Directed by Ethan Spaulding and starring the voice talent of Jennifer Carpenter, Joel McHale, Ike Amadi and Steve Blum. Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpions Revenge tells the story of Shirai Ryu clan member Scorpion in his bid to avenge his clan and families slaughter at the hands of rival ninja clan, The Lin Kuei.
There no doubt about it, Mortal Kombat is one of the biggest game franchises about. Still going strong with the no less than the 11th instalment of the game Mortal Kombat 11 and that’s not counting the side games such as Mortal Kombat Shaolin monks, Mortal Kombat vs DC universe and the god forbid the Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and Mortal Kombat: Special Forces games. (sideshow bob shudder). It’s spawned multiple movies, TV-shows, cartoons and a web series.
One thing I always liked about the games is they completely follow on from each other. Each game will carry on from the story of the previous game with the tournament winner and what happened after.
I’m still not sure who won the original Streetfighter 2 tournament with the gazillion reimaginings and side games.
That being said, none has really lived up to the game’s atmosphere, story and extreme violence. The original movie and web series coming close.
So, it’s about time we finally got a TV adaption that did the games justice. Unlike the Movies, TV-shows and other media, they ditched the PG rating. Let’s face it, Mortal Kombat was never a PG game so why make the TV adaptions that way?
To appeal to a wider audience and not just adults that’s why.
Carrying a hefty 18 rating here in the UK, Mortal Kombat Legends is full of bone-crunching moves, tons of gore with the classic x-ray moves brought to life in all their glory showing exactly what internal damage is being inflicted. Ethan Spaulding is clearly a huge fan of the franchise.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpions Revenge starts with Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion (Patrick Seitz) giving his young son some life lessons. Upon returning to his village with his son on his back, it appears deserted and empty. Being a ninja Hanzo instantly notices the shadows moving in the darkness. Without hesitation the Lin Kuei ninjas attack.
Hanzo dispatches each attacking ninja with gruesome effect. Heads being slit open, limbs flying in all directions, gruesome stuff. Sub Zero watches on from a rooftop as Hanzon with his son in toll makes his way to his house to find his wife.
He is too late. His wife slaughtered with everyone else, Hanzo loses it and hulks out destroying all in his path. This is until he faces Sub Zero who now has his son. Making Hanzo yield and then encasing him in ice, he kills Hanzo’s son right in front on him then proceeds to slaughter Hanzo.
Cut to our other hero characters Liu Kang (Jordan Rodrigues), Johnny Kage (Joel McHale), Sonya Blade (Jennifer Carpenter)and Jax Briggs (Ike Amadi)
It shows a little back story on the reason for each of them to enter the Mortal Kombat tournament. Johnny Cage looking for his next movie career move. It shows Raiden training Liu Kang who knows exactly what’s at stake with the tournament. The tournament follows the classic format. Outworld has to win 10 tournaments to take over earth realm, Shang Tsung working for Shao Khan has won the last nine tournaments. A bit different from the game as it was originally Goro who had won nine tournaments.
Hanzo is now in the NetherRealm, basically in hell being tortured by a demon. Upon breaking free he slaughters all the demons and is then approached by Quan Chi (Darin De Paul). He makes Hanzo an offer, enter the Mortal Kombat tournament as a vengeful spirit, take revenge for his family and procure a key that Shang Tsung holds to release the god Shinnok. Shinnok will then restore Hanzo and his family to life. Hanzo agrees where he utters the immortal words “Hanzo is dead, call me Scorpion”
Even though it has later characters such as Baraka, Kitana and of course Quan Chi who didn’t make an appearance until the 4th game. The movie follows the events and story from the first game. Naturally, Goro makes an appearance
It’s clear a lot of effort has gone into staying faithful to the original content, not surprising seen as Ed boon and John Tobias was amongst the writers. Each character has their own unique looks and personality. Sonya Blade naturally acts the bold, hard as nail bad arse and has some comical interactions with Johnny’s Cages cocky, self-absorbed and goofy attitude. Thinking this is just a movie He doesn’t take anything seriously until the end when he finally realises this isn’t a movie and the enemy is in fact trying to kill him. Liu Kang plays the calm no-nonsense fighter.
The movie mainly follows Liu Kang, Johnny Cage and Sonya while Scorpion does his own thing on the outskirts. Occasionally assisting and interacting with our heroes as he’s not there to win the tournament.
Despite starting a little slow that jumps about a little to introduce the main characters, once it kicks off it has great pacing. Fans of the series will delight in the gruesome battles that take place.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge is a great debut for Warner Bros. The only thing that let it down is it’s a little short. Some of the fights could have gone on a lot longer with more ups and downs. I was also hoping to hear the original mortal Kombat techno music that seems to of become part of the franchise.
Let’s hope there are more instalments from warner brothers following on from the events of this movie like the games do. You can purchase Mortal Kombat Legend: Scorpions Revenge from Amazon now.
Rating 4/5 belts
