The next Mortal Kombat is going to be... interesting!

[Swamperon]

http://kotaku.com/5558339/if-this-is-the-next-mortal-kombat-movie-sign-us-up

So there's no indication whether it's a movie or game but it looks damn interesting either way. It seems they're going for a 'Batman Begins' style reboot, i.e. giving a realistic background/explanation to the characters and their powers.

[The Shawn]

Looks Brutal. It may surprise us.

[StoneAgeGamer]

Honestly I actually somewhat enjoyed the first movie (the 2nd was terrible), but it was still very cheesy. This reboot looks decent.

[Kitsune Sniper]

... Was that Seven of Nine as Sonya Blade? o_O

[Swamperon]

... Was that Seven of Nine as Sonya Blade? o_O

Yeah it was! Makes this an instant win my book! I enjoyed the first movie. It was good in a so-bad-it's-good kind of way. Second one was just pure awfulness.

[TonyTheTiger]

This...isn't Mortal Kombat.

I'm all for re-imaginings and Elsewords and shit but not everything needs to be "realistic."

[rik1138]

I'm pretty sure this is a trailer for the new game. I bet this will be revealed at E3 next week. I've seen some footage and animation from the game, and they are definitely going all out in the M-rated category. It's pretty disgusting (i.e., awesome!). :)

[todesengel]

Looks pretty interesting and all but the whole fantasy aspect of the the serious is what I enjoyed. Still going to give this new game/movie a shot though.

[Oobgarm]

Very interested. That was really well done.

[IronBuddha]

meh.

The movie looks to be straight to dvd quality, the decapitation picture of Johnny Cage looks like something I can do better with photoshop! Micheal Jai white and Jeri Ryan are not the kind of actors I would spend money on to go see in theaters.

I'm thinking maybe an opening to a new game, which even that idea I don't like. I don't like the idea everybody are psychopaths here on earth meaning no Outworld. But I won't hate on that so much considering this will be a new spin on the game which might not be that bad of an idea.

We'll just have to wait and see.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I don't like the idea everybody are psychopaths here on earth meaning no Outworld.

We're not even sure of that yet.

Why are there so many psychopaths in this world? What could possibly be influencing these people to go crazy?

I feel that perhaps Outworld isn't as left out as you might think.

[TonyTheTiger]

I don't know. I guess I'm one of the few who think this looks pretty terrible. Swap the names out and you could call this CSI: Insert Subtitle and nobody would even think of Mortal Kombat.

[Ed Oscuro]

Dayumn, Jeri Ryan as Sonia.

I know this is right in line with Voyager (NERDFAPS) and Dracula 2000 (lol) but still, hope this gives her a (deserved) chance to shine. I don't know anything about Michael Jai, though.

Edit: OK, having watched some of the actual trailer this time (ahem), that's pretty odd. Why did they have to beat up on poor Harlequin Babies anyway? :(

The sound effects are really shit in this too (hope they're better in the final...) but I could see who they were projecting the tournament fighter to be from pretty early on. :D

I wonder what role Sonya and Jackson could have since they're projecting the winner.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I don't know anything about Michael Jai, though.

He played Spawn in the live-action movie and played a mob leader in The Dark Knight. Aaaaaaaaand that's about all the recognizable stuff you'll find him in.

Given his performance in this movie, I think he can be a decent actor just as he can play a proper asskicker.

[Lanzo]

Looks cool but... where's Liu Kang?:grumble:

[Emuaust]

This is from Ed Glazer's facebook..
"Okay, here's the deal. That Mortal Kombat video is a proof of concept -- basically a movie pitch -- from the mind of Larnell Stovall. Stovall is a fight choreographer and was part of the stunt team for "Black Dynamite", which probably explains the Michael Jai White connection. Bam."

[Voliko]

This looks really nice, but there are so many oppurtunities to go wrong.

[The 1 2 P]

I just watched it on Gamepro(couldn't load the Kotaku page) and it looks pretty good. Not sure if it's for an upcoming movie or game but it didn't look cheesy like most video game live action stuff. And Michael Jai White is a legit martial artist so they are once again looking to make the fights as real as possible for a fighting game movie. That fight between Cage and Baraka was also well done.

[heybtbm]

This...isn't Mortal Kombat.

I'm all for re-imaginings and Elsewords and shit but not everything needs to be "realistic."

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5503/44hazytrader.jpg

Whatever you say.

