Going into Mortal Kombat 2, I’ll admit my expectations were sitting somewhere between “this could be fun” and “please don’t embarrass me in front of my childhood.” As a longtime fan of the games, the 2021 reboot left a lot to be desired, so when news of the sequel dropped, my hopes honestly weren’t that high. But against all odds, Warner Bros may have actually pulled this one off.
Sure, the concept and story lean into the sillier side of the franchise, but that’s kind of the point. Mortal Kombat 2 understands exactly what it is. It doesn’t try to overcomplicate the lore or force unnecessary seriousness into a franchise built on spine-ripping fatalities and chaotic tournament battles. Instead, it embraces the madness while still giving audiences enough substance between the fight scenes to stay invested.
One thing the film absolutely nailed was Kitana. They finally gave her the level of badassery she deserves, and honestly, I cannot imagine a better casting choice than Adeline Rudolph. She brought the perfect balance of elegance and danger to the role, making every scene feel like a power move.
And we need to talk about Karl Urban as Johnny Cage because wow. He understood the assignment completely. The washed-up Hollywood action star energy, the ego, the one-liners, the absolute chaos of it all, it just worked. The film’s little nods to ‘80s action movies, cheesy celebrity culture and even comic con-style fan meet-and-greets added so much personality. It was campy in the best possible way.
What I loved most about this movie was that it fully leaned into the humour. It understood that at its core, Mortal Kombat has always been for the fans, and it met its audience exactly where they were. But surprisingly, it also works for people with absolutely zero knowledge of the games. Fellow Colin writer Madi came along with me to the screening and, despite not knowing a single thing about Mortal Kombat lore, she still had an amazing time watching it (although my constant flinching at the gore probably added to the entertainment).
For longtime fans, the references were everywhere. From subtle background details inspired by different game stages, to iconic finishing moves and legendary lines like “Finish Him!”, the film packed in nostalgia without feeling like cheap fan service. It felt made by people who actually understand why fans love this franchise in the first place.
That being said, I do have one major critique: Cole Young. Without giving away spoilers, his storyline felt strangely underwhelming this time around, especially considering how much build-up surrounded his character in the first film. It almost feels like the sequel didn’t quite know what to do with him. Still, with the way things are left open, there’s definitely room for a much stronger direction if a third film happens.
Directed by Simon McQuoid and written by Jeremy Slater, the sequel expands the franchise in all the ways fans were hoping for. Alongside Karl Urban joining as Johnny Cage, returning cast members include Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero/Noob Saibot and Hiroyuki Sanada returning as Scorpion.
Even cooler for Aussie fans, the film was shot right here in Queensland at Village Roadshow Studios, continuing Australia’s growing reputation as a major blockbuster production hub.
At the end of the day, Mortal Kombat 2 is messy, violent, ridiculous and self-aware in all the right ways. It’s the kind of movie that knows audiences came to see brutal fights, iconic characters and outrageous fun, and thankfully, it delivers exactly that.
Written by Remi Lih
