As in this is the second rant onMortal Kombat movies, not a rant about Second Mortal Kombat movies.
Sure, 1995 had a PG-13 rating and very few Asians. The star power came from French Tarzan... but it's a million times better than 2021.
So, let me explain why 2021 MK sucked donkey dick.
Magic MK Logo marks:
The movie makes an emphasis on these Marks, making those who have them into superhuman warriors. People who lack these marks are at a "severe disadvantage" against those who have them.
How are these marks obtained? By killing a person with a MK Logo mark and it passes unto you.
Wait... They didn't want to train Sonya because she didn't have the Mark, but she effectively kills Kano before getting the Mark...
O Tournament where art thou?
The movie makes a huge deal about the Mortal Kombat tournament yet everything that happens is before said tournament even starts. What's the point of talking about the tournament if you're not going to do the actual tournament. I know that future games ignore that tournament angle. Usually these games happen after Liu Kang wins the first Mortal Kombat blocking Outworld's Invasion on Earth, which forces Shao Kahn to bypass the tournament rules and invade Earth.
Here on the 2021 bastardization we have Shang Tsung already cheating and the tournament hasn't even started.
Liu Kang Who?
The main character in Mortal Kombat is none other than Liu Kang. In the 2021 bastardization he's nothing more than a glorified cameo. The movie follows Cole Yawn, a dull boring Store Brand Johnny Cage, that happens to be Scorpion's great great great great grandson... who happens to have a literal plot armor as a superpower. It's most likely that Cole Yawn was a studio mandate. Wait, he was? You don't say!
Then again it's WB, the studio who loves to mess up with adaptations and then wonder why did they suck. (Except with Zack Snyder... those suck even without studio meddling.) The 2021 adaptation did Liu Kang dirty.
Story? What story? This is about a game where 2 people are beating themselves up until one gets killed in outlandish ways... WE are giving it pathos and meaning
This is why the movie fails. I've mentioned that I'm more of a fan of the Mortal Kombat lore than the actual games. This movie wipes its ass with the lore, while the 1995 movie was more faithful to it, despite the changes. Sure, the first game was basically Enter the Dragon but with Superpowers... but they had a lot of room to play with using the characters' backstories.
I know, I know, I'm talking big criticizing, but not offer any solutions... I can't offer solutions since the movie is already made and people are suggesting that Johnny Cage should be Awesome... but since I'm not a "professional writer", I can't write a script. What I can do is make a quick outline more or less telling the story I would tell for a MK movie...
I'd start with the Scorpion and Sub-zero feud, where Bi-Han under Quan Chi's orders eliminates the Shirai Ryu. The fight ends with Hasashi dying and reaching Hell. Then we go to two years ago, where the International Special Forces have a squad led by Jackson Briggs, Hsu Hao, and Sonya Blade attempting to capture the infamous Black Dragon Clan. The operation goes wrong (thanks to Hsu Hao) and it becomes a shitfest. Here is where Kabal nearly dies and eventually dons the respirator. Tremor, No Face, and Tasia are "kannon fodder" to showcase Fatalities. Hsu Hao gets injured, Sonya explodes Kano's right eye with her Energy Blast.
We move to the present day at the Temple of the Order of Light, where Liu Kang and Kung Lao are sparring to find out who will represent the Temple of the Order of Light in Mortal Kombat. Liu Kang barely defeats Kung Lao and Lord Raiden consoles Kung Lao by reminding him that while the Order of Light can only send One Kombatant, there are other ways to represent Earthrealm in Mortal Kombat.
We now move to the Warner Brothers movie lot in Burbank California. And since I'm me, I would have a shot of the water tower similar to the Animaniacs intro as the Animaniacs theme begins to play where we cut to Johnny Cage in a Mocap Suit answering said phone and whining about doing videogame Motion Capture, because the studio doesn't want to hire Zack Snyder to direct Ninja Mime 4, but they want to hire Joss Whedon. Another guy in a Motion Capture suit (Mokap) tells Cage that Sifu Pesina is looking for him. This scene mirrors the 95 movie where Cage enters Mortal Kombat. As Sifu Pesina leaves, he turns into Shang Tsung.
("Snydercut version" would have Shang Tsung cycle from Sifu Pesina to Linden Ashby to Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa to the current Shang Tsung)
We go back to Sonya and Jax who are discussing new Black Dragon operations at her place where a courier drops a package for Sonya. Said package has an invitation to Mortal Kombat for her and one for Jax as well as photographs and surveillance videos showing that Kano is not only alive but participating in Mortal Kombat.
