Mortal Kombat Story :-
Let’s start with the basics: when you sit down to watch “Mortal Kombat,” you’re not expecting high-brow entertainment. You’re not concerned about symbolism or deep commentary. You’re willing to overlook rushed character development and cheesy dialogue. All you want is a reasonable explanation for why heads are getting chopped off and arms are getting ripped apart. That’s the difference between a movie and a video game. And of course, you’re hoping for inventive, graphic violence that’s as cathartic as it is in the game. Unfortunately, this latest film falls short in that department.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 30 July 2021 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Fantasy |
| Duration | 1h 50min |
| Cast | Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Max Huang, Tadanobu Asano, Chin Han, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada, Matilda Kimber, Laura Brent, Sisi Stringer, Mel Jamson, Nathan Jones, Daniel Nelson, Damon Herriman, Angus Sampson |
| Director | Simon McQuoid |
| Writer | Greg Russo, Dave Callaham, Oren Uziel |
| Cinematography | Germain McMicking |
| Music | Benjamin Wallfisch |
| Producer | James Wan, Todd Garner, Simon McQuoid, E. Bennett Walsh |
| Production | New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster Productions, Broken Road Productions |
| Certificate | 18+ |
The action, aside from a few cool Sub-Zero moves, is largely forgettable. There’s blood, knives, monsters, and more blood, but the standout moments are few and far between. The film fails to understand that the satisfaction from action sequences often comes from the buildup leading up to them. Instead of building anticipation, “Mortal Kombat” rushes from one introduction to the next, leaving viewers feeling indifferent towards the characters.
Similar to the 1995 film, there’s talk of a tournament where Earth’s chosen fighters must battle champions from the evil realm, led by Shang Tsung. However, unlike the original, this film never really gets to the tournament itself. Shang Tsung and his team attempt to eliminate Earth’s champions beforehand, leading to a series of lackluster assassination attempts and dull conversations.
The main character, Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, feels less like a protagonist and more like a whiny teenager struggling to discover his superpower. Raiden, portrayed by Tadanobu Asano, offers little guidance and appears only after the fighting is done, looking irritated.
The dialogue lacks wit and purpose, often stating the obvious or serving as annoying distractions between stunt scenes. Moments that pay homage to the video game, such as Scorpion’s iconic “Get over here!” and Kano’s “Flawless victory!
” feel superficial, as if the director were simply ticking boxes.
While the film attempts to explore backstories like Jax’s and Johnny Cage’s, they fail to deliver emotional payoffs or consistent visual gratification. In the end, watching “Mortal Kombat” feels draining, like having your soul sucked out by Shang Tsung himself. It leaves you feeling listless and wondering if your time would have been better spent watching a compilation of “Mortal Kombat” fatalities on YouTube.
