Mortal Kombat 5 Ways The 2021 Movie Is Better (& 5 Ways The 1995 Movie Is Superior)

Mortal Kombat: 5 Ways The 2021 Movie Is Better (& 5 Ways The 1995 Movie Is Superior)

When comparing Mortal Kombat’s 2021 and 1995 movies, which is better? Which is worse? It stands to reason one is superior over the other.

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With Mortal Kombat rushing back to theater screens, it’s only logical longtime fans would draw direct comparisons between Simon McQuoid’s movie and the original 1995 film directed by Paul Anderson. After all, that was the first time Mortal Kombat ever hit the silver screen, and it occurred when so-called “Mortal Mania” was in full, albeit highly controversial swing.

The 2021 Mortal Kombat film is much different than its predecessor, whether it’s character introduction or overall story. With so many huge differences in scope, narrative, and of course, parental rating, it’s a good time to take a look back and pit these two cinematic adaptations against each other to see which version scored better in particular areas.

10 The 2021 Film Handled Sub-Zero & Scorpion Much Better

There’s an argument to be made for how both films managed to capitalize on the popularity of Sub-Zero and Scorpion, but the truth is, the 2021 film handles the characters a lot better. This is partly due to the vast increase in source material that simply wasn’t available in 1995. These characters have grown and evolved.

As such, the 2021 film has a lot more to play off of. We know the real names of these characters, and how deep their feud goes. While the 1995 film may have shown more accurate physical depictions of these characters, they were essentially mindless automatons in service to Shang Tsung. Here, they’re real people.

9 The 1995 Film Had A Better Shang Tsung

The Shang Tsung of the 2021 film was played by Chin Han, and although the performance is adequate, there’s very little going on. This Shang Tsung is lifeless and wooden, with very little expression and backstory to play off of. Even in comparison to the video games, the character is lacking.

In comparison, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s performance in the 1995 film is far more nuanced and expressive. Tagawa injected a certain level of wicked charm and charisma into the character’s sinister malevolence, and the result was a far more compelling and entertaining antagonist.

8 The 2021 Film Had Blood, Gore & Fatalities

Yes, it could be argued whatever passed for fatalities in the 1995 film was good enough, but this would be a lie. That movie had barely any blood to speak of, which was a major drawback considering the controversial nature of the video game series at that time.

2021 brings full-scale graphic violence to the Mortal Kombat cinematic world, and it works right out of the box. Its desensitized fanbase might not be screaming their appreciation from the rooftops, but they do agree the introduction of blood, guts and fatalities feels right.

7 The 1995 Film Was Larger & More Adventurous In Scope

One of the biggest criticisms of the 2021 film is just how small in scale the story really is. There’s no gigantic tournament to be had, no massive pool of fighters, and no epic martial arts bouts with hundreds of cheering spectators in the background. This is a movie about Earth’s lackluster warriors forced to get it together, or face the chop at the hands of Shang Tsung and his gang.

The 1995 film was a full-fledged adventure story that took the characters to a strange land, introduced them to a new world, and forced them to adapt. It also focused heavily on the tournament, as opposed to the warmup session that was the 2021 film.

6 The 2021 Film Doesn’t Cater To Kids

Mortal Kombat’s target audience began at the 14-year-old range; this was a game made for older kids who were thoroughly invested in rebelling against their parents by playing an ultra-violent video game. It’s just that simple.

Now, those kids are all grown up and still remain fans. Nevertheless, the 2021 Mortal Kombat film isn’t out to embrace the underage demographic. It’s full of innuendo, crude language and visceral bloodletting, and it does it all without attempting to court a wider audience. It’s R-rated for a reason. Take it or leave it.

5 The 1995 Film Features All The Original Characters

Character introduction and development was a big problem in the 2021 film, with many key characters like Liu Kang getting slotted into the nosebleed section to make room for characters like Cole, who were completely unwelcome. This is one of the biggest Achilles Heel moments of the movie.

The 1995 film, however, stuck close to its source material. Liu Kang, Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage were the principal protagonists alongside Raiden. The story was about them, and how they came together to beat an overwhelming force. To omit Johnny Cage in the 2021 film was a major mistake, and no final act sequel hint is big enough to undo that.

4 The 2021 Film Has Much Better Visual Effects

This one comes as no surprise, given the massive leaps in CGI and visual effects technology since 1995. At the time, Mortal Kombat was delivering some astonishing visuals, some of which still hold up today. Unfortunately, there’s a CGI Reptile that can’t be unseen, as well as a number of dodgy effects and poor 3D modeling.

The differences in how both films handle Goro are night and day, as well. 2021 Mortal Kombat has the edge when it comes to visuals, and it isn’t close. The current CGI playbook can easily craft anything the human imagination can conjure up, and it’ll be interesting to see how a potential sequel leverages this as it moves forward.

3 The 1995 Film Had A Better Liu Kang

One of the biggest annoyances of the 2021 film is how the character of Liu Kang was handled. He’s supposed to be the principal hero of the story, yet he’s relegated to second class status by the time the credits roll. His only claim to fame is an Animality that ends up overshadowing his character.

Robin Shou portrayed Liu Kang in the 1995 film, and to much better effect. He felt more believable, more charismatic, and far more integral to the story. His rivalry with Shang Tsung was also a major focus, while the 2021 film tries to set up a future beef by sacrificing a key character at the end of the middle act.

2 The 2021 Film Had A Better Sonya

Actress Cameron Diaz was reportedly filming Mortal Kombat before she suffered an injury forcing her to drop out. Actress Bridgette Wilson stepped in to fill the role, but it felt like just as much of a mismatch, right from the start. Wilson didn’t look the part, nor could she really muster the toughness required for such a character. In the end, she became a damsel in distress.

Jessica McNamee played Sonya in the 2021 film, and to much better effect. She felt grounded, believable and right for the role. The character isn’t perfect, particularly when it comes to how she gets her chosen status, but she’s a marked improvement over her cinematic predecessors.

1 The 1995 Film Had A Better Soundtrack

It may seem odd to give an advantage to a film based on its music, but longtime Mortal Kombat fans know just how important that iconic soundtrack really is. “Techno Syndrome” is forever tied to the Mortal Kombat franchise as a key sonic component of the film’s success, and it’s impossible not to feel the energy whenever it’s played.

The 1995 soundtrack also leveraged tracks from such notable acts as Traci Lords, KMFDM, Orbital and Fear Factory by marrying them into scenes from the film. This went a long way to creating a sense of emotion and excitement that just wasn’t there in the 2021 film.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/mortal-kombat-movies-2021-1995-comparison/

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