"Mortal Kombat", the movie, is based off a violent video game that was popular back in the 1990's has made its way to the big screen. Though the video game has no real story or plot, the movie version surprisingly does albeit still very thin in detail. It's very similar in plot to "Enter the Dragon" with more ninjas and fantasy sequences featured. It has the same plot twists which features a tournament to the death and all our beloved characters from the classic video comes to life in the fight against the fate of the world we live in.
Under the direction of Paul W. S. Anderson, we are given the right person to direct this movie due to his resume featuring campy action movies like the "Resident Evil" series and "Death Race". Anderson does every check mark that we get in typical 1990's fare. Such details include techno vibes during the action scenes, brightly vibrant colour palettes, archaic CGI green screening and finally all the quirks from the "Mortal Kombat" characters made famous in the games.
With the Outworld taking on the Earth, it's a matter of life or death with the addition of what will happen to or world if the Outworld should emerge as the winner. The evil Emperor Shao Khan would be very happy if the outcome is in his favour.
What's holding this evil fiend back are a group of powerful fighters who are not really allies with each other, but understand the fate of the Earth if the Outworld emerges victorious. We have a Sholin Monk named Liu Kang (Robin Shou), a Hollywood actor named Johnny Cage (Linden Ashby), and a special forces officer named Sonya Blade (Brigitte Wilson). Liu Kang wants Shang Tsung (Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa) as an act for revenge after his brother's death. Cage wants to win to show he's a legitimate martial artist and not just playing one on television or movies. Finally Sonya Blade wants revenge on Kano for killing her partner, Wilson and to show she can fight her own battles without anyone's help. Wilson replaced Cameron Diaz as Sonya Blade after Diaz was injured on set. The trifecta was led by the powerful God named Lord Raiden (Christopher Lambert) who tells them that teamwork is their only method to prevent the Outworld for winning their tenth tournament or else they will take over the world.
Outside of the main characters we have other beloved characters from the video like Pricess Kitana (Talisa Soto) who helps them along the way and may have a crush on Liu Kang. Then there's the dastardly Kano (Trevor Goddard) who kills Sony Blade's partner Wilson who joins foces with Shang Tsung. We have Sub Zero (Francois Petit) who stangely alligns himself with Scorpion (Chris Casamassa). Keith Cooke portrays the ninja/reptilian hybrid named Reptile who works for Shang Tsung. Tom Woodruff Jr. Is the hideous creature and reigning champion Goro who is challenged by Johnny Cage. Finally we have Gregory McKinney as Jax Briggs.
In spite of Johnny Cage beating Goro, Shang Tsung takes Sonya Blade hostage and now it's up to Liu and Johnny to rescue her. To think that in the early scenes, Blade was kind of powerful and very independent, only to end up in the movie as the damsel in distress. From there Liu Kang takes up the task to defeating Shang Tsung and frees all the spirits that were taken hostage by Shang Tsung (including his brother).
With Earth finally getting the victory, they all celebrate at the Shaolin Temple. But the festivities quickly come to a close when the skies darken and Shao Khan materializes demanding eveyone for their souls. The gang are in fighting mode and the credits start with a possible sequel along the way.
One of the good qualities aboiut this game is that it stays true to it form and never once does it meander in another direction or genre. Also it would lead to further development of other characters from the game who were not featured prominently in the movie.
It's kind of sad that so many people had lambasted this movie. To contradict these claims, I actually had a blast watching this video game adaptation come to life on the big screen. Most people don't want to admit, but it feels like a Hong Kong action films with video game characters taking the place of action stars. People tend to dismiss these kind of films as just guilty pleasure. For me it's a movie that still ahead of its time and still has a lasting impact 29 years later. The effects were solid and CGI though in its infancy was still nice to marvel at.
What's great is that this movie can still be seen as a stand alone movie even if you never touched this game in your life. Of all of those other stupid video game adaptaions out there, this one is one of the more better ones out there.
Under the direction of Paul W. S. Anderson, we are given the right person to direct this movie due to his resume featuring campy action movies like the "Resident Evil" series and "Death Race". Anderson does every check mark that we get in typical 1990's fare. Such details include techno vibes during the action scenes, brightly vibrant colour palettes, archaic CGI green screening and finally all the quirks from the "Mortal Kombat" characters made famous in the games.
With the Outworld taking on the Earth, it's a matter of life or death with the addition of what will happen to or world if the Outworld should emerge as the winner. The evil Emperor Shao Khan would be very happy if the outcome is in his favour.
What's holding this evil fiend back are a group of powerful fighters who are not really allies with each other, but understand the fate of the Earth if the Outworld emerges victorious. We have a Sholin Monk named Liu Kang (Robin Shou), a Hollywood actor named Johnny Cage (Linden Ashby), and a special forces officer named Sonya Blade (Brigitte Wilson). Liu Kang wants Shang Tsung (Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa) as an act for revenge after his brother's death. Cage wants to win to show he's a legitimate martial artist and not just playing one on television or movies. Finally Sonya Blade wants revenge on Kano for killing her partner, Wilson and to show she can fight her own battles without anyone's help. Wilson replaced Cameron Diaz as Sonya Blade after Diaz was injured on set. The trifecta was led by the powerful God named Lord Raiden (Christopher Lambert) who tells them that teamwork is their only method to prevent the Outworld for winning their tenth tournament or else they will take over the world.
Outside of the main characters we have other beloved characters from the video like Pricess Kitana (Talisa Soto) who helps them along the way and may have a crush on Liu Kang. Then there's the dastardly Kano (Trevor Goddard) who kills Sony Blade's partner Wilson who joins foces with Shang Tsung. We have Sub Zero (Francois Petit) who stangely alligns himself with Scorpion (Chris Casamassa). Keith Cooke portrays the ninja/reptilian hybrid named Reptile who works for Shang Tsung. Tom Woodruff Jr. Is the hideous creature and reigning champion Goro who is challenged by Johnny Cage. Finally we have Gregory McKinney as Jax Briggs.
In spite of Johnny Cage beating Goro, Shang Tsung takes Sonya Blade hostage and now it's up to Liu and Johnny to rescue her. To think that in the early scenes, Blade was kind of powerful and very independent, only to end up in the movie as the damsel in distress. From there Liu Kang takes up the task to defeating Shang Tsung and frees all the spirits that were taken hostage by Shang Tsung (including his brother).
With Earth finally getting the victory, they all celebrate at the Shaolin Temple. But the festivities quickly come to a close when the skies darken and Shao Khan materializes demanding eveyone for their souls. The gang are in fighting mode and the credits start with a possible sequel along the way.
One of the good qualities aboiut this game is that it stays true to it form and never once does it meander in another direction or genre. Also it would lead to further development of other characters from the game who were not featured prominently in the movie.
It's kind of sad that so many people had lambasted this movie. To contradict these claims, I actually had a blast watching this video game adaptation come to life on the big screen. Most people don't want to admit, but it feels like a Hong Kong action films with video game characters taking the place of action stars. People tend to dismiss these kind of films as just guilty pleasure. For me it's a movie that still ahead of its time and still has a lasting impact 29 years later. The effects were solid and CGI though in its infancy was still nice to marvel at.
What's great is that this movie can still be seen as a stand alone movie even if you never touched this game in your life. Of all of those other stupid video game adaptaions out there, this one is one of the more better ones out there.
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