Mortal Kombat (1995)
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Synopsis: This film adaptation of the wildly popular video game comes complete with dazzling special effects and plenty of martial arts action. The plot revolves around a tournament that pits evil against good. The sinister team, led by the vile sorcerer Shang Tsung, includes the ice-wielding... This film adaptation of the wildly popular video game comes complete with dazzling special effects and plenty of martial arts action. The plot revolves around a tournament that pits evil against good. The sinister team, led by the vile sorcerer Shang Tsung, includes the ice-wielding Sub-Zero, the serpent-like Reptile, and the gigantic, four-armed, muscle-bound mutant Goro. The good guys are led by Lord Rayden, who uses electricity as a weapon. His pupils include martial arts expert Liu Kang, vain movie star and karate expert Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade, a task-force commando who KNOWS how to kick some butt. Adding to the tension is the fact that whichever team wins 10 Kombat tournaments in a row will rule the Earth. And Shang Tsung's demonic team has won the last nine. [More]
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Talisa Soto, Lyndon Ashby, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Bridgette Wilson
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
Like watching a lot of sweaty fist fights while trapped in the world's loudest night club.
If the movie Mortal Kombat were a character in a Mortal Kombat video game, its special maneuver would be to climb on its opponent's shoulders and defecate on his head.
Offers a visceral jolt of pleasure for those who formerly believed the martial arts movie genre belongs exclusively to Hong Kong's John Woo.
What it's missing, ironically, is the edge that's made Mortal Kombat the video game such a powerful icon in American pop culture.
If the forces of darkness win ten mortal kombats in a row, the world will be subjugated to a tyrrany of evil and bad spelling
The characters are cardboard, the humor is lame and the heroes are all so unlikable most of the way that the audience won't be able — or want — to identify with them.
The impressiveness of skill is lost in the technical production.
Just looks and plays a lot like Johnny Mnemonic, Double Dragon and other video-game-inspired, mayhem-filled messes.
Far too predictable to recommend to anyone not predisposed to this type of propulsive but vacant entertainment.
The movie has everything a teenage boy could want... Everything, that is, but an interesting plot, decent dialogue and compelling acting.
It should be worth noting that you can play the game much cheaper than seeing the movie, and the end result is much the same.
Related Forums
by: hh 5/21/01
News
posted by Jeff Giles February 11, 2008
Admit it: you've been wondering what's going on with that new Mortal Kombat movie, haven't you?
posted by Scott Weinberg June 18, 2007
Now here's a game I know a little something about!
posted by Jeff Giles March 29, 2007
Looks like Christopher Lambert's agent's day just got a lot busier: Moviehole reports that, despite the fervent...
posted by Scott Weinberg March 28, 2007
Given that he's directed movies like "Mortal Kombat," "Resident Evil," and "Alien vs....

Top Critic