(film review) - Mortal Kombat II

What’s wild to me is that back in the ‘90s, they actually tried to make a Mortal Kombat movie, and at the time… we just accepted it. To be fair, it was definitely better than Street Fighter, but that still didn’t make it good. It was just the best of a bad bunch.

But back then, that was all we had. A bit like those early X-Men films in the 2000s—whether they fully worked or not, fans just had to take what they could get.

Then, a few years ago, they rebooted the franchise with Mortal Kombat, and while that film was definitely an improvement over the ‘90s version, I still wouldn’t call it amazing because it made some genuinely questionable choices.

This sequel though? Yeah, this is leagues better.

The film pretty much picks up where the last one left off. The tournament is finally here, and Raiden needs a new champion pr the Earth Realm will fall. Alongside Sonya Blade, they approach Johnny Cage, an actor who initially brushes the whole thing off after meeting the likes of Liu Kang, Jax and Cole. But once he’s dragged properly into the chaos, Johnny has no choice but to stop acting like a hero and actually become one.

And honestly, I had a blast with this film.

The plot itself is still pretty basic—stop the bad guys from taking over Earthrealm—but the difference this time is that almost everything else has been improved. The action is better, the pacing is better, the characters are more enjoyable, and the fight choreography is on another level compared to the previous film. The previous film kind of felt like an action film with fighting, where this one feels more like an action martial arts film.

Seeing classic moves from the games finally translated properly onto the screen was a genuine game-changer.

The dialogue is still cheesy in places, but I found myself laughing, chuckling, and fully enjoying the ridiculousness of it all throughout the film. The movie knows exactly what it is and leans into it.

The addition of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage was honestly perfect casting, especially with how they handled the character. He brings the exact kind of energy the movie needed.

The visual effects are solid, too. Not groundbreaking or Avatar-level spectacle, but they absolutely do the job. And there are loads of moments that reminded me of other cult classics and fantasy properties like Big Trouble in Little China, Game of Thrones and even Pennywise at one point.

There’s even a fake movie within the movie called 'Uncaged Fury', and honestly? I’d genuinely watch that. It is all the nonsensical and over-the-top action from a B-rated (I think it is called B-rated) movie, from the early 80s...almost like Dolemite Is My Name (see my review on that).

Overall, this is just a fun time. Good action, brutal fights, decent humour, solid performances and way more entertaining than the previous film. If you enjoyed the first rebooted movie, you’ll probably have a great time with this.

But if you’re expecting some deep, serious masterpiece… this definitely isn’t that.

(trailer review) - Mortal Kombat II

 

Up, Down, Left, Right, Finish Him! Mortal Kombat was that rival game for those who loved Street Fighter II. It has come a long way, too. The earlier film can be argued as a guilty pleasure, but was definitely better than the Street Fighter film (that one was so bad, Raul Julia had some iconic lines and made it good). The most recent Mortal Kombat film, though, whilst not amazing, was actually a really good and entertaining movie. Ultimately there was not much to the strange story, not many or any one-liners or quotables that I can remember, but some of the characters were introduced, and there were some decent fight scenes, but when it ended, I did think at the time, "that wasn't bad, a sequel would be nice", or something along those lines, but because I enjoyed it. And here we are, a sequel to a decent Mortal Kombat film, and the gang is back, and then some.

