by Frankie TAGGART
LOS Angeles, United States (AFP) — Filmmaker Duncan Jones spoke emotionally Monday about how his rock legend father David Bowie would have been proud of his new movie “Warcraft” at its worldwide premiere in Los Angeles.
The 45-year-old Londoner was among a host of stars at the TCL Chinese Theater for the screening as hundreds of fans, many dressed in costumes from the film, lined Hollywood Boulevard, clapping and cheering.
“I think he’d be incredibly happy that I followed my passion which he always told me to do,” Jones said, when asked what his father would have made of the film.
Bowie, who was born in London but lived his final years in New York, was one of the most influential artists in rock history and also had a wide impact on theater and fashion.
He died on January 10 from a battle with liver cancer that he had disclosed to few outsiders — two days after his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, “Blackstar.”
Based on the global smash hit video game World Of Warcraft, CGI extravaganza “Warcraft” tells of the initial battles between humans and orcs.
“I did get to show a couple of early bits and pieces and I think he was really amazed by what we were doing, and it was lovely to be able to do that,” said Jones.
The director’s third film after critical hits “Moon” in 2009 and “Source Code” in 2011, “Warcraft” debuts in the United States on Friday.
– Superfan Jamie Lee Curtis –
It has been lashed by American critics, however, achieving an average rating of just 4.2/10 on the aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes.
“Warcraft has visual thrills to spare, but they -– and director Duncan Jones’ distinctive gifts – are wasted on a sluggish and derivative adaptation of a bestselling game with little evident cinematic value,” the site’s consensus says.
That did not deter the film’s legion of well-wishers, who dressed as orcs, elves, human warriors and all other manner of fantasy characters to cheer on their favorite actors.
Dominic Cooper, 36, who plays the human king Llane, a powerful figure who governs over a world called Azeroth, sported a sharp suit and spectacles on the red carpet.
But 57-year-old actress Jamie Lee Curtis, a self-confessed Warcraft “superfan” who is not even in the movie, was the best dressed celeb of the night, turning up in full orc regalia, including green face paint.
“Don’t make me put a spell on you,” she warned before waving her “magic cane” at the world’s media and yelling: “I’m doing it now!”
Other big names on the red carpet included Australian “Vikings” hunk Travis Fimmel, 36, who was rocking an altogether more sober look in a dark suit and black shirt.
American actress Paula Patton, 40, cut a more glam figure than her half-orc slave character as she sparkled in a thigh-length sequined lilac number.
“I’ve always gravitated to those kind of characters,” said Hong Kong-based American actor Daniel Wu, who plays the shaman Gul’dan in the movie.
“And to play the most evil character in ‘Warcraft’ lore, is probably the best villain you could ever play. It’s pretty cool.”
© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse
