‘Mortal Kombat II’ Review – Embraces Its Video Game Roots For A More Confident Sequel

Perhaps because video game movie adaptations tend not to live up to expectations, 2021’s Mortal Kombat felt like a breath of fresh air. Released as theaters were adjusting to bringing people back in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film felt like the best possible outcome for a reboot based on the popular video game series that had parents up in arms over its graphic violence. The 1995 film, which became the first truly successful video game movie adaptation, seems like it’s enjoyed more now through a lens of nostalgia and because the Mortal Kombat theme, “Techno Syndrome,” continues to slap today. New Line Cinema opted for a PG-13-rated film with that endeavor, and even though the Paul W.S. Anderson movie still delivered in terms of capturing the aesthetic of the game, that rating wasn’t true to what Mortal Kombat was. The 2021 installment embraced R-rated violence and fatalities alongside high-quality fight choreography and what felt like proper fan service.

However, once the dust settled and the movie pulled in decent money for pandemic times and became HBO Max’s most successful film launch, it was apparent that the fan service wasn’t enough, and key elements were still missing to make the movie a faithful adaptation of the game. The decision to introduce a new character as the film’s main protagonist was heavily criticized, and not including the actual Mortal Kombat tournament (even though it was clear they were building to it in a future installment) was a huge bone of contention, among other nitpicks. When the sequel was announced, director Simon McQuoid, game creator Ed Boon, and producer Todd Garner said all of these things would be addressed to give the fans a film worthy of their devotion, and boy, have they delivered with Mortal Kombat II. This is fan service done right, with the creative team listening to their wants and desires by embracing its video game roots while also crafting a film that is more fun, confident, and more than likely going to please a fanbase that’s also looking forward to enhanced action, violence, and just enough camp that makes it obvious the film knows what it is while still respecting the film’s lore and a legion of fans that has made the IP incredibly successful since 1992.

Mortal Kombat II doesn’t waste much time getting things going, and it’s clear that through two familiar characters, it has already course-corrected one of the flaws of the first film. Instead of seeing all of this through the eyes of a character unfamiliar to fans, the movie opens with a young Kitana (Sophia Xu) being gifted a necklace from Lord Rayden (Tadanobu Asano) by her father, King Jerrod (Desmond Chiam), that will guide her to the god of thunder whenever necessary. King Jerrod is preparing to face off against Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) in a round of Mortal Kombat that will see the winner ruling over Outworld, with Shao Kahn aiming to rule with an iron fist, with its inhabitants essentially becoming his slaves. The fight ends with Shao Kahn victorious and Kitana’s father brutally killed, leaving Outworld in his control and Kitana set up to be raised as his daughter, with King Jerrod’s wife and Kitana’s mother, Queen Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen), at his side. As Kitana grows up, now portrayed by Adeline Rudolph, she has become a trained fighter with the help of her bodyguard Jade (Tati Gabrielle), who is more like a sister to her. Kitana appears to be serving Shao Kahn’s will, but all isn’t as it seems.

Meanwhile, the champions of Earthrealm are preparing for the tournament, which is crucial because Earthrealm has lost nine in a row; if they lose a tenth, Earthrealm will come under the rule of Shao Kahn. This leads to the team, consisting of Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Jax (Mehcad Brooks), Cole Young (Lewis Tan), and Lord Raiden (Asano), seeking out Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), a washed-up former action movie star, because the gods have detrmined he’s one of the best and meant to particpate in the tournament on their side. However, due to how jaded Johnny has become, convincing him won’t be all that easy, and it has to be done before Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung (Chin Han), and their side get a hold of the Amulet of Shinok, which could make Shao Kahn immortal and impossible to defeat unless the amulet is destroyed.

