MORAL WOMBAT!!!

Wow, this movie got a drubbing from various places, so I guess I'm not gonna like this...

In Samurai Times (which are a distinct time period in history now, given the number of movies set there), who-would-be-Sub-Zero attacks the family of who-would-be-Scorpion. Only a baby survives. Cut to modern day, and fighters are being gathered because it's time for the tenth competition between Earthrealm and Outworld. As it happens, the baby's descent is one of the fighters so that links everything together. However, while they are all training, Outworld decides "sod the rules, let's cheat" (which they've been doing already), so let's launch into Mortal Kombat!!

You know what... I like this movie! The fight scenes are great. The narrative connective tissue works find to get you from place to place and keep things clear. This isn't a cinematic masterpiece, but considering I'm watching a movie based on a video game, yeah, this is good!

I also liked the 1995 movie, although that was leaning far more into the silliness than this movie. The sequel can jump in the trash though.

I have no doubt the series will jump on sequels given half a chance, but as much as I liked this, I doubt this will get there. (Happy to be wrong.)

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Nobuddy

I hope want revenge violence, 'cos this movie is revenge violence.

Random guy is going through life, being a nine-to-five chap that is just getting through life. However when his house gets invaded, his dander slowly gets up, goes to do something about, and ends up in a punching movie. Fortunately, he happens to have a special set of skills.

Of course people will compare this with John Wick, and that's understandable. A Bad Day happens to a seemingly normal guy, and it turns out that he is The Wrong Guy To Piss Off. However, I'm going to drop a hot take: I can believe Keanu Reaves as a master killing machine. Bob Oldenkirk... not so much. Some of that is para-text, in that we've seen Keanu getting jacked for these movies and know he went through extensive training for his roles. Bob... well, he's Saul Goodman... a skeezy lawyer whos greatest act was drinking his own piss and offering himself up as a target. We aren't seeing him one handedly taking out gangs of men (because they are always men, we aren't gender neutral in fighting movies). Now, Hutch (played by Bob) doesn't get away without scratches, but still... movie magic can only go so far.

Still, Christopher Lloyd is in this, and gets to have fun.

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