6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.
Starring: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Joe Taslim, Mehcad BrooksAction | 100% |
Adventure | 59% |
Fantasy | 53% |
Martial arts | 17% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Italian SDH, Spanish, Cantonese, Dutch, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified)
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
I haven't played a Mortal Kombat game in years. In fact, I probably lost interest in the brand more than two decades ago, just a few years after the original game pulled in crowds like a magnet at arcades worldwide. I first glimpsed the original MK at a local bowling alley and still remember skipping a few frames to gawk at its unique graphics and bloody fatalities. That bowling alley finally closed its doors after six decades in business but Mortal Kombat lives on, doubling down on the bone-crunching action and ridiculous, over-the-top finishers with each new installment. Over the years it's grown from a controversial Street Fighter wannabe to a full-blown franchise with two earlier live-action movies, comics, action figures, socks, a "blood, sweat, and tears" scented candle, and more. Warner Bros. has re-ignited its cinematic flame twice in 2021: there's the surprisingly solid animated origin film MK Legends: Scorpion's Revenge... and then there's this scattershot live action reboot, which isn't as great but still pretty fun in its own right.
Unfortunately, Mortal Kombat doesn't achieve this level of Zen-like perfection again. That's not to say it isn't enjoyable or without
more than a few bright spots, of course, with a story unfolding around modern-day MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan) and familiar franchise faces
such as ex-military members Jax (Mehcad Brooks) and Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) who, along with Australian mercenary Kano (Josh Lawson),
serve as three two of several allies who help Cole uncover his destiny as a fighter bearing a very specific marking... one that most
of them share, which carries its own meaning and set of rules. Theirs is kind of a long and meandering journey towards the temple of Raiden and,
ultimately, the truth about "Mortal Kombat", a mystical fighting tournament between members of Earthrealm and the Outworld. What follows is,
predictably, a pretty visceral and intense series of action scenes loosely glued together by the franchise's hokey mythology... which, to be fair,
seem to be respected faithfully. I mean, the original game was really just an excuse to generate controversy through ultra-violence, not
some deep and multi-layered masterpiece. Within those admittedly narrow boundaries, this new adaptation should satisfy its intended audience.
Perhaps the only other obvious drawback here is Mortal Kombat's repeated attempts to set up several sequels and/or spin-offs, which
shouldn't be too hard considering the franchise's global popularity in keeping with this film's relatively meager budget. These loose threads aren't
annoying on their own terms, but they sometimes distract from the main story and even make the ending feel a little abrupt: this very much feels
like one part of a story that obviously hasn't been sharpened to a fine point. Either way, Warner Bros. has clearly put their ever-dwindling faith in
Mortal Kombat's home video rollout, which actually includes a 4K option, Atmos audio, and a pretty satisfying collection of bonus
features... unlike this recent
title, which probably deserved it more. But I digress: this is a surprisingly well-rounded package that should please die-hard fans and newcomers
alike, so let's just enjoy what we have.
Mortal Kombat isn't exactly squeaky-clean and polished by design, although its native 4K source material and regular reliance on HDR grading means that it clearly benefits from a true UHD experience. Image detail is strong at times but often hidden in shadows, which seem represented very well with no overbearing signs of crush or excessive banding in even the darkest areas, and bold textures are visible on most of the detailed costume designs and backgrounds. While not much depth is achieved here, Mortal Kombat still often looks "bigger" that its somewhat modest budget suggests, with capable effects work -- most of the time, at least -- doing some of the heavy lifting and more expansive locales, such as Outworld and a desert on the way to Raiden's temple, establishing a wide-open atmosphere. All told, the film offers a vast array of backdrops: abandoned urban sprawl, underground caverns, an iced-over residence and, of course, the peaceful forest where it all begins, and most if not all of these scenes benefit from the disc's tasteful use of HDR10 enhancement. Plenty of bold colors pop out against more muted earth tones: the glowing embers in Hanzo's remains, the bright lightning that signals Raiden's arrival and departure, Kabal's red eyes, Liu Kang's handmade fireballs, neon lights, Cole Young's horrific flashbacks, and other natural and CGI-assisted effects. While the separately-available Blu-ray is no slouch in the video department, this one's the clear winner in every important category.
The default Dolby Atmos mix, which automatically unfolds to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 if your receiver doesn't support the format, also offers a pretty intense experience with just a little room for improvement. This is a surprisingly dialogue-driven film and that particular sonic aspect seems mixed a little low in comparison with music and sound effects -- and while it's nothing that can't be alleviated with a few subtle adjustments in your receiver's settings menu, it's a pretty clear sign that this is much closer to a theatrical-style presentation than the preferred "near field" mix which, when done correctly, adapts a movie's far-reaching sound design to better fit small home theaters. (When not done, however, you'll probably be reaching for your remote every few minutes, unless you like your movies overpoweringly loud or have very forgiving neighbors.) Either way, with that handicap in mind Mortal Kombat still offers a satisfyingly visceral experience with crisp and brutal sound effects, propulsive music support, and more discrete channel panning and LFE presence than you might know what to do with. I've absolutely no complaints other than the dialogue balancing and, since it's easily overcome with the right touch, it doesn't warrant all that much of a deduction.
Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are offered during the film and extras in a variety of languages.
This two-disc release ships in an eco-friendly keepcase with bold cover art, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy slip. The bonus features, all of which can be found on the Blu-ray, are a good mix of fun and informative.
Simon McQuoid's cinematic reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise isn't as great as MK Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (which also debuted back in April), but it's decent stuff considering the source material and low budget. Its scattershot story obviously attempts to set up a handful of sequels and spin-offs -- perhaps too many for it to stand on its own -- but the groundwork has been laid and, if nothing else, it'll do until something better arrives. Warner Bros.' 4K combo pack is the better of the two primary home video options, offering a solid A/V presentation bolstered by great HDR enhancement and a great (but not perfect) Dolby Atmos track that reigns in most of the chaos. Hell, even the extras are pretty good. All told, it's a well-rounded package that fans will enjoy and comes Recommended.
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功夫之王 / Gong fu zhi wang
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封神传奇
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