As a long-time Mortal Kombat enthusiast who’s grown up with these iconic characters, I must say that the 2021 movie was a breath of fresh air! After the disappointments of the first two live-action films, I was skeptical, but this one truly exceeded my expectations.
Well, color me surprised!
After penning an entire piece comparing my preference for the 1995 Mortal Kombat film over the newer one, it seems this viewpoint has stuck with me ever since – and I don’t foresee that changing anytime soon!
Upon revisiting the 2021 film prior to its sequel, I must admit that my initial critique was overly critical. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s among the greatest video game adaptations ever made, I do believe those who initially disliked it should give it another chance. Here’s why:
I Actually Now Like How They Handled Scorpion And Sub-Zero’s Roles In The Film
Over time, fans of the MK saga are well aware that the characters Scorpion and Sub-Zero share an unusual connection in their history.
Initially, neither Scorpion nor Sub-Zero were viewed as traditional heroes within the Mortal Kombat franchise. However, it was often Scorpion who was depicted as the more villainous of the two characters. Notably, Sub-Zero was given his own individual game titled “Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero.
Title Analysis: We discovered that Bi-Han’s character wasn’t always villainous; he initially held a more ambiguous role but later transformed into a antagonist, or possibly it was Noob Saibot causing the mischief. This is distinct from his brother, Kuai Liang, who consistently portrays the heroic Sub-Zero persona.
In contrast to his portrayal in early games as an antagonist, Scorpion evolved over time into a character with a complex backstory. Initially perceived as the villain, later versions of the story reveal that he might not be as evil as initially thought. For example, in Mortal Kombat 1, Kaui Liang was actually portraying Scorpion. It’s all about the timeline.
In essence, the 2021 Mortal Kombat film takes an intriguing twist by featuring a malevolent Sub-Zero character, Bi-Han. The story begins with Hiroyuki Sanada’s portrayal of Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion, who is attacked at the outset, thereby establishing Scorpion as both a hero and a vengeful avenger in this movie version.
I’m quite fond of this innovative take on the story. At first, it didn’t resonate with me because I’m more accustomed to the villainous Scorpion character. But upon rewatching, I find myself appreciating the transformation of Scorpion into a noble figure, and I prefer the choice to portray Sub-Zero as the antagonist (instead of using Noob Saibot). It certainly feels fitting.
I’ve Come To Accept Cole Young As A Suitable Vehicle To Guide This Story
Upon discovering that Lewis Tan will reprise his role as Cole Young for Mortal Kombat 2, I found myself questioning, “Oh dear, why is this needed?” My doubts aren’t about Lewis Tan’s acting skills, as I believe he performed admirably in the part. Instead, I felt that the character of Cole Young seemed unnecessary, particularly given the introduction of Johnny Cage in the upcoming sequel.
After rewatching the movie, I’ve grown to approve of Cole Young as a fitting hero. As a descendant of Scorpion, Cole makes for an ideal newcomer to this universe.
In past Mortal Kombat movies, including the entertaining-but-not-great Mortal Kombat Annihilation, Liu Kang was the primary character. But unlike previous films, he’s not the main character in the 2021 version, a fact that initially surprised me when I first watched it.
Initially, I found it off-putting that they selected an actor not from the games for this Mortal Kombat film. This differentiates it from previous Mortal Kombat movies, and it adds a fresh twist by making the story feel like a stranger-in-a-strange-land narrative, which was an intriguing decision. Moreover, Lewis Tan delivers a convincing performance with his given role. In retrospect, the issue wasn’t with him; it was me who had reservations at first.
Kabal Is Freaking Hilarious, And Now I Want A Buddy Movie With Just Him And Kano
Amongst many characters, Kano (Josh Lawson), who delivered some of the most memorable dialogues, received almost universal acclaim when the movie first came out. Even then, I personally felt that Kano stood out as a remarkable aspect in a production I initially believed fell short of its potential.
However, my new favorite character in the film is Kabal, physically played by Daniel Nelson, but voiced by Damon Herriman. Sure, the fight scenes with him are pretty cool, but what I really love about Kabal is all of his dialogue, especially with Kano, as he sounds like a New Jersian cursing at me on the turnpike. In other words, he sounds totally authentic, and I love every second he’s on the screen.
Indeed, it would be quite entertaining to imagine a prequel where they solely focus on his character and Kano engaged in some friendly banter, much like Legolas and Gimli did in the Lord of the Rings films. In essence, keeping score of their respective kills could make for an exciting dynamic. Overall, such a scenario sounds like it would be highly enjoyable.
The Fatalities Are Actually Much Better Than I Remember Them Being
Without a doubt, Mortal Kombat is renowned for one thing: extreme violence, particularly its iconic fatalities. However, due to rating restrictions, the first two live-action Mortal Kombat movies were limited in their portrayal of graphic violence, as they carried a PG-13 classification.
They managed to make the original Mortal Kombat film watchable, but Mortal Kombat Annihilation was such a chaotic disaster of a movie that they couldn’t even execute a basic fight scene correctly, not to mention the sanitized versions of their signature fatalities. However, the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie does a commendable job in portraying the finishing moves.
Instead of transforming into a dragon himself, Liu Kang performs his well-known dragon fatality by creating a flame-made dragon that bites Kabal. On the other hand, Kung Lao executes his gruesome hat fatality, which involves cutting Nitara in two with his spinning hat.
Indeed, this film doesn’t have many death scenes, yet the few it has are quite impactful. In truth, they surpass my previous recollections of their effectiveness.
Yeah, Goro Could Be A Bit More Intimidating, But I’m Glad They Got Him In There
As a dedicated Mortal Kombat player, I’ve faced numerous formidable bosses throughout the years, but none have struck fear in my heart quite like the mini-boss, Goro.
Indeed, it could be debated that characters like Shao Khan, Onaga, or Shinnok might seem more menacing, but personally, I’ve always found the four-armed Shokan warrior to be the most terrifying antagonist within the series.
In the original “Mortal Kombat” movie, they successfully added an additional layer of fear for the characters, but initially, I felt let down by how they handled Goro in the 2021 version. However, upon re-watching the film, I’m actually pleased that they managed to work him into the storyline.
Now granted, he feels more like fan service than as a meaningful character, but sometimes all you really want is a little fan service in your movies. I can’t hate on that.
Ultimately, I’d Rate The 2021 Mortal Kombat Movie As Being A Great Video Game Adaptation That’s Worthy Of The Property
Eventually, I’ve come to think that the 2021 Mortal Kombat film surpasses my initial recollections of it. Despite its persistent pacing problems, I no longer hold a grudge against the characters.
I’m quite fond of the plotline we received as well. Cole Young, contrary to my initial beliefs, doesn’t detract from the movie but rather enhances it based on this storyline. Moreover, Scorpion and Sub-Zero have grown on me in their roles. They add an exciting twist to the Mortal Kombat universe, a world that is constantly evolving as we know it.
The film isn’t the ultimate “Mortal Kombat,” given that we had that version in 1995. However, it certainly delivers as a solid adaptation of the popular series. My initial thoughts were skeptical, but after watching, I can confidently say it’s a resounding yes!
However, I’d like to hear your thoughts as well. Remember to visit regularly for updates on everything related to Mortal Kombat 2.
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2024-10-07 03:07