While it still has the usual flaws, Simon McQuoid's gory action sequel Mortal Kombat II may might even be better than the 2021 movie with its impressive sets, its crisp, fluid fight scenes, and its surprising sense of humor.
The evil Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) has become emperor of Outworld after defeating ten champions. He abducts his final opponent's young daughter, Princess Kitana, and raises her as his own. Years later Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) and her best friend Jade (Tati Gabrielle) fight in the tournament for their cruel master.
Meanwhile, the heroes of Earthrealm assemble: Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Jax (Mehcad Brooks), and Cole Young (Lewis Tan), as well as their mentor, Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano). This time a new hero is recruited. He is Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), a once-promising martial artist who became a star of cheesy action movies and now spends his time sitting behind tables at fan conventions.
The fighters will have to rely on all their skills and wits to save Earthrealm, especially since Shao Kahn has stolen an amulet that gives him the power of a god.
Once again directed by Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat II has yet another one-note villain in Shao Kahn, but at least he's really evil, wearing a Darth Vader mask, bashing people with a giant hammer, and setting himself up as all-powerful ruler.
The movie is still stuck with the "ten tournaments" idea, which makes no real sense. (If Shao Kahn is the all-powerful ruler, can't he just cancel them, so no one can usurp his throne?) But the fights are all unique, set in spaces like a chamber with spikes that randomly pop up from the floor.
The real key to the movie is the new Johnny Cage character. Karl Urban plays him with a sense of comic cockiness, as if he's aware that he's not all that cool. (The movie includes a flashback to a scene from one of his old VHS movies.) He's a lovable scoundrel, and he fits right in with his teammates.
The movie dutifully caters to fans by bringing back old favorite characters, and by even finding a cameo for Ed Boon, creator of the original video game. But Mortal Kombat II also doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's silly enough and simple enough that even non-fans can enjoy it.
