Mortal Kombat (series)

Nothing in this world has prepared you for this

MORTAL KOMBAT (15)

D: Paul W. S. Anderson

New Line/Threshold (Lawrence Kasanoff)

US 1995

101 mins

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

W: Kevin Droney [based on characters from the video game]

DP: John R. Leonetti

Ed: Martin Hunter

Mus: George S. Clinton

Christopher Lambert (Raiden), Robin Shou (Liu Kang), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Shang Tsung), Linden Ashby (Johnny Cage), Bridgette Wilson (Sonya Blade), Talisa Soto (Princess Kitana), Chris Casamassa (Scorpion)

For those not in the know, Mortal Kombat was a highly successful and popular video arcade game during the 1990's which became a staple on the consoles of teenage boys worldwide.

The film, like most video game-movie transitions, will not appeal to anyone who hasn't played the game. It's brimful with references and doesn't have much story aside from a plot which could be written on the back of a postage stamp; a group of characters are assembled to participate in a winner-takes-all fighting tournament.

Even fans of the game will be disappointed with this in all fairness. The lack of a decent story doesn't help, but coupled with the fact that the fight scenes are poorly choreographed and the visual effects are terrible, there isn't a lot to cheer about.

A preference over watching this would be to get the old Super Nintendo out of the attic and play away for a couple of hours trying to remember the control combinations to unleash the special moves.

4/10

MORTAL KOMBAT (15)

D: Simon McQuoid

Warner Bros / New Line / Atomic Monster / Broken Road (James Wan, Todd Garner, Simon McQuoid & E. Bennett Walsh)

Australia/US 🇦🇺🇺🇸 2021

110 mins

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

W: Greg Russo & Dave Callaham [based on characters created by Ed Boon & John Tobias]

DP: Germain McMicking

Ed: Dan Lebental & Scott Gray

Mus: Benjamin Wallfisch

Lewis Tan (Cole Young), Jessica McNamee (Sonya Blade), Josh Lawson (Kano), Mehcad Brooks (Jax), Ludi Lin (Liu Kang), Max Huang (Kung Lao), Tadanobu Asano (Raiden), Chin Han (Shang Tsung)

The 1995 big screen adaptation of the Mortal Kombat property is still considered one of the best films based on a video game, but this isn’t really the claim to fame that it sounds.

As the games have become increasingly violent, producers chose to reboot the series with an R-rated remake, although this is more of a prequel, introducing a new character in the form of MMA fighter Cole Young and building on the origins of the other characters as they gear up for a fighting tournament between the Earthrealm and the Outworld.

Unfortunately, there is no tournament here, but you do get a chance to see how Jax loses his arms and other characters hone their abilities and special moves.

The acting is quite ropey, but the action scenes and fight choreography are decently visualised, which makes up for tacky performances and dialogue in films like this.

It’s certainly an improvement on the 1997 sequel “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation”, but I wouldn’t say this any better or worse than the 1995 movie. Take from that what you will.

4/10

MORTAL KOMBAT II: ANNIHILATION (15)

D: John R. Leonetti

New Line/Threshold (Lawrence Kasanoff)

US 1997

94 mins

Action/Adventure/Fantasy

W: Brent V. Friedman & Bryce Zabel [based on the video game]

DP: Matthew F. Leonetti

Ed: Peck Prior

Mus: George S. Clinton

Robin Shou (Liu Kang), Talisa Soto (Kitana), James Remar (Raiden), Sandra Hess (Sonya Blade), Lynn Red Williams (Jax), Brian Thompson (Shao Kahn)

A sequel which is no better or worse than the original film (which wasn't that great itself) in terms of plot, but with a noticeably smaller budget, it makes for rather shoddy entertainment.

The plot is virtually a retread of the original film, with a couple of new characters introduced. The performances are atrocious, but it's doubtful that the target demographic would care too much about that. Unfortunately, the fight choreography isn't too great either.

3/10