Save for a few stand-outs, many films based on video games have been subject to scrutiny. From “Super Mario Bros.” to “Rampage,” films of this type have often received criticism, whether it be due to poor acting, a lack of faithfulness to their subject matter or the fact that there is little to no story to adapt from the get-go. “Mortal Kombat,” the latest film adaptation of the iconic video game franchise, unfortunately falls victim to these same issues.

Perhaps the only aspect of the film that lives up to its potential are the action sequences, which are well-choreographed and executed. Maintaining the spirit of the games, these fight scenes are presented in a fashion that relies on an overabundance of gore, in addition to featuring the iconic finishing moves known as “fatalities.” 

Other than its action, “Mortal Kombat” has no other legs to stand on. Despite its name and source material, the film neglects to feature the titular fighting tournament and instead focuses on the pursuit of the villains to keep the event from happening. As a result, the film consists primarily of exposition and backstory, opting to explain the origins of the tournament and its playout, rather than showing viewers what occurred during it. Though the games lended it an easy premise to work off of, the film squanders it, thereby sacrificing a good portion of the fun and entertainment which could have gone along with it.

Seemingly under the expectation that the audience is familiar with the games’ characters, the film does little to introduce or develop them. Furthermore, fan-favorites such as Liu Kang (Ludi Lin, “Black Mirror”) are forced to take a backseat to Cole (Lewis Tan, “Deadpool 2”), a generic protagonist who does little for the film, aside from taking the spotlight away from the characters fans wish to see. In contrast to the previous 1995 “Mortal Kombat” film of the same name, this film features performances which are neither good or campy enough to remember. Instead, they each possess little memorability due to their uninspired, almost amateur qualities.

Like other films that are made in the hopes of spawning a franchise, “Mortal Kombat” also suffers from tonal inconsistencies which make it difficult to take the film seriously. At times, the film attempts to present itself as a dark, serious action film. Reminiscent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are also points in the film that make it seem as though it is trying to play itself off as a comedy, whether it be in either an awkward or wise-cracking fashion. Regardless, both attempts were in vain, as the film’s sloppiness and inconsistencies ultimately have made it too difficult to decipher its true intended direction.

Just as other video game adaptations have done, “Mortal Kombat’s” failure to do justice to its source material will eventually cause it to fade into obscurity. With a forgettable cast, misguided story and muddled tone, the film does little to capture the fun, excitement and camp for which the games are known for. Seeing as it gives viewers little reason to clamor for more, the film shall be known as nothing more than a wasted opportunity to boost the reputation of video game films.

Image from IGN via YouTube