By making Kitana and Johnny Cage the primary focus of the sequel, the film solves one major concern that plagued the first movie. Cole Young’s washed-up MMA fighter, who was unaware of his lineage to Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) and was being pursued by Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), was a new character to attract general audiences to see the film, but fans had no prior connection to him, which turned some of the fanbase off. While Lewis Tan is a skilled martial artist and capable actor, Cole Young wasn’t the right character for audiences to be reintroduced to this IP on the big screen. With the shift to Kitana and Johnny Cage, the sequel gets a beating heart from the former and some of the film’s best moments and laughs from the latter. Even though Urban has considerable fans respect thanks to his work on The Boys and his turn as Judge Dredd in the underrated 2012 film, some were concerned that he wasn’t age appropriate to portray Johnny Cage but the film wisely turns the character into someone way past his prime, attending fan conventions where his line isn’t full and fans have mostly forgotten his films such as Uncaged Fury, which we get to see a glimpse of in one of the film’s best scenes that pokes fun at action stars and action movie tropes.

Urban embraces the essence of Johnny Cage, getting some of the film’s best lines while also staying true to what fans have come to love about the character. As some have pointed out in some of their early reactions, Urban is “JOHNNY FUCKING CAGE,” and it feels like a role he was born to play. In addition to this, not all of his character beats are played for jokes. The character has a convincing arc of rediscovering what once made him great (he grew up as a skilled martial artist) and proving why the gods chose him for the tournament.

Rudolph gets a lot to work with as Kitana, a character who hasn’t lost her father’s heart and will to fight. Jeremy Slather’s screenplay does a good job of indicating early on that, even though her mother has become an undead wife to Shao Kahn, Kitana’s heart is still pure, and she rejects his tyranny, at least in secret, as she helps Earthrealm with intel on what Shao Kahn is up to. This is made complicated by her relationship with Jade, something that is beautifully played by Gabrielle and Rudolph as loyalties become questioned. In addition to being the movie’s heart, Rudolph’s turn as Kitana is exceptionally bad-ass, and she gets a few scenes to show it off with signature moves from the games that are bound to please fans.

There is a greater sense of confidence and fun that pulses throughout Mortal Kombat II. This is a sequel that has carefully looked at what worked and what didn’t work about its predecessor and has made all the appropriate moves to improve. The action, which played well in the first movie, is even better here as each character, no matter how small the role, gets a chance to show off in some of the film’s many fight scenes. The choreography is tighter, and many of the fights are reflective of what is featured in the games.

One of the best involves Liu Kang (Lin) and a resurrected Kung Lao (Max Huang), which is a visual treat, along with being a pulse-pounding display of action that ends with one hell of a fatality that had my screening howling with delight. Another fight, involving Scorpion (Sanada), Bi-Han/Noob Saibot (Taslim), Johnny Cage, and a back-from-the-dead Kano (Josh Lawson), also resonates as not only is it fun to watch, but it also assists in moving the climax forward as it’s intercut with another fight between Shao Kahn and Kitana.

Another impressive feat is that Mortal Kombat II has to juggle a huge ensemble, but none of the characters feel underserved. Sonya (McNamee) and Jax (Brooks) don’t just feel like leftovers from the first film and bring agency to the sequel, while new additions with smaller roles, such as Baraka (CJ Bloomfield), make enough of an impression with limited screen time that fans should still be pleased. Also, since certain characters are resurrected, they return to bring back something worthwhile to the follow-up. Lawson is still stealing scenes as Kano and is in a legitimate competition with Urban for who has the best lines and delivery, while Huang’s Kung Lao, a bit darker this time, gets to continue to be one of the franchise’s best casting choices. If anything, characters returning from the dead set up more for a future installment, as it’s obvious that the fatalities here aren’t always permanent, and some characters can return playing roles more appropriate to their talents.

Mortal Kombat II is everything a sequel should be. It’s bigger, bolder, and unapologetic about its connection to its video game roots. While the 2021 film was enjoyable, Mortal Kombat II feels more like a flawless victory for the franchise and should make fans look forward to what this IP does next.

Mortal Kombat II hits screens this Friday courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.