Grabbing Karl Urban from Lord of the Rings, Thor Ragnarok, Dredd, Star Trek and The Boys fame, is an absolute get, as it seems as though, having him play the actor Johnny Cage is superb casting, as Karl is an awesome actor. What I will say, though, seeing those other characters is nice and all, but what is happening? A little like the first movie, you are seeing all these different characters that appeared later in the games and although we may not be following the game's storyline at all (something I know little about and they could be making their own), or maybe loosely, what happened to the other guy in the first movie? There is a quick shot of him in the trailer, a blink and you will miss it, moment. Where is Sub-Zero? Granted, I have definitely forgotten what happens at the end, and he may likely be "dead", and maybe I need to watch it again, but this looks like a continuation, but the main character has been swapped out? Or is it, "Here comes a new challenger!" I dunno, I like the trailer, but is it all about Cage now? Regardless, some money has definitely gone into the sequel, and should this be just as good as the first one, we should have a decent time with it. Remember that frozen blood turned into a weapon,  something like that! The "Get over here!" is good and all, and expected, but that slice-a-man-in-half at the end is expected as it is a fatality, but we need a better trailer. Maybe, just maybe, some X-ray shots like in the games. That might be cool!

(trailer review) - John Wick: Chapter 4

(OFFICIAL TRAILER)

I am not the kind of person to go into a fight with a hatchet and the other person has a pistol, an automatic one at that. Can you imagine, this chapter in the John Wick movie franchise started with, a man (John Wick) not willing to sell his car to a random stranger! Said random stranger finds out where John lives, beats him up, kills his dog and steals his car. But little did the random stranger know, John used to be a professional assassin, is well known in the underground territories and circuits he operates in and his dying wife was the person who gave him the dog when she died. John is seeking revenge plain and simple. The story is soo simple but so effective and great! You just want more and more of this franchise.


This trailer for a start, the cracking song used, Nas' 'Got yourself a gun' and from that point, you see what the film has been known and loved for. Headshots in abundance, ways of killing people in ways deemed over the top, repetition in the way you will kill someone, fights anywhere and one-liners galore. Oh yeah, and everything is just so damn cool. That last shot with the car reminded me of the horse scene in the last movie. This trailer is just excellent and I cannot wait to see this movie, the spin-off Ballerina and The Continental. It cannot come out fast enough.


Directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Clancy Brown, Natalia Tena, Marko Zaror & Ian McShane

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(trailer review) - John Wick: Chapter 4

You know the expression "...opening up a can of worms", THIS entire franchise is exactly that. In case you are unaware with how this all began and the story soo far (I could be off as it has been a while, so spoilers if you have not seen any of the John Wick movies especially the first one). John Wick is minding his own business when a guy compliments his car and wants to buy it. After refusing, said car is stolen and John Wicks dog is killed.  Not to go into how much the dog means to John but John is an ex-assassin and he seeks revenge on the person who killed his dog. That was Chapter 1. This is Chapter 4.

To say this film does exactly what it says on the tin is an understatement. This film is simply a revenge film which has spiralled soo out of control, we are on the fourth film and it looks epic. There are elements to this which are almost nonsensical, but the world they have built for this movie, is incredible. The close quarters fights. The close quarters fights that include guns. The raw and visceral attacks with any instrument. If this trailer did it for you and you have not seen the previous three movies, I suggest you watch it before this as they all tend to lead on from the one before it and it is soo so good!

Directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Clancy Brown, Natalia Tena, Marko Zaror & Ian McShane

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(trailer review) - Bullet Train

 

It's funny. If you were to ask me "What are your favourite films?", I would probably cite 'The Royal Tenenbaums' before anything and likely stop there. It's not the only film I love, but it's always the first to come to mind. However, the Die Hard trilogy and Alien trilogy are also up there, but I wouldn't necessarily mention those. I say that to say this, this trailer reminds me of, 'Smoking Aces' a film I also love but completely forgot about and a film you are not likely to have remembered or seen...also 'Seven Psychopaths', a film I absolutely loved. I believe I even wrote a review on it a while back. Tone wise, this seems like the fit.

