NYC's Videology To Host A FREE Screening Of MORTAL KOMBAT This Friday!

1995 couldn't have been a better time to be a gamer and martial arts movie fan. It was the year that we got the best of both worlds with New Line Cinema's release of the hit live-action adaptation, Mortal Kombat, pitting three Earthrealm warriors in a multi-dimensional medium of supernatual proportions where the fate of our planet would be decided in life-or-death battles.

For a PG-13 iteration of a relatively violent game, the film banked critically and commercially well among fans and movie goers alike, and new article posted on Tuesday at The Hollywood Reporter gets right down to the nitty gritty on how it all began, from dealing with naysayers and coping with location challenges, to off-set drama and on-set injuries, and finally its theatrical release. Moreover, of course the film led to a less-than-expemplary sequel but it still purported hopes for a third that never came, and nowadays with several shows, game installations and the last several years slowly breathing signs of life for a new film, fans are marking the twentieth anniversary of the film's release in epic fashion.

There may be more depending on where you go, and if you happen to be in New York, there are a few locations doing so this week, including the Urban Action Showcase & Expo this November. The other event is happening right around the corner this Friday at 7:00pm EST at Videology, located at 308 Bedford Avenue in the borough of Brooklyn, hosted by Den Of Geek and sponsored by TVStoreOnline.com.

Friday, August 21st @7PM

You can sum up virtually an entire era with a few key words and phrases…

“Fight.”

“Finish him.”

“Flawless victory.”

And the shout of…

Mortal Kombat!

This month marks the 20th anniversary of Mortal Kombat: The Movie, the undisputed video game movie champion. Alright, fine, the competition for that title isn’t too fierce, but it’s still true.

Maybe Mortal Kombat isn’t a cinematic classic, but it captures the spirit of that first arcade game admirably and has that undeniable (and undeniably loud) soundtrack. And the best way to watch it is definitely with a room full of people and a bar stocked with adult beverages.

So, on Friday, August 21st, Den of Geek Presents returns to Videology in Brooklyn, NY to screen Mortal Kombat: The Movie. There will be trivia, prizes, and some odd surprises, too. The show starts promptly at 7, so just keep your happy hour festivities going for another couple of hours.

I suppose it was rather opportune for Warner Bros earlier this month upon recently announcing Furious Seven helmer James Wan as producer for the new forthcoming film rebooting the franchise in its entirety. Granted, this was really a film that many have been waiting for, particularly with the promise shown by then-helmer Kevin Tancharoren five years ago in a leaked shortfilm pitch with Michael Jai White, Jeri Ryan, Ian Anthony Dale, Lateef Crowder and Matt Mullins; Again, of course, the last we know of Tancharoen's involvement is that it's completely nil, but then Warner Bros. has been playing things close to the chest since their digital production arm began filming the yet-to-be-titled third webseries. Uncertainty is key in keeping the fans thirsty, I suppose.

One thing is certain though: Things have definitely changed for the film industry with respect to fighting game adaptations. The changes are not yet complete, but with the successes of the Mortal Kombat Legacy and the Capcom-blessed depiction of the Street Fighter universe by martial arts action multi-hyphenates, Joey Ansah and Christian Howard, despite any doubts had more than two decades ago and whatever may come, the fighting game genre is alive and kicking... A victory not necessarily without its flaws, but still a victory, and all the more reason to keep fighting.

Head over to the Videology for further information!


H/T: Den Of Geek

DOES IT HOLD UP?: Johnny Cage vs. Scorpion In MORTAL KOMBAT (1995)

Mortal Kombat hit at a crossroads in action movie history, a time when audiences may have heard of Hong Kong action but probably had never seen it for themselves. There had been glimpses in the past; from the Golden Harvest produced TMNT movies to John Woo's Hollywood debut, Hard Target. Hollywood had spent most of the 90s easing American audiences in to the kind of action that Hong Kong was known for and Mortal Kombat was the first to wear its influence proudly. The fight scenes blew our prepubescent minds, but none had quite as much impact as the film's centerpiece, Johnny Cage vs Scorpion. Does this fight stand the test of time, or should it be lost to history?