[Streetball 21]

It was cool...but unless I missed something, since when did Baraka have long hair?

[Kitsune Sniper]

It was cool...but unless I missed something, since when did Baraka have long hair?

He didn't. He also wasn't a plastic surgeon, Reptile wasn't a human, Scorpion wasn't alive, and Sonya wasn't 42.

[megasdkirby]

I saw the "movie"...seemed pretty good!

Had this "Condemned" feel written all over it, though!

Wiat, Condemned was made by WB... LOL

[TonyTheTiger]

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5503/44hazytrader.jpg

Whatever you say.

It's DARK and GRITTY! That means it must be better! :frustrated:

If this is a one off Elseworlds or something then fine. I'm all for experimenting like that. But for these changes to stick? That's pretty much a new property. It's not MK.

[Jorpho]

I don't get it. I thought MK vs DC had disappointing sales.

[CelticJobber]

Johnny Cage was always my second favorite MK character (behind Sub-Zero). Kinda sucks they killed him off.

[Kitsune Sniper]

It's DARK and GRITTY! That means it must be better! :frustrated:

If this is a one off Elseworlds or something then fine. I'm all for experimenting like that. But for these changes to stick? That's pretty much a new property. It's not MK.

Dude, the original series is dead. Super dead. So dead nobody cared about MK in many years.

Let them start over. Get new fans. Or something.

[ubersaurus]

Dude, the original series is dead. Super dead. So dead nobody cared about MK in many years.

Let them start over. Get new fans. Or something.

No one cares about MK? The games still sell really well. The hardcore street fighter fans don't care, but they never have. Your casual game player still loves the series though, and they are effectively the target market.

[ShinobiMan]

Looks promising! I'm sure this is a trailer for a reboot to the video game franchise. In which case, their taking a "Twisted Metal Black" route. I like it.

[The 1 2 P]

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5503/44hazytrader.jpg

Whatever you say.

I agree with your post and that pic 100%. We should make that the official pic for all good remakes because you know that there will always be some dumbass complaining just for the sake of complaining.


Johnny Cage was always my second favorite MK character (behind Sub-Zero). Kinda sucks they killed him off.

They also killed him in the very beginning of the second movie(Mortal Kombat: Annihilation). I'm guessing they don't like him very much. But someone had to be sacrificed to make this short movie legit and I'm glad it was him instead of one of the cooler characters.

[TonyTheTiger]

Dude, the original series is dead. Super dead. So dead nobody cared about MK in many years.

Let them start over. Get new fans. Or something.

You'd think simply making a good game for once would be the breath of fresh air the series needed. Not more gimmicks.


I agree with your post and that pic 100%. We should make that the official pic for all good remakes because you know that there will always be some dumbass complaining just for the sake of complaining.

Right because not liking the excising of everything defining about the franchise like sorcery and Kung Fu mythos is complaining for the sake of complaining. :roll:

You know what? Superman is getting boring. I hope Clark Kent is changed into a heroin addict who just thinks he can fly.

Oh, and word from above is that this doesn't have much to do with a game but rather is a demo reel designed to attract investors for a new movie.

[CelticJobber]

Jeri Ryan says it's just a demo to sell WB on the director's vision for MK.

"Actress Jeri Ryan of Star Trek: Voyage fame appears as Sonya Blade in a Mortal Kombat trailer dubbed "Mortal Kombat: Rebirth" that popped up online. Is it a game trailer? A movie trailer? Tell us, Jeri, tell us!

"Okay, so... Mortal Kombat," she tweets. "It's not a game trailer. Actually was made for the director to sell WB on his vision for a reimagined MK film."

Ryan said she did her role as a favor to a friend. "No idea yet what WB's reaction to it was," she adds. I can tell you what my reaction was: stoked.

While a Mortal Kombat film was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (of Resident Evil movie fame) in 1995, an updated take on the franchise has been languishing in development hell. However, a lawsuit has been filed by the development partner of the original film as it signed a contract in 2006 to do a sequel.

The Mortal Kombat: Rebirth short was helmed by Kevin Tancharoen. He directed last year's Fame remake."

http://kotaku.com/5558850/that-mortal-kombat-trailer-jeri-ryan-explains

[Nesmaster]

Awesome.

The haters can go jump off a cliff into the depths of an orange ocean. Or maybe a purple mountain.