Brad Pitt, is someone who can do comedy and action pretty well, I think of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but this trailer is just excellent through and through...and the cast. The cast! I'm going to check the cast list in a moment, but isn't that the voice of Scarlett Johansson? Is that Jamie Lee Curtis? I'm likely to be wrong and i'm going to have to freeze frame some of these scenes but I know that is Brian Tyree Henry who is absolutely doing amazing for himself and seeing Aaron Taylor-Johnson AGAIN in another unrecognisable role, I'm starting to wonder, has he been in other films and I never noticed him in it? Everyone after a suitcase and will kill for it on a bullet train. I am already sold on this trailer! Oh yeah, that was surely Zazie Beets too. I just hope this film is as great as the trailer or i'm going to be pretty disappointed.

Directed by David Leitch and starring Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon & Benito "Bad Bunny" Ocasio

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(film review) [STREAMING] - Army of the Dead

Ok, first and foremost....I really enjoyed this film.  I've mentioned in previous reviews that I didn't realise I was a Zack Snyder fan.  I hadn't realised that I really enjoyed most of if not all of his movies.  I wrote something at the time about him having made a bunch of movies and me seeing practically all of them bar 2 not realising, but having now seen this movie, Zack Snyder is a great director, he knows what his audience/fans want.  I might have even mentioned something like, "a better Michael Bay than Michael Bay".  Whilst there might be some Michael Bay fans who may disagree...come at me bro!

Scott is a mercenary trying to live a normal life although there has been a Zombie pandemic that has broken out in a now controlled area of Las Vegas.  However, a casino owner,  Bly Tanaka decides with his colleague that they want to send a bunch of people through a zombie infested area to carry out a heist on his casino vault to steal $200 Million, however as crazy as the task is, with one helicopter on the roof of the casino for their getaway, they are on a time limit as all the Zombies in the controlled area will be nuked!  Scott gets together a bunch of trusted people he feels will be able to carry out the job efficiently, but when things don't go exactly according to plan on the job, it is a race to grab the money and run....oh and try not to get eaten by a zombie or nuked.

As I stated earlier, I enjoyed this film.  Hell, I loved it!  Whilst some elements of the movie could have been telegraphed, Zack knows how to direct something which is a very entertaining watch.  The characters were great even if one was CGI'ed in throughout the already wrapped movie...seamlessly.  The tension in places reminded me of Aliens and there is reason to believe some elements like a specific character was paying homage to a character in Aliens because I thought of that character instantly.  I loved Omari "Ghost" Hardwick's character as he was very intense, but the character he was paired up with made for great comedic banter.  Dave Bautista was also great (and continues to be in film) as the lead guy and the interaction he has with a specific person and although the film does follow the typical horror tropes in places, there was a specific scene involving a elevator I really didn't expect and I audibly gasped out loud and covered my mouth.

The film is also beautifully shot.  The angles and to an extent, the depth of field was OK at best but slightly distracting as it seems Zack was trying something new, but other than that, I didn't really have a complaint about the movie at all as it hit in all the right places.  The different variants of Zombie were great although as first glance didn't seem obvious but how these zombies were presented were even better.  I feel there is another story to be told with the zombies and the different variants as it goes because there seems to be much more to this world than meets the eye...especially the Alien involvement.  I'd love to see the planned Anime 'Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas' and the already shot prequel, although I'm wondering if this will hint at the zombie pandemic or not or maybe characters for a future movie.  Also it's not that scary either.

(film review) - Mortal Kombat

It's interesting, I am a "gamer" (I say that loosely because trying to find time to play games is limited) and when I can, I'll turn on the ol' Xbox and play something.  I remember my first console in fact, it was a Nintendo and I could see the console's box through the Argos bag my mum was carrying as it was a birthday present.  I was sooo happy.  I remember when I first played Mortal Kombat for the first time.  I'm pretty sure I bought it first hand (as I did buy a lot of second hand games when I was younger) and I thought the game looked a little weird.  The graphics were nothing like anything I'd seen in a fighting game before, but eventually, after Mortal Kombat II and Mortal Kombat 3, I was slightly, a fan...but I did prefer Street Fighter.  You see back then, it was either Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat (because there always has to be a one or the other with these things, you know...lol), but I never really got into the lore of MK although I really enjoyed the fatalities, secret characters and the gore.  Up to this day, Mortal Kombat is still going and we are on Mortal Kombat 11 in 2021.  I've not played it and I am not in a rush to either.  This movie, apparently the writer and director wanted to give the fans what they desire from a Mortal Kombat movie as the 1995 guilty pleasure version is, well...ok at best but didn't really go into the lore.  But does this one? Well...

