World of Warcraft: Looking for Group (2014) Reviews

• Pretty good, but company-focused.

  SelfCloak2015-02-08

  Made for the tenth anniversary of World of Warcraft, this documentary contains interviews from the staff of Blizzard and fans, gushing about what a "phenomenon" the game was at the time. Mentioning influences like Ultima Online, Everquest and Blizzard's own games, like Warcraft and Starcraft, it focuses on the history and development of the company and the game, also talking about its expansions and fan conventions, pointing out some references and parodies the media made about the game. The film feels inspiring: it shows failed ideas, problems and struggles related to the game. When those people interviewed in the film talk about how they are enjoying fantasy in a new way, it makes them human, even if they call themselves "geeks". Fans of WoW would enjoy the hell out of this film; concept art, game ideas, detailed information, wacky anecdotes... It's also a good starting point for those who don't know what the fuss is all about. Yet, if you watch a lot of documentaries, it can feel a little too familiar. The film makes an impression of wonder and enjoyment over WoW; it wants you to know that WoW was a great influence in pop culture, sometimes excessively. I suspect the documentary of hiding bitter moments and complaints inside the fandom, like addiction or fraud inside the game. Then again, it's an "official history", not a complete encyclopedia. "Looking for Group" is pretty typical for a documentary, but it does its job, if you can stand the "company-friendly" view.