Low Budget Movie Buff: Movie Reviews

WARNING: There will be light spoilers sprinkled throughout the beginning of this review as well as possible heavy spoilers towards the end. If you do not care, then read on. However, if you’re jonesing for some pure, unspoiled, cinematic magic, I highly suggest watching the movie first. “Happily ever after …” Probably the most common phrase ever put to paper, one that rounds out nearly every grand tale worth telling. It’s what you say after the noble prince slays the dragon and saves the princess, when the underdog heroes finally best the Big Bad and return home, or when a dedicated parent risks it all, moving heaven and earth, to finally reunite with their long lost child. But as nice a bow as “happily ever after” is atop any story, very rarely does this actually signify the true end, nor does it acknowledge the messiness that comes in the aftermath of surviving such stressful ordeals. But what if a story did? What if within its very narrative, it put on in full display the struggl...

It's a tale as old as time. Earth falls under threat of an otherworldly force, prompting humanity to cobble together a ragtag team of would-be heroes to save it from sheer enslavement and/or annihilation (take your pick). However, what separates Mortal Kombat from the seemingly endless catalog of similar stories are the unique kung-fu tournament-focused specifics of it's world ending scenario, it's crimson-stained hyper violence, a colorful cast of karacters , and of course a deep and rich bastion of fan-beloved lore. It's just such a shame that with all these wonderful toys and avenues for creativity, the MK creators just can't seem to fully step away from the original glorious outing of their universe, much less its staple karacters. But perhaps, with enough care and ingenuity, they can make the past feel as fresh and fun as their first blood spattered debut ... maybe. Let's get into it. Mortal Kombat is a story in which the champions of Outworld and Earthreal...