I assume your tongue is fairly firmly in your cheek, but I can’t think of a better example for “mediocre movie” than Mortal Kombat. Lots of stuff to like about it (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Robin Shou’s hair, Goro, several of the sets, etc), mixed in with mostly underwhelming martial arts and cinematography, with characters whose depth reflects their origins. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, but I’m not crusading to convince people of Paul W.S. Anderson’s misunderstood genius lol
Admittedly I don’t remember a tremendous amount of it, but my recollection is mildly positive. If the 1995 movie is 2.5 stars outta 5 (in my personal rubric, that equates to ‘I like it, but acknowledge it’s not good’, and also happens to be where all of Paul W.S. Anderson’s films live), I’d give the 2021 version 3 stars.
It benefits from making use of the R rating, and having better fight choreography and stunt performances. I think those are much more important to get right than characterization or plot, at least in a Mortal Kombat movie.
For what it’s worth, idgaf about the lore of the franchise, so a fan of the games may take issue with that take, but my perspective is one of a fan of martial arts movies, not necessarily an MK fan.
I never met an action movie I didn’t like. If it’s good it’s good, if it’s bad it’s funny. Plus this is Mortal Kombat we’re talking about here so I’m predisposed to like it. I agree it was better than the first, I’d say much better though.
What about Event Horizon? Has to be his best movie. I think it’s a pretty damn good film.
I assume your tongue is fairly firmly in your cheek, but I can’t think of a better example for “mediocre movie” than Mortal Kombat. Lots of stuff to like about it (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Robin Shou’s hair, Goro, several of the sets, etc), mixed in with mostly underwhelming martial arts and cinematography, with characters whose depth reflects their origins. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, but I’m not crusading to convince people of Paul W.S. Anderson’s misunderstood genius lol
What did you think of the new one? I thought it was awesome.
Admittedly I don’t remember a tremendous amount of it, but my recollection is mildly positive. If the 1995 movie is 2.5 stars outta 5 (in my personal rubric, that equates to ‘I like it, but acknowledge it’s not good’, and also happens to be where all of Paul W.S. Anderson’s films live), I’d give the 2021 version 3 stars.
It benefits from making use of the R rating, and having better fight choreography and stunt performances. I think those are much more important to get right than characterization or plot, at least in a Mortal Kombat movie.
For what it’s worth, idgaf about the lore of the franchise, so a fan of the games may take issue with that take, but my perspective is one of a fan of martial arts movies, not necessarily an MK fan.
I never met an action movie I didn’t like. If it’s good it’s good, if it’s bad it’s funny. Plus this is Mortal Kombat we’re talking about here so I’m predisposed to like it. I agree it was better than the first, I’d say much better though.
What about Event Horizon? Has to be his best movie. I think it’s a pretty damn good film.