Things Mortal Kombat 2 Needs To Avoid

As far as cinematic adventures based on video games go, the 1995 Paul W. S. Anderson-directed film has been revered in the gaming community since it's release. While a bit campy with terrible CGI effects at times, the film still managed to solidify itself in the halls of "Mortal Kombat" history with memorable one-liners, brilliant fight sequences, and a catchy theme song. In effect, the creative forces behind the reboot had major shoes to fill.

The question as to whether 2021's "Mortal Kombat" succeeded is still up for debate. Unlike the PG-13-rated 1995 feature film, this reboot went full-force into R territory featuring plenty of adult dialogue and viscerally brutal fatalities. Despite appeasing fans with the blood-soaked spectacle of brutal finishers, the film also took some liberties with the property that left some fans preferring to take a dip in the dead pool. However, even though the film wasn't exactly a flawless victory, it still sparked enough fan fervor to warrant a sequel. Here's what the filmmakers must avoid in the upcoming sequel in order to land that uppercut and send fans plummeting down the Pit in blissful delight.

"Mortal Kombat" is a diverse universe with at least seven realms mentioned in the franchise's lengthy history. Earthrealm is the pocket of the universe we're all familiar with, the very place we call home. Most of the heroic fighters to compete in the tournament hail from Earthrealm. The reason behind is this is simple: the dark forces of Outworld are consistently trying to claim dominion over Earthrealm. This can only be done through a series of victories in multiple Mortal Kombat tournaments. Since the tournament was created by the Elder gods as a means for Earthrealm to defend itself, its only fitting that many of the heroes are warriors of the planet Earth.

However, we've seen so much of Earthrealm. After all, we technically live in it. As a game series, the most memorable combat arenas were the fantasy settings of other realms. Stages like the Dead Pool, the Pit, the Soul Chamber, and even Shao Kahn's throne were all locales from the fantasy settings of other realms. The sequel needs to take us beyond Earth and fully embrace the "Mortal Kombat" universe beyond simple mentions or brief shots of these other worlds.

"Mortal Kombat" is a dance of death. The 2021 reboot was no different and nary a villain nor hero were spared from a bloody demise. Finish him (or her) indeed, and the film did so to great effect with many characters succumbing to their mortality. Shang Tsung was left standing empty handed as the Earthrealm heroes defeated and brutally killed Mileena, Reiko, Nitara, Kabal, Reptile, Goro, the turn-coat Kano, and, of course, Sub-Zero. On the flip side of the coin, the heroes lost Kung Lao to the icy soul-sucking death grip of Shang Tsung.

In a franchise that consistently sees the same characters returning, what are the odds that Shang Tsung or another dark magic user like Quan Chi raise the fallen villainous acolytes from the dead to once again compete? In fact, Shang Tsung teases the possibility stating that "death is only another portal." As he makes this ominous remark, we see the bodies of Sub-Zero and Goro engulfed in black smoke. Reversing deaths often feels like a cheap parlor trick that dilutes any high stakes the narrative once established. While Sub-Zero's return as the vengeful wraith known as Noob Saibot is totally necessary given the mythology, undoing the demise of others may be too much. Kano's sarcastic wit made him a fan-favorite, but the production should resist the temptation to resurrect him. Johnny Cage can easily carry the comedic torch in the sequel. Shao Khan can fill the void of the heavy-hitter that Goro vacated. For the most part, the filmmakers should leave the dead in the ground and explore new characters.

As a film based on hand-to-hand combat, the action must feel raw and visceral. Often, blockbuster action films lose sight of that with the heavy-handed use of CGI to create death-defying sequences or build up the characters. "Mortal Kombat" had its share of CGI, which included the four-armed monstrosity Goro, and the film relied on CGI to visualize the powers of each fighter, god, or sorcerer.

But the most criminal use of CGI in the 2021 film, however, is animated blood and gore. In a film already littered with CGI effects, some elements must touch on true-life depictions to keep fans immersed in the moment. If anything in the MK universe is sacred, it's the blood and gore. Practical effects are often limited in modern productions, simply because its easier. The actors don't have to deal with the effects in the moment, like getting doused in fake blood. Additionally, the cost of the materials and the temperament it takes in nailing the shots using practical effects can be cumbersome –- especially when we live in an age where anything can easily be touched up with computer animation. But all that said, a film like "Mortal Kombat" must be careful to not get too carried away with CGI. At the very least, blood and gore should be grisly and realistic to steer the film away from feeling cheap.

Let's remember what elements worked so well for the 2021 film. Kano, for example, was an absolute breath of crude but fresh air. He always ensured that audiences didn't take any of this ridiculousness that is "Mortal Kombat" too seriously. The video games are about as over-the-top as it gets.

Even though the stakes seem high in this film, there's still a guy with robotic arms who popped another guy's head like a bloody pimple by simply clapping his hands together. At the end of the day, we're here to just see some wildly colorful characters get their otherworldly fisticuff-style freak on in the arena. While Kano might not be around any longer to make fun of the newest plot developments for our entertainment, it's highly possible that Johnny Cage will fill those shoes, given his comedic punches (literally and figuratively) in the video game series.

The 2021 reboot took a few liberties with regards to the "Mortal Kombat" mythos. One creative addition wasn't received so kindly: the introduction of the arcana. In the video games, characters have long been capable of powerful and seemingly supernatural combat maneuvers. For instance, Liu Kang could project fireballs or Sub-Zero could command ice. However, the reboot film has established that these power moves come from a fighter's arcana, a mystical energy that comes from within.

The writers likely felt that there needed to be an easy reason to explain some of the more fantastical fight moves. What that does, however, is cheapen the legacy of each fighter and their origins. Liu Kang is a Shaolin Monk. As such, he is spiritually connected which aids him in combat. Jax's arms didn't need to come from some mystical force. They're simply technological marvels that help him in his line of work. The film never mentioned whether Sub-Zero's ice abilities were a manifestation of his arcana, but game lore shows that the Lin Kuei have always been masters of the elements.

Not everything needs an explanation. Perhaps, the concept can be recontextualized or simply ignored altogether. We won't miss it.