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Turns out Mortal Kombat from 2021 is part and parcel for what a Mortal Kombat movie should be. The film, starring Lewis Tan and Jessica McNamee, brings the blood and gore from the Mortal Kombat franchise to the big screen with 21st century CGI. After watching the movie, I took some time to watch and write down the review for the reboot of everyone’s favorite fighting game franchise from the 90’s.
Mortal Kombat 2021 Review: Surprisingly Fun
I didn’t think much of the Mortal Kombat reboot looking at the trailers. It showed the usual high-flying, flippy action and the new age special effects. But it’s a Mortal Kombat movie, how good can it really be? Turns out, fans of the franchise will enjoy the nostalgia from the movie and some of the fan service as well. While the movie focuses on Cole Young instead of some of the more well known characters, it still gets all the fan favorites in like Sub-Zero, who is way OP, Raiden, and Liu Kang.
The movie has a mostly serious tone, but there are parts that genuinely make you laugh. Mortal Kombat pokes fun at some of the old memories fans will have of the original games and bring you back to when you used some of those…cheap shots…as a kid growing up playing the game. From the classic lines like “Fight!” and “Finish him!” to the fatalities you’re bound to have a grin on your face when some of your favorite Mortal Kombat moments pop up on screen.
The movie has very good choreography as well. The martial art aspect, while farfetched and exaggerated, is still fun and consistent throughout the movie. If you find yourself wondering when the next fight scene will be, just practice some patience, you’re never more than a moment away from getting your next dose of blood and gore.
One more thing, when the music kicks in, just hell yes.
The Con’s of Mortal Kombat 2021
While the movie is fun and as with most movies like this some suspension of disbelief is required, Mortal Kombat 2021 had some pretty annoying flaws. First off, Cole Young is an out of prime MMA fighter. In the one scene where he’s actually fighting, you can tell that the movie did not watch much, if any, actual mixed martial arts. While there was some decent choreography, the vernacular wasn’t there.
Some of the dialogue was ham-fisted as well. But that’s not much of a complaint as it is staying true to the source material. The Mortal Kombat franchise as a whole takes inspiration from classic martial arts films and puts them on 11. Staying true to that keeps the essence of what Mortal Kombat is.
What is probably the worst part of Mortal Kombat is the story and character development, or lack thereof. The world is under attack by another dimension. That could be any number of sci-fi action movies. The lack of creativity in the story department stays true to the original Mortal Kombat but gives viewers nothing they haven’t seen a hundred times before. The character development isn’t written very well either. Hanzo/Scorpion is Cole’s ancient ancestor and when the two meet, it’s supposed to be this big moment, but it’s not. There’s no emotional attachment as the writers seemed to intend and it just fell flat.
Mortal Kombat 2021 Rating: 6.5/10
Keep in mind, my rating scale goes 3 and under is bad, 4 to 7 is average, and anything above 7 is good with 10 being amazing. Mortal Kombat delivers on the violence that one would expect from a movie based around the franchise. The movie includes all the best dialogue that makes you remember the fun times you had with your buddies fighting each other sharing a TV and two remotes and who gets to pick Sub Zero. The action is frequent and doesn’t leave you thirsty for more. You get it all.
Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t have the story line to make you want to watch again. While a sequel was teased, and with some good precedence at that, it will not be enough to have me saying “I’ve got to see that.” Of course I will because it’s Mortal Kombat, but it won’t be on the laurels from the first movie.
If you’re looking for a movie to blow off some time and not have to invest too much into, Mortal Kombat 2021 is for you. Don’t go in thinking you’ll be getting a Christopher Nolan film. The movie isn’t made to reach that audience.
