Mortal Kombat is one of the most iconic and successful video game franchises of all time, with millions of fans around the world. The game series is known for its over-the-top violence, colorful characters, and rich lore. But can it translate well to the big screen?
The answer is yes and no. The 2021 movie reboot, directed by Simon McQuoid, is a faithful and entertaining adaptation of the game, but it also suffers from some flaws that prevent it from being a great film.
The movie follows a group of fighters who are chosen by fate to participate in the Mortal Kombat tournament, a deadly competition between the realms of Earth and Outworld. The fate of the world hangs in the balance, as the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Han) and his minions, including the fearsome Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), try to eliminate the Earth’s champions before the tournament begins.
The movie starts with a strong opening scene that sets up the rivalry between Sub-Zero and Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada), two of the most popular characters in the game. The scene is well-acted, well-shot, and well-choreographed, and it sets the tone for the rest of the movie.
However, after that, the movie slows down and introduces a new character, Cole Young (Lewis Tan), an MMA fighter who has a mysterious dragon mark on his chest. Cole is supposed to be the audience’s surrogate, but he is also the weakest link in the movie. He is bland, boring, and has no charisma or personality. He also has no connection to the game or its lore, and his arcana (the special power that each fighter has) is underwhelming and uninspired.
The movie then proceeds to gather the rest of the Earth’s fighters, including Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), Jax Briggs (Mehcad Brooks), Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Kung Lao (Max Huang), and Kano (Josh Lawson). These characters are more faithful to their game counterparts, and some of them have memorable moments and lines. Kano, in particular, steals every scene he is in with his humor and attitude.
The movie also does a good job at recreating the look and feel of the game, with its costumes, sets, music, and references. The movie is full of Easter eggs and nods to the game’s fans, such as the iconic catchphrases (“Get over here!”, “Finish him!”, “Flawless victory!”), the hidden characters (Reptile, Goro, Kabal), and the brutal fatalities (the finishing moves that involve gruesome deaths).
The movie’s strongest point is its action scenes, which are well-directed, well-edited, and well-executed. The fights are fast-paced, hard-hitting, and bloody, just like in the game. The movie does not shy away from showing gore and violence, which is refreshing in a time when most action movies are sanitized and PG-13. The movie also uses CGI sparingly and relies more on practical effects and stunts, which adds to the realism and impact of the fights.
However, the movie also has some major problems that drag it down. The plot is thin, predictable, and full of holes. The dialogue is cheesy, wooden, and exposition-heavy. The acting is uneven, ranging from decent to hammy. The characters are shallow, underdeveloped, and forgettable. The movie also suffers from pacing issues, as it rushes through some scenes and drags on others.
The movie also fails to deliver on its main premise: the Mortal Kombat tournament itself. The movie never shows the actual tournament or its rules or stakes. Instead, it focuses on random skirmishes between the fighters before the tournament even begins. The movie also wastes some of its potential by killing off some characters too soon or too easily.
Overall, Mortal Kombat 2021 is a mixed bag. It is a fun and faithful adaptation of the game for its fans, but it is also a flawed and mediocre film for everyone else. It is not as good as it could have been, but it is not as bad as it could have been either. It is a guilty pleasure that can be enjoyed with low expectations and a high tolerance for cheese.
If you are interested in watching Mortal Kombat 2021 for yourself, you can check out the official trailer or the first seven minutes of the movie on YouTube. You can also find more information about the movie on IMDb.
