Mortal Kombat II was undoubtedly a film made for fans of the franchise. Based on the popular videogame series of the same name and serving as a sequel to the prior film released in 2021, this film mostly follows Johnny Cage and Kitana as the film’s main protagonists (Karl Urban and Adeline Rudolph are pretty great in their roles, respectively), as they along with other iconic characters from the series fight to save Earth (called Earthrealm within the context of the franchise) from the intimidating and villainous Shao Khan. Accompanying the franchise’s signature brutality and the surprisingly impressive visuals and fight choreography, the film was filled to the brim with cameos and Easter eggs from the games. Any Mortal Kombat character you could possibly place a name to most likely played a role in this film, from Jax and Sonya Blade to Scorpion and Liu Kang. There was definitely enough fan service in this film to satisfy audiences. (The audience I saw this with was having the best time.) Did this film have a rather simplistic story with plot cliches and cheesy dialogue? Sure. However, I didn’t really come into this film expecting anything more. Very reminiscent of the original Mortal Kombat films that released in the 90s, this film was just a fun time at the movies, and I recommend this film to Mortal Kombat fans or anyone who’s just looking for a flashy action flick. Score: 7/10
Noah Robinson 