Critics HATED This Action Movie, But Fans Can’t Wait For The Sequel!

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In a unique scenario, the movie “Mortal Kombat” (2021) elicited differing responses from audiences and critics, creating an intriguing challenge for its sequels to reconcile these divergent viewpoints. This fresh adaptation of the notoriously violent American fighting game series offers a fresh perspective on the struggle for dominance depicted in the title, known as the Mortal Kombat. Simultaneously released in cinemas and on HBO Max, “Mortal Kombat” became one of the action franchises that thrived during the COVID-19 era of film premieres.

2021’s “Mortal Kombat” deviates from its lighthearted ’90s predecessors in certain aspects, while being more true-to-life adaptation in others. Unlike the past PG-13 films, this new version of “Mortal Kombat” dives deep into an R-rated depiction that fully embraces the series’ notorious gore. However, some significant alterations have been introduced to the plot compared to the games, such as Cole Young as a new protagonist and the Arcana magic system which bestows unique powers upon each Mortal Kombat tournament combatant.

Mortal Kombat Was A Much Bigger Hit With Audiences Than Critics

A Sharp Divide That’s Easy To Understand

In a unique split among critics and casual viewers, the movie “Mortal Kombat” stands out as one of the most contrastingly reviewed films of the 2020s on Rotten Tomatoes. While it has only managed a 55% approval rating from professional reviewers, it boasts an impressive 85% rating among the general audience. This translates to a striking 30% disagreement between the two groups. Given the film’s ambitious scope and the history of its adaptations based on video games, this disparity in opinion isn’t entirely unexpected.

Critics who are against it pointed out that, contrary to its name Mortal Kombat, the 2021 movie doesn’t start with the main tournament. Instead, all the fighting in the film feels like deliberate undermining before any actual combat in the tournament begins. The character Cole Young didn’t win over new or knowledgeable critics either, as they saw him as a one-dimensional Mary Sue, lacking depth, and merely serving as a bland conduit for the audience to explore the fantastical multiverse. It’s also worth noting that Lewis Tan’s portrayal of the new character was considered unremarkable.

To put it simply, the Mortal Kombat series has never relied heavily on its narrative prowess. However, when it comes to gory action, the 2021 movie exceeds expectations significantly. The film’s innovative fight choreography and accurate portrayals of iconic game characters have produced some of the best fight scenes in Mortal Kombat movie history. Even with a discerning eye, there’s no denying that the movie does justice to the long-standing rivalry between Sub-Zero and Scorpion, transforming their bitter feud into an engaging dramatic performance.

Mortal Kombat 2 Can Bridge The Audience-Critic Divide

Johnny Cage Might Be The Key To A Flawless Victory

In the upcoming “Mortal Kombat 2”, Warner Brothers can endeavor to win over critics who were unimpressed with the fatalities of the initial movie, while maintaining the affection of ordinary viewers. A crucial aspect in addressing this issue will be surpassing Cole Young with Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage, a beloved character known for transforming from a Hollywood rogue into a savior of Earthrealm. The interaction between Johnny Cage and Liu Kang, both skilled fighters with contrasting personalities and backgrounds, will be instrumental in developing an engaging buddy dynamic that can sustain the film, unlike the charismatic void left by Cole Young.

In order to improve the Mortal Kombat series, it’s crucial to focus less on lengthy training sequences and instead move straight into high-stakes tournaments where multiple worlds are at risk. The original Mortal Kombat had a storyline that was difficult for viewers to invest in, but with a more engaging structure, even the most skeptical critics might find themselves drawn in. Ideally, Mortal Kombat 2 will serve as a revitalization of the franchise following the rocky debut of Mortal Kombat.

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2025-05-28 22:32