Watch Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins

Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins is a 1995 animated film based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. Directed by James Yukich, the movie is a prequel to the original Mortal Kombat movie released in the same year. The story follows three of the most popular characters from the game universe: Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade. The trio is on a mission to stop the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung and his minions from taking over the world by winning the Mortal Kombat tournament.

The movie starts with the three heroes meeting on a boat that is set to take them to the tournament. They are approached by an old man who claims to be their mentor and guide to the tournament. He tells them about the history of Mortal Kombat and how its outcome affects the fate of the world.

Soon, they are attacked by Shang Tsung and his minions. The heroes are forced to battle their way through multiple enemies, including some familiar faces from the game series. They finally reach the tournament, where they face off against some of the most powerful fighters in the game world.

The animation style of the movie is unique and memorable. It features a mix of traditional 2D animation and computer-generated images. The characters are well-designed and stay true to their game counterparts. Their movements and fighting styles are also faithful to the game's mechanics.

The voice acting is also noteworthy. Jeff Bennett does an excellent job as Johnny Cage, bringing his cocky and confident personality to life. Jim Cummings gives life to the villainous Shang Tsung, portraying him as a conniving and menacing sorcerer. Ron Feinberg and Jennifer Hale also deliver solid performances as Liu Kang and Sonya Blade respectively.

One of the movie's strongest points is its action scenes. The fights are well-choreographed and exhilarating to watch. The animators did an excellent job of capturing the game's over-the-top violence and gore without making it too graphic for younger viewers.

The movie also features a memorable soundtrack that blends techno, rock, and traditional Asian music. It enhances the action scenes and adds to the movie's overall atmosphere.

One of the movie's shortcomings is its thin plot. While the movie does its best to provide some background story for the characters, it doesn't offer much beyond that. The movie is essentially a showcase of the game's iconic characters and their moves.

Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins is a fun and action-packed movie that will appeal to fans of the game series. Its animation style and memorable soundtrack make it stand out from other animated movies of its time. While it may not have the depth and complexity of other animated movies, it is an enjoyable ride for fans of the franchise.