Just got out of Mortal Kombat II, and yeah, this is exactly what you want from a Mortal Kombat sequel.
I went with my 18-year-old son, and overall, we both had a good time. This isn’t The Godfather. It’s not trying to be. It’s a video game fighting movie packed with blood, fatalities, crazy fight scenes, and plenty of “awe sh-t” moments. I found myself saying that more than once.
If you liked the first Mortal Kombat, you’re probably going to love this one. If you’re a fan of the games, there is a lot here for you.
Mortal Kombat II delivers the fatalities and fights
The fatalities are great.
The fight scenes are also top-notch, especially if you’re into the over-the-top Chinese kung fu style that Mortal Kombat has leaned into over the years. The action is fast, brutal, and ridiculous in the way it should be.
The standout for me was the Kung Lao vs. Liu Kang fight. That was easily my favorite fight in the movie.
The special effects are also done really well. Nothing felt cheap. The movie looks big, the fights have weight, and the score adds a lot to the energy.
Kano steals the show again
Josh Lawson as Kano is still one of the best parts of this franchise.
He pretty much steals the show whenever he’s on screen. The movie knows how to use him, and Lawson clearly understands the assignment. He brings the laughs, the attitude, and the kind of dirtbag energy that makes Kano work.
Martyn Ford is also really good as Shao Kahn. He looks imposing, he feels dangerous, and there were actually moments where I found myself rooting for him.
At one point, I was hoping the movie would go full “Empire Strikes Back” with him. That’s how much presence he has.
There are too many characters
The biggest issue is that Mortal Kombat II has way too many characters.
At times, it gets hard to keep track of everyone. Some characters don’t feel needed, and the movie could have cut a few of them without losing much.
There are also so many fight scenes that you start to get used to them. That sounds weird for a Mortal Kombat movie, but when everything is a fight, some of the fights start to blend together.
The good news is that the movie does pick back up. The final battle delivers, and there is a payoff.
The girl power almost goes too far
There is a lot of girl power in this one with Kitana, Jade, and Sonya Blade.
At times, it gets close to being too much. You can feel the movie pushing it pretty hard.
That said, it didn’t ruin the film. The characters still fit the story, and the action works. It just gets noticeable.
Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage is a mixed bag
Karl Urban is the biggest question mark.
My son thought Johnny Cage should have been a lot cooler, and I get where he’s coming from. Cage is supposed to be cocky, flashy, and fun. Here, he comes off more like the audience insert. He’s the white dude loser.
He’s the character used to explain the plot, the rules, and the Mortal Kombat lore to people who might not know much about the games.
That makes sense from a story standpoint, but it also makes Johnny Cage feel less cool than he should. He’s basically the normie guide through the movie. However, is that even needed? Read on.
Empty theater was a bad sign
My son and I were the only ones in the theater.
This was a Thursday preview screening at 3 p.m. in one of the best theaters in the area, a Regal RPX screen, and nobody else was there.
Not one person.
I’m not sure what that says about the movie’s tracking, marketing, or overall awareness, but it wasn’t a great sign.
My son said he hadn’t seen any ads for the movie. Maybe the marketing should have hit TikTok harder, gone bigger during the NBA Playoffs, or done more to reach Gen Z.
Final thoughts
I’m an OG Mortal Kombat fan. I remember playing the first game in the arcade, so I know what I wanted from this movie.
I wanted fights. I wanted fatalities. I wanted crazy characters. I wanted those “awe sh-t” moments.
Mortal Kombat II delivers on that.
It has flaws. There are too many characters, Johnny Cage could have been cooler, and the movie sometimes gets overloaded with fights. But as a video game fighting movie, this is a fun sequel that gives fans what they came for.
If you liked the first movie, you’ll probably like this one even more. Good news: they also tease the third.
Rating: 7.5/10
