The new 2021 “Mortal Kombat” is a disappointment. While the 1995 attempt to make a movie out of the game was not exactly good either, I think it was actually better than this. The new version has the gore that was missing from the 90s one. However, it makes some very odd choices.

As preparations are underway for another tournament, champions from around the world are gathered. Before the tournament can commence, Shang Tsung (Chin Han “The Dark Knight”) has dispatched his warriors to destroy the defenders of Earth. Can Cole Young (Lewis Tan “Deadpool 2”) and the other heroes survive this deadly attack?

Cole Young is not from any of the “Mortal Kombat” videogames and was made just for this movie. He has no personality and is just there to have plot elements explained to him. Why not use Liu Kang as the main character? Hiroyuki Sanada (“Sunshine”) plays Scorpion and he’s probably my favourite here but after the opening scene, we don’t get to see much of him. None of the performances here is particularly engaging. Most of the characters look okay and look their videogame counterparts. The special effects on most of them when they do their special moves are decent.

How can you have a “Mortal Kombat” movie without the tournament? I know the makers are hoping to have a franchise but it’s like remaking “Jaws” without a beach attack. Also, the decision to make this new Cole character the lead was stupid. The action sequences are good with gory deaths and most of the special effects in the movie look good. However, there are a few effects in the Outworld scenes that look lame. This movie could have been so much better than it was. I much preferred the animated “Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge” to this.