With the release of the new adaptation of Mortal Kombat, the movie series has course-corrected the franchise in such a brilliant way that has fans in a frenzy. The popcorn flick might not have had the greatest response from critics, but it’s an instant classic amongst fans of the original video game, or most of them, at least.
There are a lot of moments in the movie that the fans stand united on, whether it’s Kano stealing the show, the incredibly choreographed fights, or missing the mark with Goro. But not every viewer stands in line, and they very passionately go against the grain when it comes to the good and the bad.
It Featured The Best Representation Of Reptile
When audiences are first introduced to the immediate fan favorite Kano, he rips the heart out of Reptile in one of the most creative early fights in the movie. Though characters in the movie are mostly accurately depicted, in the video games, Reptile is more of a human-reptile hybrid. But in the 2021 adaptation, he is much more reptilian.
The character looks a bit more like a werewolf than anything, and though fans of the series have been critical of the new design, a select few like the new design. They claim that the character was more interesting than the human ninja in the video games, and that he was unique compared to the other characters in the movie.
The Fights Weren’t Well Choreographed
Being somewhat of a self proclaimed martial arts movie expert, one Redditor has complained about the choreography in the movie when it comes to the fights. Leading up to the film, hype was building due to the announcement that there’d be proper fatalities, like in the video games, and because real martial arts fighters were cast as the characters.
In the eyes of most, the martial arts looked great on screen and it features the best fight scenes in the series. The user is in the minority of people who don’t think the scenes are up to scratch. However, to their credit, they do cite the choppy edits and bad angels as one of the reasons why the scenes are underwhelming, which is one of the common criticisms of the movie.
Cole Young Defeating Goro Made Sense
In the video game series, Goro is the undefeated champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament, which essentially means that he is the strongest and most powerful opponent in the series. And on top of that, he is beloved by fans, which is why one of the most disappointing moments of the 2021 movie was when Cole Young made cannon fodder out of the four armed beast.
Fans agree that there’s no way that newcomer Cole Young could have ever taken down Goro, but one user disagrees. They argue that Goro was the character that was chosen as Cole’s first fight to really hit home to fans just how powerful Cole actually is. But not all hope is lost, as the sequel could retcon Goro.
Kano Should Have Been More Like His Video Game Counterpart
The biggest standout in the adaptation and one of the best characters is the foul-mouthed Aussie, Kano. He is full of vulgar jokes, pop culture references, and hilarious insults.
It’s massively gratifying when he finally gets his arcana in the form of a lazer eye, but one user thinks that Kano should have resembled his video game counterpart more, both in looks and personality. They argue that Kano should have a metal faceplate just like in the game, and that he is in no way as sinister as he has been portrayed in the series. But in reality, Kano totally stole the show.
The Movie Was Bad
The box office intake for Mortal Kombat hasn’t been great to say the least. Though that could be attributed to the fact that it was available to stream on HBO Max at the same time, it might also be because it hasn’t been the most well received movie critically.
However, audiences love it, and that’s clear from its 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, one user sides with the critics, citing that it comes off as a 16-year-old’s fan fiction.
The Miz Shouldn’t Play Johnny Cage In The Sequel
The end of Mortal Kombat hinted at the appearance of Johnny Cage in the possible sequel. Johnny Cage is the most beloved character in the game series, as he’s a fourth-wall-breaking Hollywood movie star, and the internet has been arguing over who should play him ever since the movie’s release.
One of the most popular is the wrestler The Miz, who has also said himself that he’d be interested in playing the character. However, a select few are campaigning against it. They argue that a more accomplished actor should play the iconic character.
Cole Young Isn’t As Bad As People Say
With all of the fascinating characters with strange powers, ludicrous outfits, and outrageous personalities, one of the most surprising things in the movie is the choice of lead character. Instead of going with any of the 60+ characters from the video games, screenwriter David Callaham created the original character, Cole Young.
The MMA fighter and descendent of Scorpion was the subject of many criticisms, as he’s mostly a wet blanket compared to the other fighters. However, one user believes the character isn’t as bad as people say. They actually make a good point, as they explain that Scorpion lives on through him.
It Was A Great Action Movie But A Bad Mortal Kombat Movie
After commending the brilliant martial arts in the movie, one Redditor gives Mortal Kombat a backhanded compliment by calling it a great action flick but a bad Mortal Kombat film.
They explain that the pacing was terrible, which was mostly due to the fact that there was too much exposition, and there was no need for all the detailed discussions about arcanas. However, most people would arguably say the opposite, as it was a great Mortal Kombat movie, but a bad action one.
Stryker Should Have Been In The Movie
Though Stryker isn’t a popular character in the video game series, this Redditor thinks that he would have made for a perfect protagonist for the 2021 remake/adaptation. They claim that the character’s realistic move-set and his relatable story arc in the games is what would make him a great hero, but people don’t exactly watch/play Mortal Kombat for the reality of it all.
To be fair to the user, though there are many characters that audiences would have chosen as a lead character before Stryker, as most fans would have preferred to see Stryker as the frontman than Cole Young.
There Shouldn’t Be A Sequel
In a conversation about the exciting possibility of a sequel, one Redditor doesn’t want one, but instead wants another remake already, claiming that the movie should have been better.
However, Mortal Kombat did a great job at building the world and getting viewers excited for a sequel. On top of that, it was so much more satisfying than the original 1995 movie and its 1997 sequel. And whether or not viewers think the quality of this movie was good, it doesn’t mean that the sequel will be the same.