Review: “Mortal Kombat II” amps up the camp

I loathe Simon McQuoid’s first “Mortal Kombat” movie because it works hard to make sense of a video game that barely has it. 

Adapting a fighting video game like Mortal Kombat to the big screen requires a dedication to the absurd. When you show the hero making a morbid finisher move to his antagonistic opponent, put fireworks in the background if you must. The last thing we want to see is another protagonist brooding over the death of a villain. Make it as funny as you can. Have fun with it. 

“Mortal Kombat II” commits to this formula. The sequel is a vast improvement over its predecessor, largely thanks to the introduction of a new character, Johnny Cage. Karl Urban plays this has-been movie actor known for ‘90s action hits who is enlisted to represent the Earthrealm and save their world from a powerful being.

In the world of Mortal Kombat, there is “one” supreme realm that stands above others. To achieve this, each realm will nominate a fighting champion, and they will be pitted against each other in a deadly battle. 

If that premise sounds like something you don’t want to take seriously, then you’re on the right track. “Mortal Kombat II” amps up the camp of the first film; it’s either you surrender to it or leave the theatre. 

I surrendered to the camp, not knowing I had to endure an orgy of fight scenes throughout its two-hour running time. The film opens with a lengthy, brutal fight scene introducing the central villain, signalling to the audience the depths it can go in terms of mature content. Then, there’s another fight. And another. Two more after. A lot more eventually. Personally, I got tired by the third one and wished things to be over immediately. 

I liked the addition of Johnny Cage in the sequel because he’s the only one with a good arc to play around with. The rest of the ensemble, even the characters who led the first film, feel disposable and serve only as narrative tools rather than as fleshed-out individuals.

“Mortal Kombat II” is an improvement, but it’s clear that there’s only so much you can do in a Mortal Kombat movie adaptation. We don’t need another one, but if you’re planning to see it solely for mindless fun, go ahead.

“Mortal Kombat II” is now showing in cinemas.

Featured images from Warner Bros. Pictures.