Official Trailer
Rating: 7/10 | Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure | Runtime: 116 min
Starring: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Martyn Ford
Mortal Kombat II is exactly what you want from a video game movie sequel. It knows what it is, doesn’t apologize for it, and delivers two solid hours of people punching each other in creative ways.
Karl Urban shows up as Johnny Cage and immediately makes the movie better. He’s funny without trying too hard, and the chemistry he has with the returning cast feels natural. Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson are back as the main heroes, and they’ve both gotten better at handling the dramatic moments between fights. There’s actual weight to their characters now instead of just “person who knows martial arts.”
The plot is straightforward. Shao Kahn is still a problem, and he’s forcing all the champions to fight each other in some twisted tournament situation. It’s basically an excuse to have everyone battle everyone else, which sounds dumb but actually works here. The movie doesn’t waste time pretending this is Shakespeare. It gets you to the fights fast and keeps them coming.
Those fights are the real star. Some of them are genuinely impressive. There’s a scene where two characters go at it in an ancient temple that had me leaning forward in my seat. The choreography is clean enough that you can actually follow what’s happening, which is more than I can say for a lot of action movies. The gore is there too, and it leans into the source material without being gross for no reason.
The weak spot is the middle section where the movie tries to develop character arcs. It doesn’t fail exactly, but it does slow things down when you’re waiting for the next battle. Some of the dialogue feels forced. Martyn Ford has barely anything to do, which is a shame because the guy is naturally intimidating and could’ve been used better.
At 116 minutes it’s the right length. Never drags. The cinematography is solid, nothing fancy but it gets the job done. The soundtrack pumps when it needs to pump.
Look, this isn’t going to win any awards. But if you played these games growing up or you just want to see some well-choreographed fights without thinking too hard, this scratches that itch. It’s a 7/10 movie that knows exactly how to be a 7/10 movie.
The Verdict
Mortal Kombat II is a fun action flick that respects its source material and delivers on the promise of big fights. It’s not trying to be deep, and that’s fine. Worth a watch if you’re into this kind of stuff.
Did you see it? What did you think of the fight scenes? Let me know in the comments.
Where to Watch
Buy on: CosmoGo
