Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 2021
Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms
Buy Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms' is a 2021 American direct-to-video adult animated martial arts film, directed by Ethan Spaulding from a screenplay by Jeremy Adams, based on the 'Mortal Kombat' franchise created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, while serving as the direct sequel to 'Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge' (2020). Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and animated by Studio Mir, Boon returned from the predecessor as creative consultant.
It borrows source materials from 'Mortal Kombat II' and '3' and 'Deception' and 'X', the movie revolves around the otherworldly Mortal Kombat tournament set in Outworld. Liu Kang is chosen to fulfill his destiny as a tournament champion while Scorpion sets out to prevent the Kamidogu artifact fall into the hands of Shinnok as he comes into conflict with the younger Sub-Zero.
The movie was released on August 31, 2021 on Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray as well as digitally. A sequel, 'Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind', is set to be released on October 11, 2022.
Plot
A couple attempts to protect their infant son, Liu Kang, from pursuing Tarkatans, who are sent to prevent the infant from fulfilling his destiny of defeating Shao Kahn. They tear the father apart and mortally wound the mother, and then prepare to devour Kang, but were stopped by Lord Raiden, who kills them all. The dying mother asks Raiden to tell their son that his parents loved him before passing on, and Raiden takes his leave with Kang to train him for his purpose.
Following the events of the previous Mortal Kombat tournament, Shao Kahn declares war on Earthrealm in retaliation for Shang Tsung 's defeat through a new Mortal Kombat tournament set in Outworld. Princess Kitana, Kintaro, General Reiko, and Jade lead the Emperor's first wave invasion force of Outworld, laying siege against the Wuxi monastery, but are repelled by Kung Lao and Special Forces cybernetically enhanced Jackson Briggs and NYPD officer Kurtis Stryker. At the onset of their assault, the Outworld commanders are confronted by movie star Johnny Cage and Jax's partner Sonya Blade.
When Johnny and Sonya are soon joined in to hinder the incursion force by Liu Kang and Raiden as negotiations fail, Shao Kahn appears himself, petitioning Raiden to participate in a final Mortal Kombat tournament to decide the fate of their world once and for all. The thunder god agrees, and he ventures to the realm of his overseers to put forth his commitment to this ultimate contest.
Meanwhile, just as plans for the final competition are being drawn, Scorpion reawakens back in the Netherrealm after having died a second time upon Shang Tsung's island. He is confronted by the maddened Elder God Shinnok over the death of his favored servant Quan Chi. Shinnok engineers Scorpion's entrance into Earthrealm in hopes of utilizing the key embedded in his body by hiring the Lin Kuei clan. Back in Earthrealm, Lin Kuei members Kuai Liang and Smoke are summoned by the grandmaster to hunt down Scorpion. They are horrified to witness their missing peers having undergone neural cybernetic biomodifications a means to strengthen the clan, the juniors expected to do the same. In response, Liang and Smoke rebel, with Liang being the only one to flee successfully. He then takes up the mantle of his deceased brother Bi-Han, the previous Sub-Zero.
Back at the Wuxi Temple, Raiden returns to his troops after arranging to hold and participate in the tournament while relinquishing his immortality. Once the Earthrealm warriors head out for Outworld, Scorpion makes his presence known to Raiden. He mentions how the key to Shinnok's prison had been bonded to his soul and came to the protector of Earthrealm for advice about its purpose. Raiden informs him that it is a key to untold power known as the Kamidogu, a supreme magical relic from a bygone era that, if misused, could doom all the realms.
At the start of the tournament, Cage is defeated by Kytinn warrior D'Vorah; Sonya defeats D'Vorah and Li Mei; Kang defeats Jade; Stryker defeats Baraka; Jax successfully defeats Kintaro by ripping his arms out of their sockets.
