Orc wars is not fun or enjoyable in anyway it's just boring there is nothing in this movie of any worth or value.
never watch this movie no matter how drunk you are this movie is impossible to enjoy.
Upon seeing the trailer for this movie I thought to myself "wow that looks awful. But it also looks kind of fun." I was expecting a movie like the Room or Birdemic, A movie that's bad but enjoyable in how bad it is. I mean the trailer shows a Lord of the rings Orc pointing a gun at someone. it looked bad but the good kind of bad. So let me tell you know that scene is the only entertaining part of the film and its about 10 seconds long.
You may have noticed that i'm putting off actually reviewing this movie and that's because I don't know how to review this movie, I mean what can I say? I can say the acting is atrocious the effects are Asylum level bad and the whole thing looks like a low budget porno. Everything about this movie is wrong.
also as a side-note the poster is a huge lie there is no huge scale war in the movie it all boils down to like 13 people hitting each other with plastic weapons.
this is less of a review and more of a warning to anyone thinking of watching this movie. Orc wars is not fun or enjoyable in anyway it's just boring there is nothing in this movie of any worth or value.
never watch this movie no matter how drunk you are this movie is impossible to enjoy.
Fun, Monsters and Mayhem
nickwelp18 March 2015
This movie features a large body count. With all the mayhem it's easy to overlook characters that stayed engaging, some funny lines and the beautiful Texas scenery. This is an action movie and every human in the film is either an action hero or a horror victim. There are some satisfying plot culminations, and the action hero subverts a trope through a poker bluff, which takes some mindful writing. Each character who lasted more than a scene had development. Is this movie original? I've never seen a US Marine type guy fight off a horde of Orcs before, and the gun loving human side of me enjoyed the fantasy of a heroic battle an old D&D foe. The movies I'd compare it too have a tragic historical connotation of imperialism such as Zulu. There are too many movies with white protagonists slaughtering hordes of dark skinned people. As this takes place in Texas, it's impossible to separate borderland narratives in the real world from the story of this man protecting a boundary between worlds. This movie is not alone, LOTR sets the standard. This is my gripe with fantasy overall and is not specific to this movie. This movie is a mishmash of genres but is mostly a Western with Fantasy elements. It is very violent, around 1/4th as violent as Rambo 4. There is one scene that is like a tribute to Friday the 13th movies, but generally the violence is Action in nature and not Horror. There are two pulp scenes. There was no sexual violence.
not bad for a low end movie
toddrobinson-350-4678382 October 2013
As a lower level film maker myself I see many small issues that are distracting from an otherwise entertaining low budget movie. (the "after effects" gunshots/muzzle flashes/ejecting cartridges) coming from air soft style or resin prop guns. this can be distracting as its done way too much, and if they would have rented an armorer, a few real weapons and given more training to the actors on the use of them (for example you don't fire a barrett .50 from the hip while kneeling on a rooftop and actually expect to hit something) it would have helped keep the distractions down. and people watching the movie rather than questioning what they just saw.
the acting is not too...bad, a bit more emotion, a little less dumb-a$$/redneck stereo typing and some back-story would be helpful. the camera work is adequate but depending on the shooting conditions it seemed they the must have had a very limited amount of space to film the battle scenes in. with a little more thought and camera work i feel that the limited space used could be made to look like a lot more... it reminded me of shooting in someones backyard. one way or the other that's falls back on the producer for choosing the spot and the DP for not using what he had to its fullest.
as for the battle scenes, if the intent was to show overwhelming orc forces than they should have hired more extras, recycling eight people in rubber masks at a time throughout the movie just didn't work for me.
I am unsure what they spent the 1.5 mil on for the production, I have seen better production value for about a quarter mil. I could always nickel and dime it further but I really don't see a reason. Overall I liked what I saw and with so much poorly filmed/acted trash out there this was a nice change.
the acting is not too...bad, a bit more emotion, a little less dumb-a$$/redneck stereo typing and some back-story would be helpful. the camera work is adequate but depending on the shooting conditions it seemed they the must have had a very limited amount of space to film the battle scenes in. with a little more thought and camera work i feel that the limited space used could be made to look like a lot more... it reminded me of shooting in someones backyard. one way or the other that's falls back on the producer for choosing the spot and the DP for not using what he had to its fullest.
as for the battle scenes, if the intent was to show overwhelming orc forces than they should have hired more extras, recycling eight people in rubber masks at a time throughout the movie just didn't work for me.
