Mortal Kombat
Short description
Mortal Kombat is an action fantasy film set around an ancient martial arts tournament that pits Earth's defenders against the forces of a hostile realm. A sorcerer, Shang Tsung, has guided his side to victory in nine previous contests, and a tenth win would open the way for his world to overwhelm humanity. To prevent that, the thunder god Lord Raiden gathers three fighters: the monk Liu Kang, the special forces officer Sonya Blade and the Hollywood actor Johnny Cage. Each has personal reasons for taking part, and on a remote island they must face powerful opponents and their own fears to win the decisive match.
The film was directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, the second of the fourteen features he has directed in chronological order, following Shopping and preceding Event Horizon. Kevin Droney wrote the screenplay, and Lawrence Kasanoff produced. Robin Shou, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Linden Ashby, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Christophe Lambert and Talisa Soto lead a cast of twenty-nine credited performers, supported by ninety-nine credited crew members. It adapts the video game series of the same name.
Released on 18 August 1995, the film runs 101 minutes. Against an 18 million dollar budget it took about 122 million dollars worldwide, a strong return. Audience scores sit in the middle: 5.8 out of 10 on IMDb from around 132,000 votes, and 5.9 out of 10 on TMDB from roughly 2,700 votes. A film critics' rating of 4.7 out of 10 from 76 reviews places critics slightly below those audience figures.
What's left behind the scenes
- Initially, Cameron Diaz was supposed to play Sonya Blade, but was unable to do so because she broke her wrist before filming began.
- Ed Boon, one of the creators of the video game "Mortal Kombat," voiced Scorpion.
- The script included a scene where Shang Tsung allowed fighters to bury Art Lean in the Garden of Statues, next to the statue of Kung Lao. The script also featured a fight between Sonya and Jade. These scenes were never filmed.
- Brandon Lee was supposed to play Johnny Cage, but he died shortly before filming began.
- The role of Liu Kang could have gone to Jason Scott Lee, Russell Wong, and Philip Rhee.
- Jean-Claude Van Damme could have played Johnny Cage, but he turned down the role, preferring to participate in "Street Fighter" (1994).
- Brigitte Wilson (Sonya Blade) refused a stunt double and performed all of her own stunts in the film.
- Despite Linden Ashby training specifically in karate and taekwondo for this film, stuntman J.J. Perry played Johnny Cage in most of the scenes.
- The ninjas in the film were originally intended to be warriors – Tarkatans (similar to Baraka from the game Mortal Kombat II), but this idea was rejected.
- Chris Casamassa was initially considered as one of many ninjas for the background, however he impressed the producers so much at the audition that they offered him the role of Scorpion.
- The film is based on the "Mortal Kombat" series of video games (1992 – present, Midway).
- The film's plot strongly resembles "Enter the Dragon" (1973).
- Actors Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Shang Tsung) and Talisa Soto (Kitana) previously worked together in the sixteenth installment of the James Bond series, "Licence to Kill" (1989).
- Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa reprised his role as Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 11, a 2019 video game.
- It was originally intended that the film would end immediately after Raiden's words: "I must tell you, guys—you did a great job." However, an additional scene was filmed in which the Emperor (Shao Kahn) suddenly appears and says: "You pathetic idiots. I have come for your souls!" to which Raiden replies: "I think not." After this, he and the other fighters prepare for battle...
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