Mortal Kombat 2021

I’m not trying to only review video games movies, but after the atrocity that was Mortal Kombat Annihilation. I thought I should give my thoughts on Mortal Kombat 2021

Mortal Kombat (2021) 150 minutes (spoilers)

One might expect a movie about Mortal Kombat to be the same as it’s video game counterpart, or some might worry it might tread the same ground as it previous films. However, Mortal Kombat decides to take some elements of the Mortal Kombat series and make a new story. The film follows Cole a new character, who finds out he is a chosen to fight for Earthrealm in the next Mortal Kombat tournament.

As much as the story sounds like the previous one, it doesn’t get to the tournament. Which I highly apricated as it allowed them to be something fresh here, and not some thing most MK fans know to death by this point. As the original movie and the animated movie both focus on the first tournament. As does so many other adaptions of the original game. This movie goes in the direction of the Mortal Kombat Rebirth series and tells us how the character got to the tournament.

A lot of hardcore fans will be upset with this movie, as does a lot of things that isnt too traditional MK lore. I am going to be fair to this movie, as I know it is adaptation not a direct translation. With its creative licences it has tried to make the MK universe makes sense in a grounded sense. One these happens to be the MK symbol, which every character who has been selected to fight in the tournament. Which is a direct change from the original movie, where Raiden claims, ‘He looked into their souls.’ Also, this symbol also give each person their supernatural abilities. Which helps us to understand why normal people can suddenly shoot fire balls.

This film has a lot of Mortal Kombat characters, which is like Annihilation. This time around a lot more the characters are given something to do, and not just there to fill out fan boy dreams. All the classics are here, except Jonny Cage. We do have out their choices such as, Rieko and Kitara. The former don’t have a lot of development, but they serve their purpose. What is jarring is more popular characters like Melina, is just hench women in this movie. While Kung Lao is only in second act before being sacrificed for the movie.

Out of all the characters Sonia goes the most through a journey through the movie. Which is sad as she isnt the main character, but she is the one that mostly moving the story forward. While also has something to prove and gain something. Raiden and Shang Sung definitely don’t get enough play, but I feel they are being saved for a sequel. If the film is lucky enough to get one. While other characters grow a little, but I feel if we could have got a lot more Sub Zero and Scorpion would have been nice.

Performance wise everyone is very good at their parts, but the standout is Josh Lawson as Kano. As he quite easily steals the scenes, he’s in; coming across as good comic relief, while at the same time being a shit bag fans know he is. While Ludi Lin’s Liu Kang, is portrayed as wise exposition dumper. Which is closer to what the character has become in the games.  While Raiden is portrayed a little more aggressive than previous actors have, which is good as what Raiden eventually becomes.

The fighting in this move is top notch. Which isnt surprising as there was a lot of care taken into making this movie the best it could be. The fights are hard hitting, shot nicely and bloody. Not too bloody, but enough to make it a nice middle ground between reality and video game. One thing that is nice about some of the fight scenes, is where the camera pulls back to show us the two characters, as if they are fighting on a 2D plan just like the video game. What does elevate the fights, is the fatalities. They are here, they are as gruesome as their video game counter parts, and they add fun to movie with their easter eggs. While at the same time does not feel like they have been shoved in like the Animalities.

Sound design is also good here, its not techno heavy as the previous two movies, but it does have a few things going for it. One of thing of course is 2021 remix of Techno Syndrome, which has been hit and miss among fans. While the scoring of the movie has shades of Techno Syndrome, in the fights. It’s subtle, but it’s in there for the fans.

I was really surprised with the small number of things I didn’t like about this movie, which is all very minor. I disliked how Goro only got once scene, it would have been nice if he would have had a couple more scenes. The use of strong language at times I felt was overused, I know it’s rated R doesn’t mean we need to use the f word all the time. The resolution of the film feels a little rushed, would have been nice to know what else happened with everyone else. I think my main annoyance with the film is Cole.

Even thought Cole is meant to be our main character, he is rather boring compared to others. There really isnt a presence with him. Same with his family, they are thrown into the story and they don’t really do anything that helps Cole as a character that isn’t generic. Which is a shame as he is meant to be the protagonist of the movie, but he doesn’t do much to the story. If he’s character was changed to named MK character he might have faired better, but who knows.

This movie is definitely a film who knows its audience. This was made for Mortal Kombat fans. It doesn’t mean it would alienate nonfans, it’s very easy to watch and understand. It doesn’t try to do too much, but it does kind of leave a lot of things undeveloped. As video game movies go this is a fair and decent attempt.

If you’re a fan of mortal Kombat most likely you will enjoy this movie. If you’re not, but like violent action movies this will definitely be up your street. As to wither its better than original movie, I can’t say it is or isn’t. It’s different because of the time, and what movie like this have grown to be. Both do something different; one works with a loose story. While the other crams in almost thirty years of lore in but does it very selectively. I enjoy both, and each has their merits.

Even thought my expectation started out low, and then I got caught up on the hype train. I wasn’t disappointed to what this movie turned out to be.

FabEs