I am unsure what they spent the 1.5 mil on for the production, I have seen better production value for about a quarter mil. I could always nickel and dime it further but I really don't see a reason. Overall I liked what I saw and with so much poorly filmed/acted trash out there this was a nice change.
Every now and again, it just works.
rushknight16 October 2013
Nit-picking small details is an easy way to write a review. "The special effects were poor, the acting was bad, the plot was stupid, blah blah blah." But every director knows that to make a good film you have to have a great many small and large details come together to do just one thing: entertain. Even several "bad" bits can be used effectively if the movie makers keep the goal in mind. The makers of this movie didn't let their little troubles get in the way, they just used what they had to good effect.
I personally feel that this film delivers in the entertainment category. I really had a good time watching it. While the usual fantasy film clichés abound, it manages to breathe new life into many of them by directly contrasting them to the real world reactions of normal earth folk. The idea is not necessarily original, but it always has potential.
The mix of modern weaponry against fantasy weaponry is really what this film is all about. Seriously now, who HASN'T watched "Lord of the Rings" and thought to themselves at one point or another, "Yeah... airstrike. That's what I'd do." Also, despite the drawbacks of poor animation and somewhat limited plot, the actors involved pull it off with enthusiasm, making themselves not just plausible, but even a little bit likable. The occasional witty comment was fitting, and the interplay between the orcs was reasonably fun to watch.
It exceeded my expectations and I had a good time watching it.
I personally feel that this film delivers in the entertainment category. I really had a good time watching it. While the usual fantasy film clichés abound, it manages to breathe new life into many of them by directly contrasting them to the real world reactions of normal earth folk. The idea is not necessarily original, but it always has potential.
The mix of modern weaponry against fantasy weaponry is really what this film is all about. Seriously now, who HASN'T watched "Lord of the Rings" and thought to themselves at one point or another, "Yeah... airstrike. That's what I'd do." Also, despite the drawbacks of poor animation and somewhat limited plot, the actors involved pull it off with enthusiasm, making themselves not just plausible, but even a little bit likable. The occasional witty comment was fitting, and the interplay between the orcs was reasonably fun to watch.
It exceeded my expectations and I had a good time watching it.
My opinion
anymouse226 September 2014
Oh my, the hate against this film... yes, the low budget DID reuse props from other films (especially LotR) so does every film company, big or small. You'd be amazed just how many films and TV shows ended up using that "cheezey" armor from the first Starship Troopers. Granted, the heroine using a "sting" replica was a little too obvious, but ya use what ya can get.
As for the people complaining of "never missing", either they're blind, or we watched different movies. I was laughing my backside off at how much dirt was flying. Apparently "Special Forces" training has magically gotten a whole lot worse lately, as the guy could only land about 1 in 10, and Scooter couldn't figure out how to walk a machine gun into a target at all; something anyone who's played video games in the last 3 decades knows how to do.
The actual tactics were surprisingly accurate. Don't know if that was accidental or intentional, but the orcs used actual movements, tactics, and formations that were used historically when we had that equipment. The soldier used fairly realistic military strategy. The redneck acted like a redneck. I gave points for that, even though Im not sure it was deliberate. Its so incredibly rare to see people in films that have even the least clue of what they're supposed to be doing.
Overall, yes, it was low budget. Yes, the story was rather predictable. Guess what, that plot is rather standard fare for a good quarter of the fantasy/SF genre anyway. Your not gonna find a new angle after 7 decades of works. It burnt up a few hours, wasn't as bad as Sci-fi or BBC effects, wasn't as insultingly stupid as most USA and TBS TV movie plots, had a few cute faces, some chuckles, and one or two moments of decent bad-assery, if you actually knew what you were seeing.
I've seen a hella lot worse here with better ratings.
