The '90s In Action! - 'Mortal Kombat' (1995)

When the fighting game “Mortal Kombat” hit arcades in 1992, it became a smash hit and a controversial one at that. The game contained blood and violence such as brutal Fatalities in order to finish off the other fighter. It was so controversial that it was front and center when the ESRB ratings were created for video games.

The game was also a gorier and simpler competitor to the then popular “Street Fighter II” that had also dominated the arcades since its release in 1991.

The series became an even bigger sensation when “Mortal Kombat II” came out in 1993 and when the games hit home consoles. Therefore, it was no big surprise that a studio would want to make a movie out of the property and that studio was New Line Cinema.

Shot on a $20 million budget, “Mortal Kombat” really became the first successful video game adaptation that fans seemed to embrace for the most part. I remember going to see it in theaters and enjoying that it did stick to the source material for the most part.

I also enjoyed the performances. I thought Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson, and Linden Ashby worked well together as Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa also did a great job as the film’s main antagonist, Shang Tsung. I even enjoyed Christopher Lambert’s quirky performance as Lord Raiden.

Most importantly, I enjoyed the fighting that was found in the movie and it was pretty well choreographed. That was then, though, and now I must give my thoughts on the movie today. So, does it hold up?

Sub-Zero and Liu Kang prepare to fight in 'Mortal Kombat'!

Thankfully, after I rewatched it, I am glad to report that the movie still works… for the most part. Yes, the movie was shot on a relatively low budget so the special-effects (particularly the CGI) have not aged well. If that’s a problem for you, then it may affect your enjoyment of the movie if you’re a first time viewer.

Also, some fans of the game didn’t like that the movie wasn’t an R rated affair and that they cut down the violence of the source material. That one didn’t bother me as much and I don’t mind that the movie is PG-13 but since it does bother some fans, I thought I’d go ahead and mention it here.

Beyond that, I still think the movie works as fun popcorn entertainment and a decent adaptation of its source material. I still liked the performances and the fights and I like the movie’s brisk pace without idling too long on any particular subplot or moment.

Then, of course, there is the soundtrack. Everyone remembers the iconic theme Techno-Syndrome by The Immortals. The techno-inspired soundtrack and score is admittedly dated and more nostalgic for me than anything else, but I still love it, especially the theme.

Unfortunately, this movie was followed by an atrocious sequel “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” and as a result, the film series was halted. There was finally a decent reboot released in 2021 and while I enjoyed the new movie and can’t wait for its upcoming sequel, I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for this original adaptation of the long-running video game franchise.

It’s sure as shit better than 1994’s “Street Fighter” adaptation… but more on that later.