Mortal Kombat is a "remake" of the original 1995 film that I've caught bits and pieces of on TV previously but otherwise I can't do much comparison there. It also comes after a string of highly successful (and awesome) new Mortal Kombat videogames that are hyperviolent, technical, and deep. I've not reviewed any on this site because I usually catch them after the fact, but suffice it to say that the series has seen a resurgence in popularity.
I entered the theater the other night with low expectations. Unlike some other films based on gaming, the Mortal Kombat gaming series doesn't really have much story because it's a fighting game. Before the film, I honestly couldn't have told you what the plot of the franchise was because you're often more focused on picking your fighter, whooping ass, and performing a fatality.
All that to say, the story here is still bonkers and the lore is shoved down your throat at an alarming rate, with some cheeky self-awareness ("They didn't even spell it right!"). I'm not going to be the critic that says this film has a good story, but all things considered, this is a strong story for something based on a fighting game. Even better is that it has a strong opening to set up an iconic rivalry and doesn't blow the entire franchise's load, suggesting there could be another 2-3 films coming if this is successful enough.
And honestly? I'd watch the sequels in a heartbeat.
Mortal Kombat was one of those pleasant surprises for me; a film where I anticipated mediocrity, forgettable characters, lame, poorly edited fights and would walk out shrugging my shoulders thinking, "Meh." Instead, Mortal Kombat arguably applies the "Marvel Formula" to its proceedings (hey, if it's not broke, why fix it?) by injecting a surprising amount of humor, some awesome fights, shockingly great special effects, handful of great characters, and yes....some blood and guts and gore.
The character list here is important because it gives a hint of what's to come and who may be sacrificial. Fan favorites Sub-Zero and Scorpion are present (if you couldn't tell from the promos) as are Sonya Blade, Kano, Jax, Raiden, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Mileena and some others. There's really no outstanding performances here, but these groups and teams have some decent chemistry. Kano in particular, played by Josh Lawson, is an Australian loud-mouth who's downright hilarious on a consistent basis. It's this humor that was perhaps the most unexpected part of the film, as it's genuinely funny and could have been cringey. Thanks to Lawson's comedic timing and delivery, many of the one-liners and banter (again, think Marvel here) hits well and has some truly laugh-out-loud moments, some of which fans of the series will get extra laughs from.
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| "I came in like a FIREBAAAALLL!" |
Luckily, the film moves from fight to fight so quickly that this boring downtime is few and far between (and frontloaded). The fights themselves are impressively choreographed, if not a little over-edited. It's clear there's some very focused and nuanced martial arts going on here rather than just a generic grouping of blocks, kicks, and punches. It's not quite like The Raid 2, for example, but it's better than I thought it would be. Each fight has plenty of digital blood spraying and squirting from open wounds and while I honestly wish there would have been more extreme gore (that's why Mortal Kombat is so popular after all), what's here got huge hoots and hollers from my theater crowd, reenacting some of the memorable fatalities from the game.
The final thing worth praising is the film's special effects which were shockingly great and they do a lot to elevate it. There's hardly any noticeable greenscreen, and even CGI-heavy moments, for the most part, look smooth and real. All of the effects are strong, while some really wowed me - Kabal's purple lighting for example was dropping my jaw under my mask. Complimenting the special effects and intense fights is a worthwhile original score that may not be anything you listen to outside of the movie, but the upbeat tempo keeps the pace high and your blood pumping.
Mortal Kombat is one of those films that being a fan of the games will "unlock" some bonus fan service points, but in general, this is a crowd-pleasing and entertaining film that's probably better than it has any right to be. It's story is bonkers and rushed and the central protagonist is lame, but I'll be damned if I didn't enjoy some good laughs, some "OMG" gore moments, and some visual/audio treats. This 2021 remake is memorable, and better, than one would expect.
CONS
- This is actually the first time I know what Mortal Kombat is about, but the story and lore are rushed and basically just given in exposition-dumps
- Cole Young is a dreadfully dull protagonist. The film becomes less interesting when focusing on him and it's a problem they'll need to solve in the sequel(s)
- Loses some steam by the final fight
- I wanted MORE GORE PLEASE (but there's still plenty here)
- None of these performances are winning any awards...
- Fights can be slightly over-edited at times
- Strong opening, setting up the Sub-Zero and Scorpion rivalry the promos double down on
- Moves at a quick pace which keeps fights consistently right around the corner
- Cast of [mostly] memorable characters
- Surprisingly hilarious, thanks to Kano and some on-point comedic delivery and timing
- Fitting and fast original score
- Special effects that are so good, they help the film avoid a "cheap" feeling
- Impressive fight choreography that is often creative
- Fun and funny gore that gets strong reactions from the crowd
- Good setup for future sequels, leaving plenty of room for this series to have 1-2 more films
Rath's Review Score | 8/10
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