Review: Not Perfect, ‘Mortal Kombat’ Still Manages to Be an On-the-Nose Action/Adventure Movie


Video game movies don’t usually make the highest acclaim. Starting with the “Super Mario Bros.” film in 1993, movies based on video games have been flop after flop. It makes sense: the reason why video games are so enticing is because of the ability to be the character. A film removes all that, turning an immersive adventure into an average one. 

It’s only been in the last couple of years that the tides have been turning. Films like “Tomb Raider,” “Detective Pikachu,” and “Sonic The Hedgehog” proved themselves to be entertaining movies. The latest “Mortal Kombat” film is far from a masterpiece, and I doubt it even joins the list of those decent video game movies. But it provides a fun experience for those who are in it for the adventure. And what else could you ask from a movie like this?

“Mortal Kombat” follows Cole Young (Lewis Tan), a hustling MMA fighter, as he’s pulled into the world of his legendary birthright. He, and others of Earth, have a mysterious birthmark. The birthmark means that they are champions, people destined to defend the Earth in a tournament called Mortal Kombat. Instead of the movie taking place during the tournament, it actually takes place before, making it a prequel. The warriors from Outworld are ignoring the rules of Mortal Kombat, and are coming to Earth to kill all of the champions so they can take the planet easily. 

I know. It sounds like a confusing a premise. And I doubt I even got it perfectly, as the movie was pretty incomprehensible. But I feel that’s less of the movie’s fault and more of how the games had hours and hours to explain the plot while the movie only had less than two.

Now, I’d like to say that I’ve never been a huge fan of the “Mortal Kombat” games. I’ve only played one of them, briefly, and I didn’t enjoy it all that much. That meant that I was coming to this movie with fresh eyes, not comparing it to the story of the games. 

The first thing “Mortal Kombat” fans will complain about is the addition of Cole, as he’s an original character for the movie and not from the games. And I ordinarily would understand that frustration: people want to see beloved characters, not some bland random hero. But I think their frustration is misplaced here, as all of the characters are as boring as Cole. Seriously, not a single character has any personality, save for Kano, who tries to be the comic relief, but instead is just a nuisance. 

The opening scene is impressive. It takes place in 17th-Century Japan, as fan-favorite Scorpion and his family are attacked by the ice-wielding Outworlder Sub-Zero. It is dark, bloody, and seemed to focus on the rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero, a concept that seemed really interesting to me. And although it was clear that the rivalry wouldn’t be the main focus, I was still hooked for the first 45 minutes of the main story. Around the halfway point, however, I couldn’t help but notice the dip in quality. The writing went from meh to downright cringe-inducing, and the structure just felt so awkward.

Probably the worst part of the film is the pacing. The first half takes place over a week or so, but the second half takes place over a matter of hours. And that’s when all of the character development takes place, which makes everyone’s arc feel super forced. I feel as if the film was in such a rush at every single moment. Every line feels shoved in, even if they are of the utmost importance to the plot. There’s no room to breathe at any point in the last half. Now, Warner Bros. have a history of rushing their releases, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be a ‘McQuoid Cut’ down the line.

Now for the things I liked: the fight scenes didn’t disappoint. I thought they were a little scarce, but when they were on-screen it was phenomenal. They’re as gory as you would expect; and it’s just awesome to see a guy with a magical hat and a lady with demon wings beat the hell out of each other. That’s where the video games shine—not the characters or dialogue, but the parts that emulate the way you play. 

Despite the convoluted plot and subpar writing, “Mortal Kombat” still managed to be a genuinely fun movie. Movies based on video games have never been well-written, so why should we expect them to be? Films like “Resident Evil” and “Assassin’s Creed” were not only bad, but also boring and frustrating. “Mortal Kombat” was never going to be “Citizen Kane,” but I enjoyed watching it, despite its flaws. So if you want an action-fueled adventure that you can turn your brain off for, “Mortal Kombat” is about as on the nose as it gets.

*”Mortal Kombat” is available to watch in theaters or stream with HBO Max.