Movie Review: Mortal Kombat (2021)

Film Title: Mortal Kombat

Length:   1h 50min
Released:   23 April 2021 (USA)
Genre:  Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rating: R
Where I Got It: HBO

SUMMARY:

MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.

REVIEW:

This was for sure a movie FH made me watch. Sure, sure, I've seen the past movies and I know the games (played a little - but mainly just watched my guy friends and cousins play back in the day), but I was meh about watching this.

We follow MMA fighter Cole Young who is getting past his prime. However, life has other plans for him when he is sought out and joins a team to help stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battles for the universe. 

I will say I enjoyed this much more than the older movies. The other two were rough and really 90s. *shudders* The effects actually are good here. The fight scenes fun. The characters were likeable but not cheesy. They worked and seemed closer to the game. 

I did like the into to Cole Young. He is not in the games from what I remember and from what FH can remember. I loved his tie to Scorpion. HONESTLY - I LOVED the whole family blood thing and the story there with Scorpion and Sub Zero. It really worked well in my opinion and it made it feel more like a story with some meat and depth to the plot. 

Honestly....this whole movie had much more depth and character development than I expected. Sure it is based on a fighting game and you get the fighting scenes and the comedy. But this had feeling to it. I really liked that. 

WHICH the fighting scenes kicked ass. So fun!

Now...I do wish we had more info about WHY these humans get powers. Is it random? Is it genetics? Maybe we'll get some more info in the next movies. I felt like they gave us a taste and teased us. We needed more context for sure. Maybe some more world-building. 

OOO I must put FH's constant comment here because I'm sure so many people have complained about it..."WHY DIDN'T THEY INCLUDE JOHNNY CAGE!!!!????"

Okay - Johnny is cool but I wasn't too sad. He will be the main star of movie 2. Honestly...I think they wanted to give some spotlight to the other characters especially Cole who is a new one. Johnny tends to take over and make it the Johnny-show. I'm glad they are waiting. Plus it is a marketing trick to make us watch movie 2 ;) And that is fine with me. 

The eye candy in this made me happy. ;) Esp I am in love with Liu Kang and Kung Lao. They are too hawt. It helped my enjoyment of the movie a hair haha. 

Overall, I'm not upset FH made me watch it. I enjoyed it a lot and I would watch it again. Cool fighting scenes but it also was a people story. I hope we get to see more in movie 2! I'll give this a 4