A Look Inside: Mortal Kombat (2021)
In just a matter of days we will finally get the long awaited Mortal Kombat (Simon McQuoid, 2021) revival. For me, the original 1995 version is a huge guilty pleasure of mine…it is one of those films that is so bad it’s good. Plus it is the very first film I watched with my boyfriend of 10 years so even if it is terrible it will forever hold a special place in my heart (cheesy I know, I know). Right off the bat from the trailer we can tell this film is going to emulate aspects of the original games with a HEAVY focus on the fighting, blood and gore. Let’s take a look into some of the narrative choices and then cover off on some initial reviews.
In the 1995 Mortal Kombat, the only character to appear in any kind of major role that wasn’t in the original video game was Kitana (who happened to be one of my favorite characters). Everything else focused on the original game’s roster of tournament competitors, like Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Kano, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile, Raiden, Shang Tsung, and Goro. By contrast the 2021 reboot has already revealed it’ll be incorporating characters like Jax, Mileena, and Kabal into the mix. Jax and Mileena debuted in Mortal Kombat 2, while Kabal debuted in 3. It seems the focus will be on the conflict between Sub-Zero and Scorpion rather than Liu Kang and his journey to save his brother’s soul. While I don’t know the exact plot details of the 2021 release, that plot point in the 1995 gave the story clear direction which I fear the 2021 might lack.
Based on some reading I’ve done of those abroad it does seem that the film lacks a bit of character development but the film’s fight choreography and stunt work receives high praise, which is promising! For me, I think the fighting element will either make or break this film – I am going into it knowing that the story / character development isn’t going to be groundbreaking. That being said we all know that the Sub-Zero and Scorpion conflict will be at the center of the film and hopefully the trailer will do their fighting scenes justice as their rivalry is one of the most iconic in the video game.
Another interesting element I’ve noticed (and then had to look-up) was that of the character of Cole Young (Lewis Tan). Who is he!? So basically, Cole is a former MMA fighter and he is swept up into the world of the tournament, thanks in part to his hidden lineage. In Mortal Kombat‘s trailer, the character has a curious birth mark that hints at his connection to the eponymous fighting tournament. Still, little else is known at this point about his true identity and who he is to everyone else we’ve seen before. It seems Cole Young will serve as the film’s audience proxy or basically a reintroduction for newcomers of the franchise. I’ve heard from interviews with the director that this is by design, as he is a character that is designed to guide the audiences through the mythology along side him. McQuoid wanted the character to have a connection to the world, but his character will ultimately serve as a way in for audiences that are new to the long-running franchise. McQuoid wanted to create a balancing act wherein both Cole Young’s identity and connection to the tournament are hinted at throughout the film and his journey becomes similar to the audience’s in that regard. Either way, I am curious to see how his character fits into the overall story.
At the end of the day, I feel Mortal Kombat will accomplish its one goal of being a solid action and fighting film. Like I said earlier, the fighting scenes will either make or break this film, particularly those between Sub-Zero and Scorpion. I just hope the trailer didn’t capture all of those elements which leaves nothing of real “excitement” in the film while you’re watching it (I hate when movies put all the cool and action scenes into the trailer leaving n0 excitement during the actual film). Ultimately, I do genuinely think that this film will be a solid revival for a somewhat disappointing franchise and will open the door for more sequels and even maybe some TV series, who knows.
Mortal Kombat premieres in theaters and HBO Max on April 23, 2021.
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