Mortal Kombat

First off, just want to give a shout out to the first Mortal Kombat film. As a kid when I heard a Mortal Komabt movie was coming but it was going to be Rated PG-13, I said “this is going to suck”, but they proved me wrong. In all fairness Mortal Kombat came out at a time when that was all we had and its only competition was Street Fighter (which did suck)

This 2021 version has a lot to compete with (like Godzilla vs. Kong a few weeks prior), but its holding its ground. Its choice to make the movie Rated R this time was a definite bonus compared to the first one. I will say I liked the fact that the first movie was trying more to be a kung fu flick, while this film is in…Mortal Kombat with Justice League and the Avengers (The former it definitely wins with a fatality and a flawless victory).

It’s been a long time since I played a Mortal Kombat game so I’m a little behind. I don’t know who Cole Young is. Is he a MMA fighter in the game? I thought it fitting that someone other than Lu Kang was the main protagonist as Mortal Kombat fits with the idea that you can make any of these fighters the main character.

Plus, this was more of an ensemble anyway. Loved what they did with Sonya, Jax, Kano and Rayden (An Asian god played by an Asian, what a concept).

Also loved the plot. Matches with what I know of the video game but I loved the idea a mystical birthmark in the mortal kombat symbol as the invitation to the tournament.

Not much of what I didn’t like. Too slow at times but the plot itself came quickly and the action was excellent. Was expecting a kung fu flick but got more Justice League meets like Lord of the Rings (I use justice League because both movies are on HBOMax). Makes sense how it can fall into the Superhero Fantasy genre and I have no problems with that.

The special effects were cool but…

It felt good to yell out “Mortal Kombat!” in the theaters again.