SerpApi.Org
With the release of Mortal Kombat II earlier this year, there have officially been four live-action film adaptations of the infamously gory fighting game franchise, consisting of one pair in the 1990s and another in the 2020s. Fans have many reasons for enjoying the Mortal Kombat films, but the franchise's main appeal is undoubtedly its action.
Like the video games that inspired them, the Mortal Kombat films' conflicts are generally decided by duels to the death, either as part of the titular tournament or in unsanctioned brawls. These fight scenes have varied drastically in quality, with some let down by their abrupt pacing or subpar effects, but others rank among the very best in the genre.
Cyrax's Attack Was a Highlight of the Worst Mortal Kombat Installment
1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation was by far the weakest live-action Mortal Kombat film, as evidenced by its pitiful 4% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it was not without some memorable action. Early in the film, Sonya Blade and the metallic-armed Jackson "Jax" Briggs were ambushed by the mechanized warrior Cyrax at a Special Forces laboratory.
Annihilation made Cyrax truly menacing, introducing him as a silhouette slowly emerging from a wall of fire and smoke. Cyrax's impenetrable armor plating and arsenal of sci-fi weaponry set him apart from any other threats faced by Mortal Kombat's heroes. Most of the franchise's action scenes were one-on-one fights between opponents of roughly equal skill, so it was fun for audiences to see Sonya and Jax team up against a vastly superior foe.
Sonya ultimately vanquished the cyborg by blowing some flammable powder towards him, a way of contextualizing her bizarre Fire Kiss move from the games. Despite being bogged down by some cheap-looking CGI, this fight was a worthy successor to those from the previous film, which cannot be said for most aspects of Annihilation.
Johnny Cage Clashed With Scorpion in a Deadly Environment
Movie star Johnny Cage and yellow-clad ninja Scorpion are both fan-favorite Mortal Kombat characters, so it is no surprise that their showdown from the 1995 Mortal Kombat film stood out. It began in admittedly cheesy fashion, with Scorpion's rope dart -- strangely reimagined as a serpentine creature emerging from his palm -- chasing Johnny through the woods.
Once Scorpion teleported himself and his opponent to the Neatherrealm, however, the action greatly improved. This fight scene made the most of its environment. The Netherrealm was depicted as a chaotic web of rickety walkways, adorned with dusty skeletons. Both fighters broke scaffolding and jumped acrobatically between wooden beams in an attempt to gain the upper hand.
Johnny eventually took up the spear and shield of a long-dead Kombatant to defeat Scorpion. This was a truly brutal confrontation, but it did not lose sight of Mortal Kombat's signature sense of humor. After Scorpion exploded in a ball of fire, Johnny left behind a signed autograph, a nod to his Friendship finisher in the game Mortal Kombat II.
Liu Kang's Duel With Reptile Was Classic Mortal Kombat at Its Best
Though fondly remembered, Johnny's fight with Scorpion is not the most beloved action scene from the 1995 Mortal Kombat. That honor instead goes to one of Liu Kang's later fights. In Outworld, the film's heroes were stalked by a camouflaged creature. When Liu finally caught it, it transformed into the green-clad ninja known as Reptile.
Reptile threw Liu through a wall into what appeared to be an underground temple, where their epic showdown commenced, accompanied by a catchy techno soundtrack. This was a relatively grounded melee, at least by Mortal Kombat's standards. The fireballs and acidic spit of the characters' game counterparts were absent, allowing actors Robin Shou and Keith H. Cooke to show off their genuine martial arts prowess.
Their confrontation culminated in Liu Kang using his signature Bicycle Kicks, a rewarding Easter egg for fans of the games. Interestingly, neither this brawl nor Johnny's match against Scorpion were in the original script; they were added after a test screening because viewers demanded more action. Their inclusion was absolutely the right call, because they were the film's best fights.
The Mortal Kombat Reboot Brought the Series' Most Iconic Rivalry to the Big Screen
The 2021 Mortal Kombat was not received as well as the 1995 version, but even some of its harshest critics praised the scenes between Hanzo Hasashi and Bi-Han, better known as Scorpion and Sub-Zero. The film opened in shocking fashion, with Bi-Han using his cryomantic abilities to freeze Hanzo's family to death and then slaying him in a duel.
At the film's climax, just as Bi-Han was about to kill protagonist Cole Young, Hanzo returned as a fiery Spectre to claim vengeance on his old nemesis. This was easily the film's most dramatic fight scene, as the two Kombatants had a deeply personal feud. It made use of exciting and creative choreography, such as when Sub-Zero froze Scorpion’s spilled blood to form a makeshift weapon.
Scorpion ultimately redeemed himself for failing to save his own family by ensuring that Cole's wife and daughter did not suffer the same fate. He finished off Sub-Zero using his signature Fatality from the original Mortal Kombat game, breathing out a plume of hellfire that reduced the rival assassin to ash.
Liu Kang's Fight With Kung Lao Was Equal Parts Thrilling and Heartbreaking
Mortal Kombat II included the franchise's greatest fight scene. Amidst the swirling energy of the Portal, a stage taken straight from the Mortal Kombat II game, Liu had to face off against his old friend Kung Lao, who had become an undead Revenant. In some ways, this felt like a successor to Liu's match against Reptile in the 1995 film, with actors Ludi Lin and Max Huang displaying their flashy martial arts skills.
The rebooted films had previously established that Lao's razor-sharp hat could kill even the strongest opponents with ease, which made this confrontation incredibly tense. While the choreography was excellent, it was the scene's emotional weight that truly set it above the rest. Liu begged his old friend to remember who he was, but Quan Chi's brainwashing was too strong.
Thanks to Liu's decades of experience training with Lao, he was able to predict the other monk’s actions and trick him into falling upon the blade of his own hat. As Lao died for a second time, Liu tearfully promised, "I'm going to bring you back. But not today, brother.” If the upcoming Mortal Kombat III can deliver on the same levels of action and pathos, fans are in for a treat.
