Our heroes are surrounded by Shao Kahn’s troops, compelling Raiden and his squad of warriors to agree to participate in the last Mortal Kombat that will decide the world’s destiny. Now, our heroes must journey to Outworld to protect Earthrealm. At the same time, Scorpion must discover the ancient Kamidogu before it is used to revive the One Being, which would entail the destruction of everything in the universe. Time is limited in this action-packed continuation of the Mortal Kombat adventure, and the stakes are tremendous.
While several Mortal Kombat characters made another appearance on the big screen earlier this year, they return in animated form in the feature-length Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, the sequel to last year’s Scorpion’s Revenge. Whereas Scorpion was the center of that film, Battle of the Realms focuses on Liu Kang and the Earth’s defenders as they are challenged to one final Mortal Kombat. Overall, Battle for the Realms is a well-animated, engaging, and enjoyable movie that incorporates many characteristics that Mortal Kombat fans love about the franchise.
Earthrealm’s heroes are fighting back against an invasion by Outworld’s emperor Shao Khan when he and the thunder god Raiden reach an agreement to hold one final Mortal Kombat to decide the fate of Earthrealm once and for all. Revenge, from the same duo of director Ethan Spaulding and writer Jeremy Adams. Earthrealm’s heroes are fighting back against an invasion by Outworld’s emperor Shao Khan. Khan and the thunder god, Scorpion, escape Hell and are pursued by the new Sub-Zero for a unique device he carries, as well as revenge for his brother’s murder, even as a more significant danger to all worlds looms over them.
A single Mortal Kombat game has many characters, and Battle for the Realms is no exception. Earth characters such as Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Raiden, Jax, and others are heavily featured alongside Shao Khan, Kitana, Jade, and Shang Tsung. On top of that, there’s Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Shinnok, Smoke, and others. Despite the vast ensemble, the film is mainly on Liu Kang as he accepts his fate as Earthrealm’s protector to defeat Shao Khan in combat. Even if it isn’t given much detail, his arc is excellent because he is still confident in his talents and purpose, despite having doubts in a couple of moments. Kang is the hero of the narrative, and he is made much more compelling by Jordan Rodrigues.
Scorpion, the second main character, continues his journey from the previous film, having to grips with his faults and how he was misled. He has a few pleasant character moments, and his path is interestingly mirrored with the new Sub-Zero, as the need for revenge devoured both of them. As one of, if not the primary faces of the franchise, several Scorpion moments will delight fans of the character. Other characters who share the spotlight include Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade, who continue their feud as Johnny tries to woo Sonya in all the wrong ways. Joel McHale gets many laughs as the cocky actor-turned-fighter, while Jennifer Carpenter plays the bad-ass Sonya with a good balance of stoicism and openness.
Other characters have their chances to shine, albeit their arcs are not as fleshed out owing to the big ensemble. A few characters make some drastic decisions that the film skims over to get to the next beat. It’s because there are so many things going on, such as the last Mortal Kombat, Scorpion’s mission, Sub-revenge, Zero’s, and a few additional plot aspects that connect them all. Battle of the Realms attempts to balance each narrative and, for the most part, succeeds, but it still covers nearly too much area. In conclusion, everything has converged, although not entirely cleanly.
The plot is virtually secondary for a product like Mortal Kombat because the fighting is what people play the games for and want to see in any film. The action is superbly animated, coordinated, and violent, as it does not shy away from the horrific fatalities that Mortal Kombat games are known for, particularly in a couple of notable Mortal Kombat fights. Battle of the Realms, like Scorpion’s Revenge, frequently makes use of the games’ x-ray vision to gain a comprehensive look at the damage being caused on a fighter’s organs and bones.
The x-ray element appears when needed, and the match-ups between the majority of the characters are thrilling. The graphics throughout the film are beautifully done. However, the Mortal Kombat bouts take place in a single arena rather than traveling to multiple locations, as the games do become rather monotonous after a while. Still, other sequences and the conclusion compensate for that.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms is an exciting and enjoyable feature that appears to have been designed just for Mortal Kombat fans. The film’s main characters have beautiful moments and development, while others suffer from the crucial decisions not having as much depth to them. With its choreography and extremely gory battles, the action and animation make up for any lack of plot material. At the same time, the entire voice cast works well together and adds to the pleasure. For those looking for the complete Mortal Kombat experience, Battle of the Realms has you covered.
