The famous video game franchise Mortal Kombat experienced a much-awaited reboot in the middle of April 2021 via Simon mcquoid, while being produced by Warner and distributed on HBO Max as well as in VOD. Having been ousted from wide distribution in theaters, the feature film only earned 83 million dollars in cinema receipts for a budget of around 55 million (comparable to Tim Miller’s Deadpool in 2016). Even if we do not yet know the recipes related to VOD and operation HBO Max, the semi-success of the film will still have pushed Warner to operate a vast extended universe, in parallel with the continuity of the franchise.
Thus, several characters could be the subject of a spin-off (Johnny Cage? Kitana?) while some will return unsurprisingly in the main franchise. Supposed to be dead at the end of the first movie, Sub-Zero (played by comedian Joe Taslim) will come back in the Mortal Kombat since he announced to have signed for five films. Simon mcquoid seems otherwise to have promised it, if people want a Mortal Kombat 2 in theaters, it’s up to the fans to mobilize.
Other large-scale projects could arrive to explore this vast mythology since Joe taslim would also campaign for a spin-off on Sub-Zero, which could happen given the five films to be shot in his contract. In any case, wanted as a real introductory film (we don’t really see Mortal Kombat in Simon McQuoid’s film but clashes before this famous tournament), the filmmaker truly wants to launch the iconic video game tournament in the sequel to the saga.
On the critical reception side, even if MK was able to benefit from the sympathy of the fans, the situation is mixed with only 55% positive reviews on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. If we find the feature film well enough dosed in fan service to satisfy the most demanding, the whole thing lacks flavor, and for several reasons:
Artistic direction, sets and photography. The sets sound particularly empty and the lack of distinctive colorimetry makes the feature film almost poor. We feel the drastic budget limits. Even the underworld footage sounds wrong as it is simply set on an empty earthy desert plain. The different confrontations between the characters are not located in interesting settings either. (An empty icy boxing hall for the final fight; an empty bare field in front of a house for the Goro / Cole clash; an abandoned warehouse for the Sub-Zero / Jax duel…). We feel the total absence of risk taking. Especially since most of this Mortal Kombat is also located in this isolated pyramid where the characters know their training.
Apart from the protagonists, everything seems dead. No notable sets, few if any extras, few social interactions, the feature film gets bogged down in sprays of blood in an attempt to energize its story. So yes, it’s always nice to see a Kano well treated, a Kung Lao unleash a “Flawless Victory”, a Shang Tsung shouting “Finish Him” or seeing quite a few bloody fatalities dot the film but nothing is enveloped in solid art direction.
Even at the level of the music of Benjamin wallfisch, we only benefit from too rare sound projections to judge the whole as convinced. The only interesting feat of arms of the composer: a micro-remix of the original music by Mortal Kombat during the group attack of Cole Young and Scorpion vs. Sub-Zero. In addition, correctly accompanied by the shots of McQuoid, all of this proves that the film could have been a hundred times better.
Because the fights are nevertheless interesting, and the final duel is carried out smoothly. The filmmaker had also confided during multiple promotional campaigns for the film that he had chosen actors who were very strong in their fields in order to perform impressive combat choreographies. But apart from the opening scene and the final scene, the rest is quickly sketched out and too low in adrenaline. (the Kano / Sonya fights; Jax / Reiko; Liu Kang / Kabal and even Cole / Mileena), everything is going too fast, probably for lack of budget. On the other hand, if the costumes are successful enough (special mention to those of Scorpion and Sub-Zero), some are very poor (Lord Raiden in particular who is simply a wise little man with a Chinese hat).
So yes, the film is quite nice on several points, manages to satisfy the fan of the first hour and correctly lay the foundations of an extended universe but, cinematographically speaking, and this even if the initial material does not allow to do either. a masterpiece, there was a way to create something more striking. Especially around the artistic direction which remains, let’s say it, quite poor.