Almost 30 years after Mortal Kombat revolutionized the fighting game format, a new film based on these brutally violent games finally arrives in theaters and on HBO Max.
The overall plot remains the same. Hunted by the fearsome warrior Sub-Zero, MMA fighter Cole Young finds sanctuary at the temple of Lord Raiden. Training with experienced fighters Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and the rogue mercenary Kano, Cole prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions to take on the enemies from Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe.
This reboot of Mortal Kombat is a bloody fantastic adaptation of the popular video game franchise. Fans are gonna go nuts over this new film. Everything that makes Mortal Kombat special is amplified with the film’s hard R-rating. The film is filled with exciting, brutal fight sequences. The martial arts choreography and spectacular visual effects have drastically improved compared to the previous films. The chemistry between the cast greatly helps with the film’s believability. The characters are better defined with their foul-mouthed and hilarious interactions.
The filmmakers smartly combine the established lore while also adding a fresh new perspective. They tweak the origin story just enough to reflect the different characters coming together for a common goal. Earth’s champions must find their inner powers before working together for the greater good.
Two characters completely steal the show though. I expected Sub-Zero to be a complete bad-ass, but he was on a whole different level. His freezing powers, and how he uses them, are exciting to see. He is one of the film’s best fighters and just utterly ruthless in every way possible. Kano (played devilishly by the brilliant Australian actor Josh Lawson) has some of the funniest lines in the whole film. He’s a raunchy, sexist, and arrogant a-hole throughs F-bombs like grenades. Kano’s ridicule of his teammates is absolutely hysterical.
Mortal Kombat will delight their devoted fan base. The film hits its target audience with a bullseye of brutal carnage. The film definitely hits its mark as an epic action flick. The violence, gore, and cursing have no limits thanks to the film’s R-rating. Kids may love the games, but this film is strictly for adults only.
Mortal Kombat is now playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max