As for the people complaining of "never missing", either they're blind, or we watched different movies. I was laughing my backside off at how much dirt was flying. Apparently "Special Forces" training has magically gotten a whole lot worse lately, as the guy could only land about 1 in 10, and Scooter couldn't figure out how to walk a machine gun into a target at all; something anyone who's played video games in the last 3 decades knows how to do.
The actual tactics were surprisingly accurate. Don't know if that was accidental or intentional, but the orcs used actual movements, tactics, and formations that were used historically when we had that equipment. The soldier used fairly realistic military strategy. The redneck acted like a redneck. I gave points for that, even though Im not sure it was deliberate. Its so incredibly rare to see people in films that have even the least clue of what they're supposed to be doing.
Overall, yes, it was low budget. Yes, the story was rather predictable. Guess what, that plot is rather standard fare for a good quarter of the fantasy/SF genre anyway. Your not gonna find a new angle after 7 decades of works. It burnt up a few hours, wasn't as bad as Sci-fi or BBC effects, wasn't as insultingly stupid as most USA and TBS TV movie plots, had a few cute faces, some chuckles, and one or two moments of decent bad-assery, if you actually knew what you were seeing.
I've seen a hella lot worse here with better ratings.
Oh, the hate....
conmarcg318 October 2014
Warning: Spoilers
As someone else pointed out, oh, the hatred pouring out from the Tolkien fanboyz. Yes, the orc costumes are straight from LotR, as is the Sting replica. I saw the same thing with the original Conan sword for 20 years after Arnie's first movie with it. Get over yourselves -- if you really want to gripe, go gripe at Joss Whedon for reusing those awful costumes from "Starship Troopers" in "Firefly", or play the Stargate/Stargate:Atlantis/NuBSG Drinking Game.
The story concept was good, if not overly original. The camera work was above average. The soundtrack was well above average. The FX, frankly, were pretty cheesy - I've seen better blood-spatter work done by amateurs on YouTube using the identical software. The acting could have been better in places, but overall was much better than I expected.
And technical advisers - seriously. They will keep you from making dumb mistakes, like the hideous "bouncing rifle", the dreaded "million- shot magazine" and remembering to remove the scope's end caps before shooting.
Unfortunately, part of this film's problem is that the director was apparently afraid that it would take too much dialog to explain why things were happening, so the "troubled, ex-Special Forces hero" seems to suddenly understand how everything works, when he should have been scribbling furiously through the entire middle of the film, desperately trying to diagram out what was happening. It comes off as forced and flat. Likewise, there is the enormous body count that no locals seem to question, and no county sheriff asking why a long-time resident is suddenly dead and buried in his own yard -- not in 21st Century America.
The film could have added another 30 minutes to explain these things, and it would have made it a far better film.
Overall, I place this solidly in the camp of the "Guns, Girls & G- Strings" classics, like "Hard Ticket To Hawaii" and "Savage Beach", et al, without the gratuitous nudity.....Definitely a 'B', but a good 'B'.
The story concept was good, if not overly original. The camera work was above average. The soundtrack was well above average. The FX, frankly, were pretty cheesy - I've seen better blood-spatter work done by amateurs on YouTube using the identical software. The acting could have been better in places, but overall was much better than I expected.
And technical advisers - seriously. They will keep you from making dumb mistakes, like the hideous "bouncing rifle", the dreaded "million- shot magazine" and remembering to remove the scope's end caps before shooting.
Unfortunately, part of this film's problem is that the director was apparently afraid that it would take too much dialog to explain why things were happening, so the "troubled, ex-Special Forces hero" seems to suddenly understand how everything works, when he should have been scribbling furiously through the entire middle of the film, desperately trying to diagram out what was happening. It comes off as forced and flat. Likewise, there is the enormous body count that no locals seem to question, and no county sheriff asking why a long-time resident is suddenly dead and buried in his own yard -- not in 21st Century America.
The film could have added another 30 minutes to explain these things, and it would have made it a far better film.
Overall, I place this solidly in the camp of the "Guns, Girls & G- Strings" classics, like "Hard Ticket To Hawaii" and "Savage Beach", et al, without the gratuitous nudity.....Definitely a 'B', but a good 'B'.
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