Now we have Kano, Liu Kang, Raiden, Johnny Cage, and Sonya on their way to the island. Shang Tsung hiring a Lin Kuei assassin to eliminate Earthrealm Kombatants in and out of the tournament would bring back Bi-Han, who we can say was frozen for years because, something something cryomancers, something something need "ice sleeps" for longevity.
Having Sub-zero awake, triggers Scorpion's return.
They get to the island, where Shang Tsung explains the tournament and we have a Test your Might scene. As Sub-zero attempts to assassinate Liu Kang outside of Kombat, Scorpion shows up and kills the Lin Kuei assassin. Meanwhile, Jax and Sonya are attecked by A group of Tarkatans and are saved by Raiden and Kung Lao. Since this is not an official Kombat, Raiden can intervene (Lightning, teleport, Superman, you name it.)
In this free for all, we get to see Raiden and Kung Lao's moves and fatalities.
Johnny Cage gets to fight a Tarkatan that is NOT Baraka in an official Kombat. Cage finally understands the seriousness of Kombat, but he gets to showcase his Fatality AND Friendship.
("Snydercut version" The Beheading Uppercut is replayed from 3 different angles as a nod to the 3 head Fatality bug)
Sonya gets an official match against Kano.
Liu Kang, while stalked by Reptile, gets his official match agains the Zaterran.
Jax fights Goro and gets his arms ripped out.
Liu Kang is put to fight against Kung Lao and refuses to finish his opponent. Shang Tsung descends to absorb Kung Lao's soul, but is interrupted by Raiden, who reminds Shang Tsung that his repeated attempts at sidestepping the rules have been noted by the Elder Gods and it could put Shang Tsung's stake on Earth in danger. Shang Tsung backs down but announces that Cage will battle Goro. Sonya is aghast, because she knows what the Shokan did to Jax. She's trying to dissuade Cage from fighting Goro, but Cage calms her and asks for a date after he beats Goro.
The fight between Cage and Goro would begin similarly to the 95 movie. Cage will lure Goro away from his labyrinthine Lair to the Pit Arena. Where the gigantic Shokan wouldn't have the advantage. Goro begins to gain the advantage, when Liu Kang invokess the Endurance round rules to Goro. With Liu Kang's help Johnny Cage manages to make Goro fall from the pit. Since Liu Kang delivered the Killing Blow, he passes to the final against Shang Tsung.
The final battle, should be very trippy with Liu Kang battling Shang Tsung, who uses his sorcery to mimic other fighters. Mirror Match, fighting the other 6 MK Kombatants. In the end Liu Kang wins and lets Shang Tsung go, so he can face his Emperor as a failure. The movie ends with a montage of "endings" Liu Kang returning as champion to the Temple of Light and Kung Lao asks for a rematch. They're interrupted as a woman from Outworld (Mileena posing as Kitana) hands Liu Kang an invitation to a Special Mortal Kombat in Outworld. Raiden leaves to ask the Elder Gods the meaning of this. Sonya is overseeing Jax's recovery from the battle, with his new Cybernetic arms. Meanwhile, Hsu Hao connects a flash drive to one of the ISF computers. Johnny Cage is preparing to go to an award ceremony as he steps into the limo we see Sonya as she complains about this being the second most bizarre date she's ever being. To which Johnny replies that fighting monsters in an island to defend the fate of Earth via a martial arts tournament is the weirdest date he's ever been... but also the best because he met Sonya there.
Final scene we have Bi-Han burning in hell as the camera zooms in on his face to switch into the Lin Kuei chamber where he was frozenas we zoom out from a frozen member (Kuai Liang) opening his eyes as Mileena drops an invitation to Mortal Kombat.
I know that some of the complaints will be that it's a bit too close to the game and 1995 movie. I'll admit that the main intention was sticking to the games. I did have a few intentional "tributes" to the 1995 movie, mainly with Johnny Cage, since it made Johnny Likable. The tournament is still the main focus, but at the same time, giving motivations to most of the characters... I tried to keep most of the key players alive for the sake of the sequels. That's the main reason why I used stuff from the horrible Special Forces game since it gave me plenty of Cannon father for Jax and Sonya. Adding Hsu Hao to the mix is pure sequel baiting. With Kano seemingly dead, Kabal can take Reigns of the black dragon. With Bi-Han dead, I can bring Kuai Liang to the sequel. Goro's death paves the way for Kintaro and Sheeva.
Every playable character from the games should get a moment to shine. Aside Mileena, who is sequel bait... especially, since on the sequel I want to play with both Kitana and Mileena confusing Liu Kang. Since this is a vague and basic idea of story, I'm not going too deep with dialogue, camera angles, soundtrack, etc.
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