I was so hyped when I saw the trailer when it was released. Being a fairly big fan of the games having played most of them, I had to keep my expectations in check as I knew a move adaptation based on a fighting game often doesn't translate as well on the big screen. So after viewing this at the cinema and walking out, I was pleased overall but still had some gripes with it.
I know this movie was to set up the lore and mythology around the mortal kombat universe and I knew there would be no tournament and that didn't bother me. However the plotline with the dragon marking making you a chosen warrior of Earthrealm (Earth essentially) didn't sit well with me for one reason: if you kill a champion with the mark, the mark gets transferred to the killer. So one of the main characters Sonya (who is one of the original 3 champions) doesn't have a marking in this movie. That didn't bother me initially as I thought she would prove that she didn't need a marking to be a worthwhile champion, but instead she ends up killing another champion, then gets the mark and develops her power. It would have been a lot better had she proven herself, then essentially earnt the mark to prove that she was equal amongst all others who had it. Does this mean if someone on the street accidentally shot a champion, they would have no choice but to be a champion in the Mortal Kombat tournament? Sorry mate, you got more than you bargained for.
Aside from that, the beginning of the film was really well done with the set up of the conflict between Hanzo Hasashi and Bihan, who would eventually become Scorpion and Sub Zero. It was well shot and had a good pace, which the rest of the film sometimes went astray.
The fight scenes were fine, though I think some of them were edited with to many shots and wasn't as smooth as it could have been.
In terms of the characters, Kano is a standout who provided the comedy. The actors who played Sub Zero, Scorpion and Sonya were my favourites. The actor who played Shang Tsung, who is meant to be the feared leader, could have done a better job and he didn't come off as very threatening or intimidating.
The third act also felt a big rushed with the final fights for some of the characters so it kind of felt like they couldn't quite work out how to make the final battles more impactful.
Hopefully if sequels get made (or a Netflix tv series perhaps, which I think would be better to explore the mortal kombat universe and lore) they can help the franchise move in a more grounded direction. So overall, I enjoyed it but still left me wanting more from it.
I know this movie was to set up the lore and mythology around the mortal kombat universe and I knew there would be no tournament and that didn't bother me. However the plotline with the dragon marking making you a chosen warrior of Earthrealm (Earth essentially) didn't sit well with me for one reason: if you kill a champion with the mark, the mark gets transferred to the killer. So one of the main characters Sonya (who is one of the original 3 champions) doesn't have a marking in this movie. That didn't bother me initially as I thought she would prove that she didn't need a marking to be a worthwhile champion, but instead she ends up killing another champion, then gets the mark and develops her power. It would have been a lot better had she proven herself, then essentially earnt the mark to prove that she was equal amongst all others who had it. Does this mean if someone on the street accidentally shot a champion, they would have no choice but to be a champion in the Mortal Kombat tournament? Sorry mate, you got more than you bargained for.
Aside from that, the beginning of the film was really well done with the set up of the conflict between Hanzo Hasashi and Bihan, who would eventually become Scorpion and Sub Zero. It was well shot and had a good pace, which the rest of the film sometimes went astray.
The fight scenes were fine, though I think some of them were edited with to many shots and wasn't as smooth as it could have been.
In terms of the characters, Kano is a standout who provided the comedy. The actors who played Sub Zero, Scorpion and Sonya were my favourites. The actor who played Shang Tsung, who is meant to be the feared leader, could have done a better job and he didn't come off as very threatening or intimidating.
The third act also felt a big rushed with the final fights for some of the characters so it kind of felt like they couldn't quite work out how to make the final battles more impactful.
Hopefully if sequels get made (or a Netflix tv series perhaps, which I think would be better to explore the mortal kombat universe and lore) they can help the franchise move in a more grounded direction. So overall, I enjoyed it but still left me wanting more from it.