Mortal Kombat centres around a character named Cole (absent from the games) who is a MMA fighter who finds himself unwittingly caught up in a fight between the Earthrealm and Netherrealm.  Special Forces Major Jax and Sonya Blade are tracking down a Tournament called Mortal Kombat when they find Cole and with the help of Kano venture to Netherrealm to meet Raiden the God of Thunder to help him defeat the Soul Eating Shang Tsung.

All I ever really wanted from this movie was characters, fighting, fatalities and a few laughs and while I'd agree, I am only partially the demographic this film is aimed at, in fact I am fully the demographic it is aimed at (I am just not that interested in the story), I'd like to say I had fun with this movie because it gave me exactly what I wanted.  Without going into too much spoilers, a lot of the original characters are there, whilst other characters are hinted at for future instalments.  The beginning fight with Hanzo and Bi-Han is great and quite impactful, however the character who stole the movie in every scene was Kano.  By far, the most redeeming thing about the movie and why the movie is soo entertaining.  Although I have heard other viewers and likely, fans claim the film is terrible, rubbish or trash, I'd like to say, there are a multitude of reasons as to why this is and why they may also feel this way.  The story is rushed and poorly executed.  Another 20 minutes to 30 minutes could really help this movie with pace, fleshing out the characters and the story.  The dialogue is clunky and definitely not the best.  Some of the acting is wooden and personally, I felt they could have had more canon fodder so we could see more fatalities and fight scenes.  The special effects is ok at best and whilst the fight scenes were cool, this movie could have easily have been The Raid meets Lord of the Rings...ok, maybe not Lord of the Rings but something a little fantasy-like with grittier fight scenes.  This film is lacking a few things, but for me, does just enough for it to work.  First time Director Simon McQuoid didn't do too bad on his first outing, but possibly with some assistance in future, could pull out something a lot better than this one, although this one isn't terrible.

The film is a fun mess and while I'd say nothing to write home about, chances are, you would actually like to write home and tell your family and friends that the movie isn't that great, but you are intrigued to see more and actually want more.  Lets hope we do get more, aye.

Red Band Trailer - Please note adult themed material.

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(trailer review) - Mortal Kombat

Red Band Trailer - Please note adult themed material.

(Official Trailer) Red Band Trailer

Let's have a moment to fully digest this trailer.

It is the opening 7 minutes to a film, just like what they did with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where that was 5 minutes they released before the movie.  In Mortal Kombat lore, Sub-Zero and Scorpion are two mortal enemies that have had beef for centuries and I'm not sure how it started or the reasons as to why man would just turn up at your home like that ending your bloodline, killing your wife and child, but I understand.

Imagine being moments away and hearing the screams of your wife only to run back and find her and your son dead knowing maybe you could have saved them you are likely going to go to town murdering them all until you get to Boss Man himself, Sub-Zero.

Yeaaaaah, I'm watching this. That's all.

Directed by Simon McQuoid and starring Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Joe Taslim and Hiroyuki Sanada

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(trailer review) - Mortal Kombat

Red Band Trailer - Please note adult themed material.

