#mk26

I left this movie with my back soaked in sweat and my heart pounding. If you know anything about me, I am a FUCKING Mortal Kombat nerd first and a human second. Mortal Kombat 1995 is literally my favorite movie of all time. I had my initials in the top ten at my childhood arcade. Let’s get into it.

Loved:

Johnny and Baraka’s fight. That was the greatest fighting I’ve ever seen. Also their friendship. Johnny keeping his promise and returning to the clan to hang out, all the little ones crowded around and then big ass Baraka.

Johnny at 1 percent health. I loved his little feet rocking and his head lolling to the side before he fainted. Very game accurate and super cute and fun.

Kano does what Kano wants. Him hating outworld and swapping sides because he doesn’t want to lose air conditioning? That’s my kin. He also just runs his mouth and is an absolute delight—I know he was brought back in the sequel just because he did so well in the first movie.

When Johnny went into that tent, saw the child Tarkatans, and went Euww. Perfect.

Johnny’s little kick slide!

Hanzo having a Zen Garden. In HELL. Leave that man alooooone. Two idiots show up in the Netherrealm and he’s just trying to make some cute swirls and stuff in his white, sandy garden. The concept of bending hell to your will because you’re fucking Scorpion?? Amazing. For the Shirai Ryu. It also explains how he just speaks fluent English now. Wish we could have had that in the first movie--I love listening to Hiroyuki talk.

Scorpion x Noob Saibot fight. That was absolutely stellar. The costume design on dark Bi-Han was so fucking insane, and the effects of his dark matter moving through him and the arena around them was… I’m speechless.

Costume design. Everyone just looks fucken amazing. Fun. Creative.

Kitana using Fatality against Shao Khan. Holy shit. (My favorite Fatality of hers is the little blowy-kiss though)

That dude in the bar telling Johnny he liked his cheesy 90s movies has my whole heart. He is my spirit.

Liked:

The Liu x Lao fight. The choreographers and Ludi and Max clearly understand the characters. Their similar fighting styles from being raised together and the way they’ve trained together all their lives? I move, you move, I know where you're going, we block the same way, etc. My angst was peak. I cried for at least 9 mins. Liu won that fight at great personal cost, and Sonya comforting him after was great.

I would have loved more interactions between our champions, but I know it’s a fighting movie. The three guys fighting in the pit when Johnny shows up, being bros.

The dialogue was so fun. The shit-talking before the fights felt so much like the games. The serious moments felt sincere, and the jokey moments were chef's kiss.

The teleportation method of the tournament, and the diamonds in the sky. That was fucken cool. The different Kombat Zones were great to see—very game accurate. However, we still haven’t seen the lame-ass Elder Gods, and I was hoping to see Fujin, especially when Raiden was hurt.

Quan Chi resurrecting Kano instead of just checking his fucking pockets for the amulet. Bro, loot the body!!

First and foremost, this is a movie based on a fighting video game. And the fights were amazing. There was not a moment of boredom, the pacing was exceptional, and I think that the storyline went very well. It was action-packed and FUN while still having an emotional toll and heart.

Kitana being a double agent was fun. That bitch is NOT forgiving you for murdering her parents. It eliminated the ‘will she won’t she’ join us part of the storyline. However, sad I didn’t get to see her and Liu meet. Which brings us to…

Disliked:

Liu and Kitana had zero interactions. They are one of my fav ships and they made eye contact twice.

And killing Liu? If it’s to let him ascend to godhood, that’s cool. But if my boy is just gone, I am going to go to the studio and set it on fire. His golden eyes give me hope for fire god Liu, but I’m not holding my breath for five years over it.

I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t love Johnny. But I still disliked the lack of the Earthrealm trio. Liu, Sonya, and Johnny are the centermost ties of the series, and I needed more interaction between them. Johnny and Sonya are an OTP, and I better get them together.

I also didn’t like how they made the markings so central to the first film and Johnny doesn’t even have one?? Not even that, Raiden says at the end of the movie ‘I’ll assemble a new list of champions’, but then the Elder Gods pick Johnny as an Earthrealm champion?? Singular? Where is the continuity?

Jade giving Kitana the fans. It’s a great idea, BEFORE the tournament that will decide the fate of our universe. I don’t doubt she would immediately be perfectly skilled with any weapon. But her fighting style is adeptly suited to dual fans, and she got them the day before the tournament. Please.

Where’s my Mileena?? Not even a revenant? Having so much Jade and Kitana, it was a bummer to miss out on my demon princess.

Also, just made me realize how much I don’t like Mileena’s 2021 costume. Jade and Kitana were colorful and practical with ease, but my girl couldn’t even have a magenta sash.

Stop sidelining Shang Tsung!! Is he afraid to ruin his silk press?! 1995 Shang Tsung wasn’t afraid to fuck it up. RIP Cary Hiroyuki.

Sindel didn’t do the hair thing!! I know she’s a banshee, but my dad would SPAM the hair move where you’d just get slapped left and right by her strong ass neck. Her fight against Sonya was mid. Sonya was excellent, but Sindel just... yelled the whole time.

WHERE is Kuai Liang?!

Hated:

You killed Cole. Are you fucking kidding me?? After centering the first movie around him and building this lore and making me actually like him and care about him?? You dropped a hammer on his head. I could actually sue someone. Then you killed Jax too?! What the hell is going on around here?!?!

I'm sure it was to appease the Cole haters, and I'm looking forward to Lewis Tan returning as Kenshi or Takeda (Scorpion training him in hell? Amazeballs) but still.

Shao Kahn being a bitch ass cheater. It aligns with Shang Tsung saying 'we didn't win 9 tournaments by leaving things to chance', but it's a shame to see one of the most powerful game characters resort to stealing an invincibility amulet.

Anyway, we have already been approved for the third movie. I can't fucking wait. It'll be fun, it'll be bloody, and no one can take that from me.