Back on Earth, Scorpion is being pursued by the now cybernetic Cyrax and Sektor in a dockside shipping yard. as the trio are soon interrupted by Sub-Zero, but even he is outmatched by their superior enhancements, aided later by the new arrival, the cybernetic Smoke. With their enemies overwhelmed, the three cyber Lin Kuei apprehend their Hellspawn prey and make off to the Temple of Elements. At their destination, they force Hanzo to open a portal leading to their victory. As they prepare to eliminate him once upon accessing its gateway, they are interrupted again by a vengeful Sub-Zero. Scorpion tries and fails to console Kuai Liang over murdering his brother but agrees to a temporary alliance against the Lin Kuei. The two are still no match for their robotic assailants and are left for dead upon their acquisition of the artifact as the mountainous hall collapses on them.
As the second half of the final tournament is underway, Lao and Stryker are killed by Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung, respectively. Kitana rebels against her stepfather instead of fighting against Raiden, only to be beaten into submission. Kang defeats Shang Tsung regardless of a setback and spares him.
Within the Netherrealm, the Lin Kuei realize too late that their employer was Shinnok and learn of his plan to revive the One Being and bring an end to all of creation; subsequently, they were betrayed and killed for their services.
During the tournament's final stage, Raiden loses his battle against Shao Kahn and dies in the process, enraging Kang to defeat the emperor and win the tournament. However, celebrations were cut short as Shinnok finally succeeds in resurrecting the One Being and immediately absorbs its power to become corrupted Shinnok. With the aid of the Elder Gods, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion, Liu Kang engages in kombat with Shinnok while Johnny, Jax, Kitana, and Sonya protect civilians from Kahn's remaining army.
In the aftermath of the battle, Kang manages to absorb the One Being's power and disseminate it back into separating the realms into their original state, including Edenia. Sonya and Johnny share one final kiss while Liu and Kitana hold hands in hard-earned peace. however they were unaware that Raiden is revived with his godhood, watching them from afar and leaving with lightning in the skies.
Voice cast
* Jordan Rodrigues as Liu Kang
* Dave B. Mitchell as Raiden, Sektor, Kintaro
* Joel McHale as Johnny Cage
* Jennifer Carpenter as Sonya Blade
* Ike Amadi as Jax Briggs, One Being
* Artt Butler as Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn Soldier, Cyrax
* Robin Atkin Downes as Shinnok, Reiko
* Grey Griffin as Kitana, Satoshi Hasashi, Li Mei
* Matthew Yang King as Kung Lao
* Bayardo De Murguia as Kuai Liang / Sub-Zero
* Matthew Mercer as Kurtis Stryker, Demon One, Smoke
* Paul Nakauchi as the Lin Kuei Grandmaster
* Emily O'Brien as Jade, Liu Lin
* Patrick Seitz as Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion
* Fred Tatasciore as Shao Kahn
* Debra Wilson as D'Vorah
* Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers (cameo appearance only in the film's Warner Bros. Animation variant logo)
Production
Development
Following the release of 'Scorpion's Revenge' in April 2020, screenwriter Jeremy Adams expressed interest in doing a sequel. In June 2021, a sequel was announced, with most of the cast and crew from the previous film now set to return. On the day before the film's release, a Warner Bros. Animation logo variant featuring Shaggy Rogers from 'Scooby-Doo' strangling Scorpion was uploaded onto the internet, inspired by the "Ultra Instinct Shaggy" internet meme, as a follow up to the previous film's logo variant featuring Scorpion strangling Daffy Duck in place of Porky Pig.Casting
Matthew Mercer reprises his role as Kurtis Stryker from the 2011 video game for the first time in nearly a decade, Dave B. Mitchell reprises his role as Sektor from 'Mortal Kombat 11', and Matthew Yang King, who voiced both Liu Kang and Fujin in 'Mortal Kombat 11', now voices Kung Lao. Scooby-Doo voice actor Matthew Lillard voices Shaggy Rogers for the film's logo opening which is heavily inspired by the "Ultra Instinct Shaggy" internet meme.Reception
The film earned $1,652,738 from domestic Blu-ray sales.
Sequel
On August 3, 2022, a third film titled 'Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind', was announced via IGN and is set to be released on October 11, 2022.
References
Buy Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 2021