Watch Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat, the highly anticipated action-fantasy film from director Simon McQuoid, brings the beloved video game franchise to the big screen in a thrilling and violent way. Set in modern day Earth, the movie follows protagonist Cole Young (Lewis Tan), a washed-up MMA fighter with a mysterious birthmark who finds himself drawn into a battle for the fate of humanity. Cole joins forces with classic characters from the games, such as Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), Jax (Mehcad Brooks), Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), and Kung Lao (Max Huang), as well as new characters like the wisecracking Australian mercenary Kano (Josh Lawson). Together, they must confront the villainous Outworld sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Han) and his team of deadly fighters, including Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), Mileena (Sisi Stringer), and Goro (voiced by Angus Sampson).

One of the strengths of Mortal Kombat is its commitment to honoring the source material while also making some bold choices that enhance the cinematic experience. Fans of the games will delight in seeing iconic moves like Scorpion's "Get over here!" spear and Sub-Zero's ice powers brought to life with stunning visual effects. The fight choreography is top notch, with each character having their own distinct fighting style and signature moves. The violence is intense and frequent, with bone-crunching fatalities that will satisfy gore hounds and long-time fans alike.

However, the movie also introduces some new elements that may surprise and intrigue viewers. Without giving too much away, the film delves deeper into the mythology and origins of the Mortal Kombat universe, adding layers of complexity to the characters and their motivations. There are also unexpected twists and turns in the plot that keep the audience engaged, and some clever Easter eggs and nods to the games that will make die-hard fans grin.

The acting in Mortal Kombat is mostly solid, with the standout performances coming from Lawson as the irreverent and scene-stealing Kano, and Han as the smarmy and sinister Shang Tsung. Tan does a good job as the audience surrogate hero Cole, although his character is perhaps the least interesting of the bunch. McNamee is also serviceable as Sonya Blade, although her character doesn't get as much screen time or development as she deserves. Lin and Huang have nice moments as the noble and wise Liu Kang and Kung Lao, respectively, but they are somewhat overshadowed by the larger-than-life personalities of Kano, Sub-Zero, and others.

One of the potential drawbacks of Mortal Kombat is its pacing. The movie takes a while to get going, as it spends a decent chunk of time setting up the mythology and introducing the characters before the first big fight. Some viewers may find this exposition-heavy approach to be slow or tedious, although it does pay off in the end when the action ramps up. Additionally, some of the CGI and green screen work looks a bit cheap or cartoonish, which may take some viewers out of the immersion.

Overall, Mortal Kombat delivers on its promise of being a fun, violent, and faithful adaptation of the games. It's not a perfect movie, but it's definitely worth checking out for fans of the franchise and action/horror aficionados in general. With its memorable characters, visceral action, and intriguing world-building, it sets the stage for potential sequels that could expand upon this already rich and exciting universe.

In conclusion, Mortal Kombat offers a thrilling and faithful adaptation of the beloved video game franchise, with strong performances, intense action, and some surprising twists and turns. While it may have some pacing and visual flaws, it ultimately delivers a satisfying and bloody good time.

Mortal Kombat is a 2021 action movie. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 44.