20 years later, that spear just looks adorable....

THE SETTING

This fight as well as Liu Kang vs Reptile from later in the film, were both choreographed by leading man Robin Shou... and were both the result of reshoots. Test audiences were none too impressed with the majority of the film's fight scenes, all except the ones that Shou choreographed for himself. Shou was a 9 year HK veteran who'd gone toe to toe with some of that market's top stars, including Donnie Yen; when the studio realized the talent they had on their hands, they scheduled reshoots and made him the primary fight choreographer. Needless to say, he knocked it out of the park.

THE SCENE

Johnny Cage fights Scorpion toward the middle of the film. It's the character's first one-on-one fight and the only one that isn't played for laughs (looking at you, Goro). The fight starts in a conspicuously symmetrical forest; a forest that shouldn't even exist on the film's tropical island setting. Scorpion sics his foul tempered spear on poor Johnny, who has no defense against it except to run away. After the spear suffers a Wile E. Coyote-style death, Cage is transported to Scorpion's weird hellscape basement to finish the fight.

Seriously!!!  Where did this forest come from???

If this film were made today, the hellscape would have been created using green screen and would have gone on for miles. As it stands, the arena is a practical set (that looks more like a movie set than ever thanks to HD); while it's somewhat lacking in the kind of epic scope we're used to seeing today, the cramped location gives the fight a claustrophobic feel that ratchets up the intensity. You really get the feeling that Johnny can't escape and has to fight for his life; a fight that gets surprisingly brutal at points.

In '95 this felt massive...

But by 2015 standards, it's a studio apartment.

THE FIGHT

Like the rest of the fights in Mortal Kombat, this fight inhabits a halfway point between Hollywood and Hong Kong. Actor Linden Ashby trained hard in Karate and Tae Kwon Do in preparation for the film; his opponent, played by Chris Casamassa, was a martial arts champion who'd been training in Red Dragon Karate since he was four years old. The performers acquit themselves well, but it's clear they were still getting the hang of Hong Kong-style choreo. Where the fight shows its American roots is in the rhythm; it's noticeably slower paced than most HK work and the fighters sometimes look like they're waiting for an attack to finish so they can throw their next kick. Despite this, the moves are crisp and performed with confidence; the quality of the fighting actually improves as the fight goes on.

Pictured:  $500 sunglasses.....

Since this was made in the 90's, a decade when filmmakers still knew how to film action, the camerawork and editing is on point. Whether it's a wide, medium or closeup, the cinematography is always clear and easy to follow. The editing and use of angles often helps to enhance the brutality of the fight (Scorpion's not above kicking someone relentlessly while they're down) without ever becoming too chaotic. The fighters and the environment are displayed beautifully and the butt-rock soundtrack just adds to the campy charm that radiates from the scene.

DOES IT HOLD UP?

Yes, but not for the reasons you might think. This is an example of a fight that's greater than the sum of its parts.

The actual fighting hearkens back to a bygone era; when Americans were finally starting to embrace Hong Kong-style action. The choreography is solid, but it's a little too slow and simple to hold up to current standards. Where the fight really excels is in its endearingly campy nature. The cartoonish costumes mixed with the obviously fake yet visually dynamic location creates a mood that's rarely replicated (let alone replicated well). Add great cinematography and cheesy soundtrack on top of that and you have an action scene that holds up on charm alone.

mic....  dropped......

While the Liu Kang vs Reptile fight is stronger technically (due in no small part to Robin Shou's HK street cred), this fight is more memorable. It also helps that Johnny Cage is such a fun character. He's not the chosen one, he's just an egotistical diva with a black belt and something to prove. Seeing him rise to the challenge is infinitely gratifying and the fight's payoff is great fan service.