Mortal Kombat II Review

MORTAL KOMBAT II

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

It's been a rough road for Mortal Kombat in film. Video game movies in general for a long time were hidden in backshelves where the public couldn't stumble across them. Mortal Kombat itself seemed like something Hollywood would do well with. Afterall there's been a success with martial arts films in the past, so what's the problem? 

For one thing, early on film makers had little to experience with video games. A producer handed the director a script, maybe a 15 minute long video explaining the game. They brought on actors that in the case of Mario (1993) didn't even know that it WAS a video game until years after the premiere. 

This happened with the first Mortal Kombat film, which was just a martial arts movie with a Mortal Kombat paint job. It was fine, but it avoided what fans love. 

Mortal Kombat Annihilation was supposed to be the answer to the fans, but that film was marred with trouble as the director did not return, and several cast members stayed back. They blew the budget on expensive real world locations, and they put a guy in charge that had no experience making films of that calibur. The result was one of the worst movies ever made. They halted all Mortal Kombat projects after that and we didn't get another movie until 2021. 

The 2021 film wasn't awful, but it's production was interrupted by COVID 19 and writers' strikes in Hollyood. The film still had spectacular fight scenes, especially the Scorpion/Sub Zero fight. But many were displeased with the film's protagonist, Cole Young, who was written just for the movie.

It should be a relief to all fans of the franchise that Cole Young is not the main character in MK II. He has about five minutes of screen time.  The film follws Johnny Cage and Kitana as it's central roles. It explores the arch of Kitana's betrayal and revange against Shao Khan, and Johnny Cage going from washed up actor to washed up actor who re discovers his abilities. 

This film is the best Mortal Kombat movie yet. It respects the characters, the lore, and the rules of Mortal Kombat. Some of the lines are cheesey, but once the Kombat begins, the film's pace picks up. It's exciting, it's fun, it's violent- but in a fun way. 

My big question was going to be how Shao Khan comes off. In Annihilation, the 6'9'' body builder who played him was wearing rubber armor that came apart midfilm, and always looked like a tiny conquerer through a narrow lense that dwarfed him on screen. 

In this, he is wonderful. The helmet is beautiful, the motions are fluid, and his voice is intimidating. 

The one thing I would say is that he doesn't give commands. He is softer than just "Blood thirsty Emperor". He comes across as bored, and seeking entertainment from the ritual of Mortal Kombat. 

Mortal Kombat has always had horror elements. This film is no exception. Characters come back from the dead, not just as brain dead zombies, but as people that have been SEDUCED by death. They hint at a netherrealm, where we submerge in the film's final fight. It's not just the land of the dead, it's not just Hell, it's a place where dreams can come true. 

The most exciting reveal is the film debut of Noob Saibot. 

Mortal Kombat II is an easy 7/10. 

It's the best Mortal Kombat so far.