I will try to make this trailer review short, but I am of an age that was alive and playing computer/video games when Mortal Kombat came out.  It was a game that was meant to divert attention from Street Fighter II back in the day.  Something different and challenging.  I got the first Mortal Kombat game on my, hmmm....I want to say Super Nintendo, having rented it from Blockbuster video and I loved it.  Ok, details are a bit fuzzy, I did rent A Mortal Kombat from there, it might have been 3, but the point is, I was alive and played the game which also meant I enjoyed it, bought Mortal Kombat 2 and watched the movie also.  Whilst the movie was terrible, It was nowhere close to as terrible the Street Fighter movie was, which was also nowhere close to how terrible the Super Mario Brothers movie was.  I say all of that to say this, having played these games, seen these terrible movies (although Mortal Kombat is the more superior out of the 3 I mentioned), this trailer looks like it is done for people like me.  Although I haven't played the latest Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 11, this trailer is for them.  For the fans of the franchise and I love it.

It seems they are changing the lore a little and adding bits here and there but whilst there are rumours to who Cole is, for the most part, this trailer seems to be giving Mortal Kombat fans across the world, exactly what they want, iconic characters, iconic moves, bosses and fatalities and as gory as the game.  Love it!  Visually, it could look a lot better, but if i'm honest, I don't think it's bad enough for people to care enough about it.  Seeing the guy from Supergirl as Jax, he is totally unrecognisable which completely baffles me.  He looks sooo good.  Let's just hope as good as he is and this trailer, especially some of these shots like Sub-Zero freezing the shotgun blast and freezing blood in mid-air to form a dagger, let's just hope this movie is just as good.

Directed by Simon McQuoid and starring Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Joe Taslim and Hiroyuki Sanada

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(film review) - 47 Ronin

He has been missing for a little bit, but he is now back. Well I say missing, but what was the last film you remember Keanu Reeves doing? I'll give you a moment. Right, for me it was Street Kings, a film I didn't get to see but if I have a moment today, I will try and watch that tonight.

Keanu Reeves is one of a few talented actors who people say he is wooden, but he is quite versatile in my opinion. No, not all of his films have been well received, but Keanu has a fan base who are loyal to him and for me, I would say this; If a Keanu film is out, I wouldn't care about it much, but I would be intrigued and want to watch it. I wouldn't go as far as saying that he is a great actor, but he is a very competent actor who does come across wooden, dry and even monotone and dreary, but the films he choose always seem to "suit" his personality.

47 Ronin to me was a good film, but was lacking a little. I'll go into that later.

Kai (Keanu Reeves) is a child without parents grown up in the woods in which he escapes and joins a group of Ronin. Constantly referred to as half-breed and treated differently to the citizens within the town, Kai is always kept as an outsider and plays a inevitable part in having everyone banished from their town while he gets placed into slavery. Kuranosuke Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada), a Samurai from the Ronin seeks revenge for his banishment and seeks the help of the 46 Ronin with Kai being the 47th. Together they head back to their town to reclaim the land which was once theirs.

There isn't anything much more to the story (lacking), so this is it in a nutshell. Nothing special and very old school and traditional. However, where i said the film was good - visually, story, acting, pacing, everything, for me everything about the film was good although there was a few moments where I thought, "so what happened to that guy?", or "what is happening here?", but then my biggest fault with the film was the length of the film and the action. The film isn't about Keanu Reeves' character at all, he was just an helping hand or aid. The film was very generic and lacking. I felt a lot more could have been done with the film. Maybe the pacing was bad because they could have done soo much more with the story but it didn't offer anything more than what has already been done with a Japanese fantasy adventure. While I was satisfied when the film finished, I didn't leave thinking, "wow, great film" like after i viewed the Desolation of Smaug. I did feel incomplete thinking, maybe Keanu should have been able to do more with his character because from what his character could do, wasn't a lot. Maybe there should have been more fight scenes or epic battles. Maybe the story should have been fully fleshed out and made it bit more intricate other than being a simple and basic story. Maybe if there were a couple of unexpected twists in it, then yes, maybe this film would have been much better rather than just good.

I wouldn't rush to see this in the cinema, unless you like Keanu Reeves, but this film looks like the "better" film out of the two he has out for 2013, the other being, Man of Tai Chi.