Mortal Kombat

 

 

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This video is very corny. The animation is all over the place. The characters are of poor graphics while the land and water graphics look computer generated. Every once in a while the character graphics turn computer generated. During battle the characters movements are slow and lagging. Pretty much half of this movie is just Raiden telling stories. On top of that the movie ends just before they enter the tournament. However the behind the scenes portion (after the animated film) is very interesting and fun to watch.

You know those movies that you know you should theoretically hate -- they're cheesy, they're weird, and they're predictable.

But somehow... you just can't do it. "Mortal Kombat" is a cheesy, weird, predictable movie that is basically all about an Evil-For-The-Sake-Of-Being-Evil Villain, some wooden characters, and and an expanse of over-the-top action sequences. But somehow it's so unpretentiously video-gamish (well, DUH) that it's impossible to hate.

Brief backstory: Mortal Kombat (with a K!) is a once-a-generation tournament in which fighters battle for the sake of their respective worlds. If the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and his evil minions win this one, he gets the Earth.

And he's successfully manipulated three humans into going: Liu Kang (Robin Shou) who wants to avenge his brother, actor Johnny Cage (Linden Ashby) who wants to revive his career, and agent Sonya Blade (Bridgette Wilson) who wants to avenge her dead partner. They're guided by the mysterious thunder god Raiden (Christopher Lambert), who... doesn't fight. He's just kind of a Yoda.

But even before the three fighters arrive at the island where the tournament will take place, they're confronted by danger -- Shang Tsung has brought his deadliest three fighters to destroy all three of them, and they don't care much about rules. Can the gang overcome their personal issues and win Mortal Kombat? Can you guess? Do I even need to ask?

I openly admit it: I have never played "Mortal Kombat" video games, so I had no preconceptions about what this movie would be like.

As for what it actually is like: a lot like watching an action anime when they get to the inevitable tournament -- lots of creative action scenes involving flames, ice-balls, a guy with four arms, and people wandering through a shadowy, cobwebbed palace. It's mindless, overserious, cheesy fun and... somehow it doesn't bother me.

And I won't sugarcoat it: this is a plotless, bubblegum movie with all the important twists phoned in about ten minutes before they happened. I mean, did anyone NOT think Shang Tsung would shapeshift into Liu Kang's brother at some point to mess with his head? OF COURSE HE WOULD. AND DID. But somehow I can't hate it. It's just... kinda fun.

The actors are mostly of the they're-okay-but-not-great -- Shou is pretty likeable as Liu Kang despite the random tantrums he has, Wilson is mildly annoying, Ashby's one-liners are so annoying that you'll want to drop an anvil on him ("I pay money, you carry the bags"), and Lambert is hugely underused. But Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is weirdly fun as Shang Tsung -- he always seems to be sitting halfway between "affably evil" and just EVIL.

"Mortal Kombat" is cheesy, cliched but still somehow entertaining -- perhaps it's all the more entertaining because you know you're only in it for the buttkicking.

Mortal Kombat is a fun movie,although dated.there is plenty of
action,good fight choreography and the story is unique for its time.the
characters are all interesting and the good guys are likable.the one
complaint i have about this movie is that i thought its makeup effects
were poorly done,mainly in regards to one of the main baddies.i won't
say which ione..however,surprisingly,this does not take away from the
rest of the film.it is a fun diversion for around 90 minutes,and it
moves at a good clip.i also like the fact that there is some character
development,showing the motivation of the characters.to me,this is an
enjoyable film,despite its flaws. 3.5/5

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5.0 out of 5 stars this movie is great
if u are a kung foo fan like me u should get this movie it is so fun to watch ive probly watched it more then any other movie besides star wars empire. Read more

Published on Jun 28 2004 by Hudson

4.0 out of 5 stars Best movie based on a videogame
Mortal Kombat is probably my favorite fighter out there. It's been around for more than a decade and just got better and better through the years. Read more

Published on May 2 2004 by Sam Allen

5.0 out of 5 stars The most badass movie ever
This movie rules. It has almost every aspect of awesomeness in it. Badass fighting, badass ninja's, badass soundtrack, badass Christopher Lambert. BAD-ASS! Read more

Published on Mar 26 2004 by nympid x

5.0 out of 5 stars my favourite film
This is a great action film with brilliant actors to boot. Bridgette Wilson is incredible as Sonya Blade, Robin Shou gives Liu Kang the character he deserves and Christopher... Read more

Published on Mar 20 2004 by Laura

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the better "movie to game" adaptations
INTRODUCTION:
In the early-mid nineties, the Mortal Kombat series of video games became one of the most popular and well-loved, as well as one of the most controversial. Read more

Published on Feb 24 2004 by Taylor X

4.0 out of 5 stars Great and all but why did they have to kill scorpio and sub0
This was a great movie. The first time I saw it I was like 5, or 7,or,8,or,15 anyways this is real great but there's no special features. Read more

Published on Feb 20 2004 by newfound32

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Best Movie in History!!!"
Mortal kombat rocks!Paul Anderson made the best movie in TV history!!!

Published on Feb 14 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best Videogame adaptation
Mortal Kombat is perhaps the best videogame adaptation out there. There are moments where it's been held back but aside from some small things, the special effects are great, the... Read more

Published on Feb 2 2004 by S. Rhodes

5.0 out of 5 stars Better then the game!
I love this movie it is better then the game! And I like the part where Liu Kang fights Shang Tsung and Liu Kang wins and Shang Tsung falls on the spikes! Read more

Published on Dec 21 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars FLAWLESS VICTORY!
Mortal Kombat is a movie adapted from a video game but it is different than the rest. It is the only one ever made that does not SUCK. Read more

Published on Dec 17 2003 by Suzanne Howland

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