First Reviews: Mortal Kombat Movie 2021 - A Worthy Adaptation

The first reviews of the new Mortal Kombat movie have appeared online. Despite a few problems, many critics agree that the film did not disappoint when it comes to fights and the level of brutality.

The eagerly awaited Mortal Kombat has already had its premiere in Russia, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand, among others, so the first reviews of the work have also appeared. The feedback suggests that the movie is no disappointment and Simon McQuoid's film will satisfy both fans of the series and viewers hungry for good action cinema .

The biggest advantages of the 2021 title are its faithfulness to the source material, which will please die-hard fans of the franchise, and the brutal fight choreography. The biggest criticisms concern the plot, pacing and chaotic editing.

"If you’re a Mortal Kombat fan, you’ll have a blast since you’ll fill in the gaps with your pre-existing knowledge of the series and just revel in the violence. But for the average viewer, there will be little reason to care for the stakes here. Ultimately that’s what 2021’s Mortal Kombat comes down to - a solid video game adaptation full of fan service for the gamers (stay for the sequel tease) and a decent action movie for everyone else," claims Mufaddal Fakhruddin, IGN Middle East.

"Nuanced character drama this most certainly isn’t; instead, this is boxers with ninja blood and green berets with robot arms pummelling invisible lizards and bat-winged demon babes to a bloody pulp. When they’re not fighting, characters bicker and spout pseudo-spiritual idioms until it’s time to square off again. Mortal Kombat is not for the discerning palate, but for those in the know – get over here!," writes James Marsh, South China Morning Post.

"As a movie based on the popular video game, Mortal Kombat effectively brings the game's world onto the silver screen with a lot of care and attention to detail... The visuals, sound effects, gore and action are exactly what fans have been looking for since the original 1995 film and more," reports A'bidah Zaid, Geek Culture.

"From pacing issues to lack of character development and strange editing, it isn’t just a quick win. Yet, despite the occasional blow, the film still keeps kicking and comes out victorious in the end. Sometimes, you just need to watch a movie where a character freezes another one’s blood and stabs him with it," writes Sergio Pereira, Fortress.

Mortal Kombat will launch in the United States only on April 23, however, in accordance with Warner Bros. label's regulation, the film will be released simultaneously in cinemas and on HBO Max.

The 2021 work is the third cinematic adaptation of the popular fighting game series. The first, which was released in 1995 (under the same title), is considered one of the better films based on a vide game license. The 1997 sequel, on the other hand, often features on lists of the worst movies ever made.