Video Game movies have a proven track record of not hitting the mark and can often be seen as a double-edged sword when it comes to a live-action interpretation. Either you stay true to the game and penalize your wider audience or concentrate on your non-gamer market and do the fans a disservice.
Mortal Kombat is a surprising exception to the fact. It brings something to the table for fans, non-fans and even those troubled individuals that just like to stay up late and watch fatality videos online.
We follow the story of Cole Young (Lewis Tan) an individual who isn’t a part of the MK canon but instead introduced specifically for this movie. This character ends up working to the movie’s strengths, almost acting as an audience member himself as he explores this new interesting world around him.
In a world absolutely layered with characters, each unique in their own way, it still manages to give each person the dedication they deserve. Not only that but it delves deeper into certain aspects of the universe in a way that hadn’t been done before. Namely, the tragic back story of Hanzo Hasashi (Hiroyuki Sanada) AKA Scorpion and Bi-Han (Joe Taslim) AKA Sub-zero. Fans of the game will be more than familiar with the longstanding quarrel (to put it lightly) between the two, this still gave a better understanding of both parties history and their motivations.
Although the original was a lot more toned down compared to its gaming origins, fans still loved seeing their favourite fighters up on the big screen. The main thing it was lacking, however, was what made the game so iconic, BRUTAL FATALITIES. With Kung Loa performing his trademark hat/buzzsaw finisher along with numerous other onscreen executions, it’s fair is movie makes up for this and then some.
You don’t need to have played Mortal Kombat, but in saying that, you may have fewer goosebumps when Scorpion bellows his famous line “Get over here!” and you also might not get as hard when hearing the remix of the classic ‘90s theme.
All in all, a tremendous action-packed, blood-filled, fantasy, adventure complete with the comedic stylings of Josh Lawson as the hilarious Kano. To reiterate, you don’t need to have played the games to enjoy this flick, but if you’re strictly opposed to the games themselves, as well as over the top brutality, maybe give Street Fighter (1994) a watch instead.
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