So the new Mortal Kombat dropped back onto HBO Max this week, and I checked it out again.
I find this to be a frustrating film, because I think there's a lot to like here underneath a whooooooole bunch of bullshit. When the film buckles down and actually decides to do Mortal Kombat shit (mainly the opening fight, the Jax vs Sub Zero fight, and the Scorpion Vs Sub fight at the end), it's actually quite good. Almost exactly the type of thing I would want out of a Mortal Kombat film, but that long stretch of shit in the middle almost ruins it.
It's the overexplaining that's the problem. I don't mind changes from the source material. I think the whole "Dragon Mark" concept is a good way to shortcut some characters to the tournament, even though it doesn't mesh with the games lore. I actually like the characterization of the more monk-ish Liu Kang, especially with how he contrasts with Kung Lao. But there are other changes that seem to be added to make the setting more grounded and accessible, and they *do not* work.
Cole Young, our protagonist, is the biggest example. He's just not an interesting enough character and he gets too much focus. It's too bad because Lewis Tan did seem to be really psyched about being part of it.
The Lin Kuei vs Shirai Ryu story is moved hundreds of years in the past, presumably because someone thought having active ninja clans in the modern day would be too ridiculous.
And, my personal biggest beef, the arcana subplot. The movie grinds to an absolute halt for a third of its runtime while the characters work to "unlock" their abilities. It robs us of more interesting time with the characters (including the villains, who otherwise have no motivation or character other than being the villains), robs us of fight scenes where characters have their full kit, and, most importantly, is completely unnecessary. Would anyone in the audience really have questioned if Kano showed up with a mechanical laser eye, or Sonya could shoot pulses out of her tech gloves? (Also I have a theory that this subplot was added in reshoots, ask me if you want me to explain). I recently watched Marvel's Shang Chi, and that movie just threw all it's craziness right at you and expected you to roll with it. It was far better for it, giving the movie more time to breathe. There's no reason audiences can't be expected to do the same for a Mortal Kombat film.
I think this creative team (or at least cast and production crew) could make a really good Mortal Kombat movie. You can see glimpses of it all throughout this film. But they need to trust the material more. It's gonna be goofy, yeah, but that's Mortal Kombat.
If they do another one, here are my ideas:
1. Sideline Cole somehow. He should not be the protag anymore. A lot of fans want them to kill him, but I don't think that's entirely necessary. I think maybe he should be the "Agent Coulson" of these movies. He can recruit the characters and maybe provide a bit of everyman perspective as a side character.
2. Completely ignore the "Arcana" plot from the first movie. I think a lot of "dead" cahracters are coming back based on Shang Tsung's final words in first film. Give Kano a laser eye, give Sonya her tech arms, never mention anything about it. Anyone else who shows up has their abilities intact immediately and without question.
3. Introduce Kuai Liang, now an ancestor of the ancient Sub-Zero rather than his brother. Establish that the Lin Kuei are still active in the modern day. And of course, bring in my boy Johnny Cage.
What are your thoughts? Should the Mortal Kombat movie be followed up on, or is it too far gone to save and they should just, you know, stop?
I find this to be a frustrating film, because I think there's a lot to like here underneath a whooooooole bunch of bullshit. When the film buckles down and actually decides to do Mortal Kombat shit (mainly the opening fight, the Jax vs Sub Zero fight, and the Scorpion Vs Sub fight at the end), it's actually quite good. Almost exactly the type of thing I would want out of a Mortal Kombat film, but that long stretch of shit in the middle almost ruins it.
It's the overexplaining that's the problem. I don't mind changes from the source material. I think the whole "Dragon Mark" concept is a good way to shortcut some characters to the tournament, even though it doesn't mesh with the games lore. I actually like the characterization of the more monk-ish Liu Kang, especially with how he contrasts with Kung Lao. But there are other changes that seem to be added to make the setting more grounded and accessible, and they *do not* work.
Cole Young, our protagonist, is the biggest example. He's just not an interesting enough character and he gets too much focus. It's too bad because Lewis Tan did seem to be really psyched about being part of it.
The Lin Kuei vs Shirai Ryu story is moved hundreds of years in the past, presumably because someone thought having active ninja clans in the modern day would be too ridiculous.
And, my personal biggest beef, the arcana subplot. The movie grinds to an absolute halt for a third of its runtime while the characters work to "unlock" their abilities. It robs us of more interesting time with the characters (including the villains, who otherwise have no motivation or character other than being the villains), robs us of fight scenes where characters have their full kit, and, most importantly, is completely unnecessary. Would anyone in the audience really have questioned if Kano showed up with a mechanical laser eye, or Sonya could shoot pulses out of her tech gloves? (Also I have a theory that this subplot was added in reshoots, ask me if you want me to explain). I recently watched Marvel's Shang Chi, and that movie just threw all it's craziness right at you and expected you to roll with it. It was far better for it, giving the movie more time to breathe. There's no reason audiences can't be expected to do the same for a Mortal Kombat film.
I think this creative team (or at least cast and production crew) could make a really good Mortal Kombat movie. You can see glimpses of it all throughout this film. But they need to trust the material more. It's gonna be goofy, yeah, but that's Mortal Kombat.
If they do another one, here are my ideas:
1. Sideline Cole somehow. He should not be the protag anymore. A lot of fans want them to kill him, but I don't think that's entirely necessary. I think maybe he should be the "Agent Coulson" of these movies. He can recruit the characters and maybe provide a bit of everyman perspective as a side character.
2. Completely ignore the "Arcana" plot from the first movie. I think a lot of "dead" cahracters are coming back based on Shang Tsung's final words in first film. Give Kano a laser eye, give Sonya her tech arms, never mention anything about it. Anyone else who shows up has their abilities intact immediately and without question.
3. Introduce Kuai Liang, now an ancestor of the ancient Sub-Zero rather than his brother. Establish that the Lin Kuei are still active in the modern day. And of course, bring in my boy Johnny Cage.
What are your thoughts? Should the Mortal Kombat movie be followed up on, or is it too far gone to save and they should just, you know, stop?
