Mortal Kombat II

GoMovieReviews Rating: ★★★1/2

Rated: MA15+

Directed by: Simon McQuoid

Screenplay by: Jeremy Slater

Based on the Videogame Created by: Ed Boon and John Tobias

Produced by: Todd Garner, E. Bennett Walsh, James Wan, Toby Emmerich and Simon McQuoid

Starring: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada.

‘It’s showtime.’

A seamless continuation from the previous instalment (Mortal Kombat (2021)), Mortal Kombat II is about the 10^th battle between Outworld and Earthrealm: if Outworld win this 10^th Mortal Kombat, they will rule Earthrealm, like Adrenia.

‘I have something for you,’ King Jerrod (Desmond Chaim) tells his daughter, Kitana (Sophia Xu).

King Jerrod fastens a necklace with a stone filled with lightening around her neck.  ‘It will protect you.’

‘What happens if you lose?’ she asks him.

After Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) of Outworld defeats Adenia’s last remaining warrior, King Jerrod (Desmond Chaim), the people of Adrenia are forced to bow to Shao Kahn as their new ruler.

And now, it’s time to fight one last Mortal Kombat, to win.  To rule Earthrealm.

There’s returning characters (and returning actors): Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), Jax Briggs (Mehcad Brooks), Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), Shang Tsung (Chin Han), Bi-Han (Joe Taslim) and Kung Lao (Max Huang).  Although, Kung Lao is looking a little dead.  And is now fighting for the other side.  Enter, Necromancer, Quan Chi (Damon Herriman).

The nostalgia of playing the game echoes throughout the film, evoking a smile, like the call of ‘Flawless victory’, and of course Scorpion’s, ‘Get over here!’.

And the asides from the almost already soulless Kano (Josh Lawson) continues to delight with his devilish dark humour.

Now, there’s the introduction of new characters Kitana grown up (Adeline Rudolph) and her bodyguard, Jade (Tati Gabrielle), and notably, Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) fighting for Earthrealm: a has-been actor who’s super power he wonders, ‘being incredibly handsome.’

Johnny and Kano keep the film light amongst the monsters and fight-to-death seriousness of the dark fantasy – the film not taking itself too seriously adding a fun element to the film – so there’s a good formula of blood and mayhem and the classic storyline of fighting to save Earth, with the familiar characters from the best-selling fight game ever, with over 100 million copies sold.

There’s a nod to the creator of Mortal Kombat, Edward Boon who makes a cameo appearance as a barman serving Johnny Cage a drink.

If you enjoyed the 2021 Mortal Kombat (also directed by Simon McQuoid), you’ll love this next instalment with smoother effects and extra dark humour, ‘Well hell, this is fuck’n ominous,’ making Mortal Kombat II a funny as hell – still trashy, but good trash – fun ride.