Score: 3/10
Oh how excited I was back in 1995 to see this movie. Not because I thought it would be any award winner, but just to see the video game come to life. Ohhh... how I was disappointed. This was horrible, from start to finish and truthfully the film should have been rated "R." The game was known for its violence, especially the whole "Finish Him." The video game pushed the boundaries with mainstream video games, kids wanted it and parents banned it. This film had that chance to do the same, sure "R" rating would have lowered sales, but it sold out, making that quick dollar capitalizing on the game's popularity, like most video game related movies. MK was crap, but it still lingers on.
As it is, the film is based of the video game. Loosely, but does keep all the character, both good and bad. Interweaving a story about how the Outworld Realm needs one more win for total control over the Earthrealm. Lord Rayden (Christopher Lambert, shame on you Highlander) leads three humans; Liu Kang (Robin Shou), Sonya Blade (Bridgette Wilson), and Johnny Cage (Linden Ashby) against Sorcerer Shang Tsung (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and his band of villainy; Kano (Trevor Goddard), Sub-Zero (Francois Petit), Scorpion (Chris Casamassa) and Reptile (Keith Cooke). So that the gist of it, good v. evil.
Shang Tsung needs this last win for total domination. He's a soul swallower and a shape shifter, able to assume any of his victims. Of course he has swallowed one too many, and one soul brings extreme vengeance, Liu Kang wants his brother back and Tsung has his soul. So its up to Liu to fight for it. Sonya desires vengeance and prosecution against Kano, a rat in the black market, total scum. Johnny Cage is just vain and wants to prove that his acting isn't just an act and he too can fight like the rest. Rayden is leading those good guys against Tsung's really bad guys, the yin and yang, Sub-Zero and Scorpion. Ice and Fire. Along the way they each learn lessons about themselves and how to work as a team and not give into their individuals weaknesses. Liu is given the duty to be the sole fighter against Shang Tsung, for the obvious reasons I stated earlier. No surprises, the fighting and special effects wear thin. Definite choreographed fight sequences, the viewer can predict five moves ahead of the action. Special effects weren't that special in '95 and now, kindergartners are doing more on an I-Pad. Of course good prevails and even try to hype for the inevitable sequel (to be reviewed at a later date.) Shao Kahn, the Emperor of Outworld appears at the end challenging the good guys.
Of course I saved Goro for the end. He is a man with four arms and looks very hokey. With all the technology available this was the best they could do. He doesn't just look fake, but ridiculous. He's in the game and is quite difficult to defeat. Even in the film the depict him to be this huge challenge, but he's a farce. The best part about it, was that I fell for the urban legend that Arnold Swarzenegger was Goro. Even as I sat in the theatre, I couldn't wait to see Arnold portray this Beast. And then out walks this piece of crap. I laugh hysterically thinking, "Jeez... this is horrible." Both to the theater and back home, my friend and I listened to the soundtrack that my friend bought when the video game came out, with all these techno remixes of "MORTAL KOMBAT" It was addicting, but even those guilty pleasure songs are better than the film.
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Directed by: Paul W.S. Anderson
Budget/Gross: $18,000,000 (estimated)/$70,454,098 (USA)
IMDB Rating: 5.5/10
Tomatometer: 34% critics and 55% audience liked it
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