So.
IN MY OPINION...
I don't like this cinematic either. I'll get to detail.
First off, I'd just like to say that this cinematic isn't just bad on writing. It's also -technically- bad. As in, I'm pretty sure I've seen better machinimas in some cases during this thing.
Blizzard can make good models. Just look at Garrosh, the best graphical bit in this scene. Thrall is a close second, perhaps on virtue of them both being orcs and thus being easier to nail without going into uncanny territory. Vol'jin is also good.
The rest are bad. Really bad when compared to the aforementioned trio.
Varian and Jaina-- especially Jaina-- are still in a sort of uncomfortable intermediary phase between the old WoW graphics and the new ones. The old WoW graphics worked fine when in their environment-- the WotLK cinematics were alright, because there was a consistency in the style. They were all slightly polished normal models. Here, Jaina is just... uncanny. Unsettlingly so. Varian isn't quite as bad, but you definitely see a disconnect in how he looks compared to the others. Those eyebrows, man. They're awful bushy for hugging directly to your face. Maybe he should erase some of them.
The other leaders are just... eh. Sylvanas looks alright, but Gallywix and Lorthemar look -laughable- in their appearances here. As was pointed out, Gally looks like a puppet. I don't think his hat is setting right on his head either. Lorthemar... I'm not even sure.
Also Anduin still looks freaky.
Now, regarding what's actually going down in the cinematic--
-Vol'jin as Warchief
I don't mind. Seriously. The new warchief was either going to be Thrall or Vol'jin, because those are the safest and most predictable choices that Blizzard could have given. It makes sense from what they set up, but it does negate all of their hype of 'YOU WON'T EXPECT WHO' and all that crap.
What does confuse me is... why is anyone letting Thrall make decisions anymore? His last choice was Garrosh, and that blew up in everyone's collective faces. I get that Vol'jin is clearly a better pick in comparison, but why don't any of the other Horde leaders get to voice an opini--
...Actually, why don't they even get to speak at all? I'm not asking for them to riot at the idea or try and put themselves forth, but uh... dont'cha got some input, guys? No? Just going to nod your heads and bow? Were the voice actors on strike that day? Were they on break? Couldn't get any of the other important characters to do anything more than just stand there?
No one?
Yeah, guess that's a no.
-Jaina
Has been talked to death already I'm sure. I find her switch to be cartoonish and I think Garrosh might have passed the idiot ball to her.
--Garrosh Living
I found this pretty strange a choice. This character is a bad character. They have not done well writing him, and they seemed to have lost the direction they intended a few times in the past. Justlethimdie, guys. The only good he could be is to throw in a weird resurgence thing with him coming back and wrecking more stuff.
He will not have a redemption arc. He's a genocidal maniac, from the way he has been characterized. He doesn't have any issue ruining a land he just barely found, without any aggression against him from the inhabitants. Blizzard -confirmed- that Garrosh was not corrupted, and that his actions were all his own. I would be -floored- to hear that a character like Garrosh was considered redeemable in contrast to a character like Illidan. I really hope it doesn't go down this road.
Also, yeah. Take 'im to court. We should get around to doing that to Arthas too then. I'm preeeeetty sure he's guilty.
--Taran Zhu
Remains the best written character. I can only pray that he is forgotten come the next expansion so that he can't be ruined. I would say that yeah, Pandaria suffered a -ton- from Garrosh, enough to at least let him take custody of the guy for whatever silly trial they're going to have. Worth remembering that the source of Pandaria's lush fields and thus their crops and food all came from the now corrupted Vale. That's got some negative connotations to it for them which I'm sure won't be followed up on.
This whole expansion has been 'see who can screw up Pandaria more', personally. That and them being a truly neutral faction between the Alliance and Horde, I don't mind that he's doing what he's doing there. At least from a character perspective.
--Where the heck is this even going?
Seriously, how do you even continue the 'war' of warcraft from this point? I see no justification for the factions to keep fighting. Varian may have said his bit like a jerk there, but really. Why would they want to keep the fight going after this idiocy took place?
Idunno. I didn't like it. That's my opinion on the matter. I don't see any reason to get frothing mad about it, because the story aspect of the game has been on a firm decline for a while. It's frustrating, but that's the World of Warcraft that you play.