Mortal Kombat (2021)

Mortal Kombat is messy. It aims to be mediocre entertainment but mostly misfires. On the positive, Mortal Kombat has fine action. Battles are choreographed, paced, and shot well enough. Next, the cinematography is sporadically interesting. Much of the movie is ugly but occasional images counterbalance that. Then there is the sound design, which is the best part of Mortal Kombat. The sound heightens magical elements, intense fights, and dramatic moments with realistic and abstract designs. Lastly, the special effects are significant. Some effects are terrible, but the abundance of visual enhancements spices up an otherwise forgettable experience.

On the flipside, the most glaring flaw of Mortal Kombat is its writing. The plot is clunky, the dialogue is cringey, and the characters are generic. Next, the acting is bad. Believable emotions and natural charisma are rare sights here. Lastly, the direction fails to produce a cohesive style or tone. Mortal Kombat clashes with itself, attempting to marry unrealistic visuals with gritty fights and cartoonish production designs with melodramatic beats. In the end, Mortal Kombat is a jumbled patchwork of dull ingredients that don't synergize. It might entertain some viewers, but most will find the production lacking.

Writing: 2/10

Direction: 3/10

Cinematography: 6/10

Acting: 3/10

Editing: 6/10

Sound: 7/10

Score/Soundtrack: 5/10

Production Design: 5/10

Casting: 3/10

Effects: 6/10

Overall Score: 4.6/10