Ludi Lin in “Mortal Kombat” by Simon McQuoid – Warner Bros France
- “Mortal Kombat” had a very funny film adaptation in 1995.
- This new film takes itself more seriously.
- But the special effects and “kombats” are more successful than in the version of the last century.
“Mortal Kombaaat”! The techno theme song always resonates in fans’ heads. And it’s not over ! Mortal Kombatby Simon McQuoid, available for digital purchase and on VOD this Wednesday and that Warner does not exclude from
coming out soon in theaters, brings the cinema version up to date.
In the beginning it was a fighting game. Understand that the players were orchestrating terrific fights with tearing of the opponent’s spine (authentic!) And plethora of spurts of hemoglobin. Paul W. Anderson immortalized Mortal Kombat on the big screen in 1995 in a B series from behind the fagots. 20 minutes compared the two vesions who each have strengths in their game.
The scenario: equality
It’s more or less tied, but it’s not for the story that we like Mortal Kombat. This is to see the competitors face off in deadly fights (pardon the Kombats)! Both versions have storylines that would fit on a mid-sized postage stamp: Martial arts aces with oversized powers take on bad guys.
The tone: more fun in 1995
Paul W. Anderson can be blamed for a lot of things, but we have to admit that the director was never pretentious. He has grasped the playful element in “playful video” to deliver a frankly funny film. Simon McQuoid doesn’t laugh at all to send his martial artists to the fight. The fights are superb, more virtuoso than those in 1995, but far less fun.
The dialogues: more pompous in 2021
As long as the actors hit each other in the face, all is well. But as soon as they open their mouths, it spoils. In the 2021 version, it really feels like they’re reading Shakespeare when they recite bombastic lines like “the fate of the world is in our hands” with papal seriousness. The 1995 version was less pompous.
Visual effects: more spectacular in 2021
So there, we must recognize that the 2021 version is more successful than that of 1995. Great progress has been made on the side of visual effects. When Sub-Zero, not really nice warrior, generates his ice saber in a shot, the spectator shivers with pleasure. Ditto when we discover a
Goro very successful with these four murderous arms. Some bloody scenes are also worthy of the game. It is mainly for this reason this new film deserves a look. Without forgetting its predecessor.