MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION (1997) Movie Reaction! | First Time Watch! | Robin Shou | Brian Thompson
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The hosts found 'Mortal Kombat: Annihilation' to have a more linearly directed and understandable story than the first film.
- ❖The early, unexpected death of Johnny Cage was a significant point of discussion and disappointment for the hosts.
- ❖The film's soundtrack was consistently praised for its quality and ability to set an engaging tone.
- ❖CGI and special effects in 'Annihilation' were noted as dated and less impressive compared to the practical effects (like Goro) in the first movie.
- ❖Several villain characters, including Shiva and the returning ninjas, were introduced with presence but quickly defeated or underutilized.
- ❖The movie attempted to expand the lore of the Mortal Kombat universe, explaining the Elder Gods' roles and the consequences of rule-breaking.
- ❖The new actress for Sonia Blade was well-received, with hosts comparing her performance to Kimberly from Power Rangers.
- ❖Liu Kang's character arc, particularly his 'animality' transformation, felt underdeveloped and ultimately ineffective against Khan.
Insights
1Improved Narrative Clarity Over the First Film
The hosts observed that 'Mortal Kombat: Annihilation' presented a more coherent and linearly directed story compared to its predecessor. They appreciated that events unfolded in a sequence that made sense, making it easier to follow the plot and understand the characters' objectives.
The story as a whole made more sense. It felt more linearly directed. It felt like things were happening in a sequence that made sense. This one having just the sort of linear mcguffin of we've got to get Katana and we've got to get Katana back with her mom streamlined the story a little bit and and definitely made it more clear what we were like working towards.
2Shocking Early Demise of Johnny Cage
A major point of surprise and disappointment for the hosts was the very early death of Johnny Cage, a character they considered a 'mainstay' of the Mortal Kombat series. They expected a resurrection or a more significant role for him, given his importance in the games.
Johnny getting like taken out in the beginning. I really thought there was going to be a whole bit of like us bringing him back or, you know, working to try and resurrect him. Now he's just gone. They really were like, 'We've recast him and now he dead.' Just dead. Dead. Gone. Johnny's like a mainstay of the of the the series of like the games and everything. And they really were like, 'Bye. We got to get Jax in here. You're out of here.'
3Highly Praised Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack was a significant positive for the hosts, who found it gripping, bumping, and effective in setting a fun, heart-pounding tone throughout the movie. They noted its ability to evoke a reminiscent mood and enhance engagement.
Oh my god, the soundtrack was amazing. I don't remember if the first one was like as good or not, but this one definitely caught your attention. This one, I really really felt the soundtrack at every point. It was just like it was bumping. It was gripping. It like it got you into like a sort of fun reminiscent mood no matter what. It did a really really great job of just like setting a fun tone and and making things feel engaging and heartpounding.
4Dated CGI and Underutilized Villains
The hosts pointed out the noticeable reliance on CGI and green screen, which appeared 'crunchy' and dated, suggesting a lower special effects budget compared to the first film's use of practical puppets like Goro. They also criticized the film for introducing powerful villains like Shiva and the returning Scorpion and Subzero, only to quickly defeat or sideline them, failing to give them adequate screen time or impactful fights.
This one definitely feels like a I think their special effects budget or something must have been a little bit less because you can definitely see a little bit more of like the seams in some places and they leaned very heavily on more of the CGI rather than less. The other Goro lady gets crushed by the cage and we just don't see Scorpio again or Scorpion again.
5Lore Expansion and Rule Clarification
The film expanded on the Mortal Kombat lore, providing more details about characters like Raiden, the Elder Gods, and the reasons behind the rule-breaking. The hosts appreciated that the sequel addressed the ambiguity of the rules and consequences that were unclear in the first movie.
I like what they did with the expansion of the lore, right? like they kind of set up this world in the first one, but it's just contained to the tournament. And so now this one is kind of giving a bigger explanation of like who is Raiden? Why is he here? How like why aren't the Elder Gods like intervening? Stuff like that. And so the final example of like oh an elder god is involved in this whole thing makes total sense. And so I I really like that expansion of the world and giving us a little bit more details about how this works. also not feel like the the last one were like wait they're cheating though you keep talking about these rules that don't exist so I'm glad that they did address that here and be like yeah we cheated the we're going against the rules so that I did appreciate.
Lessons
- If watching 'Mortal Kombat: Annihilation,' pay attention to the surprisingly coherent, albeit flawed, linear storyline compared to its predecessor.
- Listen closely to the film's soundtrack, which the hosts highlight as a strong point that enhances the movie's campy, action-packed atmosphere.
- Observe how the film handles its numerous characters, noting the unexpected early exit of a major protagonist and the underutilization of several villains.
Notable Moments
The hosts discuss the unexpected and quick death of Johnny Cage at the beginning of the film, expressing their surprise and disappointment.
This moment sets a tone for the film's character handling and was a significant deviation from the game's established roster, leading to strong reactions from the hosts.
The hosts consistently praise the film's soundtrack, noting its ability to elevate the action and overall viewing experience.
Despite other criticisms, the soundtrack is identified as a major strength, suggesting it successfully captured the essence of Mortal Kombat's energy and mood.
Discussion about the film's CGI and special effects, contrasting them with the practical effects of the first movie.
This highlights the technological limitations and creative choices of 90s filmmaking, showing how budget and techniques impacted the visual quality of a video game adaptation.
The hosts express frustration over the underutilization of key villain characters like Shiva, Scorpion, and Subzero, who were either quickly defeated or sidelined.
This points to a common pitfall in ensemble action films, where numerous characters are introduced but not given meaningful arcs or impactful fights, diluting their potential.
The hosts appreciate the film's effort to expand the Mortal Kombat lore and clarify plot points, such as the Elder Gods' involvement and the rules of the tournament.
This indicates a successful attempt by the filmmakers to address narrative gaps and provide a deeper understanding of the universe, which was a positive for the hosts despite other flaws.
Quotes
"Johnny's like a mainstay of the of the the series of like the games and everything. And they really were like, 'Bye. We got to get Jax in here. You're out of here.'"
"What I find interesting about this one is I think the story as a whole made more sense. It felt more linearly directed. It felt like things were happening in a sequence that made sense."
"Oh my god, the soundtrack was amazing. I don't remember if the first one was like as good or not, but this one definitely caught your attention."
"This one definitely feels like a I think their special effects budget or something must have been a little bit less because you can definitely see a little bit more of like the seams in some places and they leaned very heavily on more of the CGI rather than less."
"I like what they did with the expansion of the lore, right? like they kind of set up this world in the first one, but it's just contained to the tournament. And so now this one is kind of giving a bigger explanation of like who is Raiden? Why is he here? How like why aren't the Elder Gods like intervening? Stuff like that."
Q&A
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