Warner Bros. highly anticipated release, Mortal Kombat, was victorious at the box office with an impressive $22.5 million opening weekend.
The film, which was released in theaters and HBO Max on Friday, April 23, didn’t clear its $50 million budget, but it’s still early and receiving positive reviews.
Read my review below.
Full transparency: I don’t play video games. I’m not a gamer. The last console I ever owned was an Atari 2600. But, I do know the history of video games and the impact of “Mortal Kombat” on gaming culture, and how it changed the game.
After a successful movie adaptation (1995’s Mortal Kombat) and a colossal flop (Mortal Kombat: Annihilation), the film had one more Hollywood life left.
How does the new Mortal Kombat fare? Get over here!
Flawless victory! Or at least that’s what producers are hoping for with this reboot of the video game-turned movie Mortal Kombat.
It stars Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Mechad Brooks, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada.
After an almost 30-year hiatus, more time and effort would be put into developing a more interesting plot coupled with colossal special effects, right?
Well, the prologue of Mortal Kombat is quite intriguing. It details the history of the Sub-Zero/Scorpion arc with a monumental fight sequence and emotional storyline. That should set the tone for the rest of the film. It should. That doesn’t mean it will.
Cole Young, played by Tan, is an MMA fighter with a unique birthmark. He soon realizes the true meaning behind that mark and why creatures are out to kill him.
Mortal Kombat is rated-R for a reason. The action scenes are graphic, gory, and downright mean…YES!!! Fans of the game will love this. It truly captures the essence of the video game’s violent content.
Your classic characters flex their powers with updated CGI making them even deadlier. The villains are badass, especially Sub-Zero.
His cold heart is just as heinous as his videogame counterpart. Murder is on the menu, and this version is serving up dishes with plenty of to-go plates! You won’t be disappointed with the action.
What about the plot? Uh, see what had happened was…
Mortal Kombat doesn’t have a deep plot like DC movies, not even Marvel for that matter. Cole’s storyline is minimal. He’s the main character, and a new character.
New characters are always welcome, but if you’re going to carry the film, you need to give them a worthwhile task to accomplish.
I do like what they did with Jax’s character. He was fleshed out perfectly. The hidden gem of the movie has to be Kano. Dude is hilarious and his one-liners are epic!
The rest of the characters don’t have much of a backstory but in the movie’s defense, you should already know who these cats are.
They are here to cause chaos and casualties. The plot is lackluster, but let me give it some perspective; when you play the video game, are you in it for emotional dialogue, or do you want to hear FINISH HIM/HER!?
Don’t go into it with high expectations. Once you establish that, you’ll have a better experience.
I’m co-signing Mortal Kombat to the fullest. Hey, I saw it in IMAX, spent $25.00, and had a ball.
Suspend your reality so you can appreciate the FATALITY!
Watch the first seven minutes of the film below:
Did you see Mortal Kombat? If so, what did you think about the film?
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