Mortal Kombat (1995)- Robin Shou (3)

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Stars: Robin Shou, Christopher Lambert & Linden Ashbey

Genre: Action/Martial Arts/Fantasy

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Fantasy Violence)

Running Time: 91 Mins

Tagline: Nothing in This World Has Prepared You For This

Synopsis:

{According to IMDB}

"Three unknowing martial artists are summoned to a mysterious island to compete in a tournament whose outcome will decide the fate of the world. "

Discussion

Without a doubt this is definitely the best video game adaptation. Every character, every action sequence: true to the Original Video Game from Super Nintendo.  This is one of those movies that I remember seeing as a kid and loved. Seeing it again I fell exactly the same about it: Still love it.  

If you’re not familiar with the plot of Mortal Kombat, let me enlighten you.  A group of fighters have been chosen to attend a tournament known as Mortal Kombat.  But, little do they know that this tournament holds the future of humanity. If the bad guys win, the world gets enslaved by Shao Kahn: Ruler of Outworld.  In charge of the tournament is another baddie: Shang Tsung played marvelously and maliciously by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. It is up to Liu Kang and his friends to win the tournament and prevent the world from being enslaved.

Yeah the effects are dated, it is quite cheesy sometimes, but it’s still a treat. I watch this movie many times a year. There’s something about the fight scenes and the soundtrack that get you in the mood to kick ass! Especially the opening song when the logo of New Line Cinema appears and you hear the roaring sound of MORTAL KOMBAT!!!  

The blu ray I own is a Canadian import; I was so anxious to get this movie on BD I just took the first copy available of this film. So the review will be about the picture and sound quality on the Canadian Blu- Ray Release from Alliance. Not the official American Release.

Video

Presented in Full 1080p HD, I was really blown away with the remastering they did for Mortal Kombat. I had never seen the movie so clear. Both the VHS & DVD had very poor picture quality, especially the early DVD release. The early DVD was Non Anamorphic and the transfer seemed like it came from a Laserdisc or something like it. Anyways, the HD of Mortal Kombat actually improves the dated special effects, in many ways it improves the clarity of Sub Zero's ice power, and Shang Tsung's Transformation into other characters.  From what I've heard the American release didn’t have the same transfer for the BD disc. Then again I wouldn’t know, I haven’t seen the American Blu Ray release. But this Canadian import did the job done, very impressive in the HD dept.

Audio

The audio was just as impressive as the video. When the theme song started and the flames started roaring I was impressed, I hadn’t heard the soundtrack this clear before.   

Bottom Line:

 

This is a nostalgic film for me; I saw this movie at 6 and since then I have re-watched it several times. Even as corny as it is sometimes, I still think this should be in any action movie buffs library. A Must Own!

theatrical trailer: