Mortal Kombat II – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Mortal Kombat II – From Actor To Hero … GET OVER HERE!!!

From fondness to remembrance … it is a feeling that comes through no matter the place or time.  It is in this sense, where wonder can bring about that feeling for a good experience.  With film, that allure grips with specific layers, but if the journey recognizes what can be, then it will be a worthy escape.  In this review, I look at the latest video game adaptation/sequel to hit the big screen.  Through a building block of familiarity, Mortal Kombat II is an action pack thriller of blood, death and fun. 

When the final tournament to save the world is upon us, a washed-up actor must find what it means to be a hero and save Earth from the grips of evil.  From obviousness to certainty, there is a sense of recognizing what it means to experience cinema.  No matter the genre or creative details, there is an allure that pushes you towards an escape.  One might see romance as truly gratifying, while another likes to feel the tension of horror.  No matter what, the typicalness that applies becomes a matter of acceptance … even as we embark on another video game adaptation.  When this film begins, we get a general setup of what is at stake, before diving headstrong into the film’s main plot: Earth must defeat the infamous Shao Kahn in the 10^th Mortal Kombat tournament or face certain doom.   On the surface, this is a typical setup that blends action with familiar ties to the video game property.  You have your list of returning characters from the first film (view the list on the film’s IMdb page – link), providing the fixtures for the sake of ‘whose who’ that must fight for Earth or Outworld.  These characters add pizzazz for the action, but what pulls you into the journey is the new members of the cast, a washed-up actor named Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) and the stepdaughter to Shao Kahn, Kitana (Adeline Rudolph).  Through these two characters, you get a sense of ‘face the music’ like motif.  With Cage, you have a man faced with the reality of the situation, but recognizes his lack of worth (to the other fighters).  With Kitana, it becomes a balance of true alliance between the past and present.  These two threads provide a realistic lens for the audience, a balance to the atypical stature and predictability.  With each interaction, you ignore the bad dialogue and tropey situations because of the film’s self-awareness: it is an adaptation of a fighting game known for over-the-top action and iconic kills.

As Cage, Kitana and the rest of Earth’s heroes struggle with trying to get the upper hand, the convoluted mess of the lore gets thrust into the fray.  With the added elements of an overpowered MacGuffin, the journey levels its over-the-top action with a fantastical adventure layer.  This may seem unneeded, but it ironically adds more value to the self-aware appeal.  Through continued cheesy dialogue, epic action sequences and some unexpected twists … we head into a third act that brings everything full circle in a thriller climax and epilogue.  Mortal Kombat II is that rare film that has a lot of issues, but is still fun.  If you are a fan of the video game property or action films, this is one for you.  For all its flaws, I say this is worth seeing on the big screen.

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)