[Icarus Moonsight]

That was pretty neat for just being produced as a pitch. With all the rehash crap coming out of Hollywood this one might actually have some potential, if they give it the green light anyway.

I didn't like the first movies at all. I enjoyed this short promo a lot more, to be honest. Perhaps because it was short and sweet? Maybe we can get a Transformers and GI Joe reboot someday and possibly fix those atrocities too...

[Kitsune Sniper]

You know what? Superman is getting boring. I hope Clark Kent is changed into a heroin addict who just thinks he can fly.

Well, that explains Superman Returns!

(I kid. I didn't mean to yell at you or anything.)

[The Shawn]

Heh. I hope they throw a few babalities in the flick just to enrage the haters.

I like the cheeze!

Actually the more I rewatch that demo the more I think if this ever comes to pass it's going to be one hell of a good movie.

[Jorpho]

Right because not liking the excising of everything defining about the franchise like sorcery and Kung Fu mythos is complaining for the sake of complaining. :roll:I agree - throw away those things and it's just not Mortal Kombat anymore.

But then, there's money to be made, and I guess this might just be the best way to do it.

[Cryomancer]

Am I the only one who thought the last-gen games were overall pretty decent? Shaolin Monks is cool, they added adventure modes, and even made the effort into putting every character ever into one game. Seemed nice to me?

[CelticJobber]

Am I the only one who thought the last-gen games were overall pretty decent? Shaolin Monks is cool, they added adventure modes, and even made the effort into putting every character ever into one game. Seemed nice to me?


I liked a few of the last MK games, like MK Deception and Shaolin Monks. But MK Armageddon was lacking because they did away with unique Fatalities in that game.

And I liked MK VS DC too, but it would've been better with full-on blood and gore.

I've noticed that alot of the people who criticize Mortal Kombat haven't even played a game in the series since part 3 or 4.

[CDiablo]

Im suprised about how many people are into this. It looks like they took a random Martial Arts script and added MK character names in. Only cool thing was when I heard about this I said Michael Jai White better play Jax. Baraka also looks super lame, the type of guy that shops at Hot Topic. If this does happen they better fit in Donnie Yen and maybe Wu Jing.

[kupomogli]

He played Spawn in the live-action movie and played a mob leader in The Dark Knight. Aaaaaaaaand that's about all the recognizable stuff you'll find him in.

Undisputed 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQndhGMMMzo

That's the only movie he's played a major role in that's worth mentioning. Spawn was awesome when I first saw it, but that's because I was a fan of the comic. I watched the the movie again two or three years ago and while I'm still a fan of Spawn, I honestly thought it sucked. Maybe it's because the entire movie is about him getting used to his powers and then a bunch of crappy effects at the end of the movie and there's no real story.

[The Shawn]

Am I the only one who thought the last-gen games were overall pretty decent? Shaolin Monks is cool, they added adventure modes, and even made the effort into putting every character ever into one game. Seemed nice to me?


No, your not. Actually a movie along the lines of Deadly Alliance or Deception would make for a good storyline IMHO.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Am I the only one who thought the last-gen games were overall pretty decent? Shaolin Monks is cool, they added adventure modes, and even made the effort into putting every character ever into one game. Seemed nice to me?

I played Deadly Alliance (thanks for the title prompt there Shawn), I think that was the one at least. I thought it was pretty neat. Style switching, weapons and the stage fatalities of course stood out for my memory. The best part IMO was where Liu Kang gets killed and his soul eaten in the opening cinematic. Seeing that alone made my day. I hate that little bicycle kick spamming loud mouth shrieking asshole. Almost as much as I hate Superman, the boring altruistic do-goody bastard.

Just think about it... Shouldn't the bad guys be as big of douches as possible? Hot Topic day manager would make a great antagonist... Day manager Sephiroth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EvyZf1NN7E) anyone? You can't get much more douche than FF7, but it's an admirable aspiration.

[Oobgarm]

NEW GAME TRAILER:

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/wbs-new-mortal-kombat-tests-our-might-in-2011/

Looks good, like the older titles. Kung Lao's fatality looks sweet, btw.

[The Shawn]

Just think about it... Shouldn't the bad guys be as big of douches as possible? Hot Topic day manager would make a great antagonist... Day manager Sephiroth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EvyZf1NN7E) anyone? You can't get much more douche than FF7, but it's an admirable aspiration.

:above me:
True, 'twould be right up there with a wal-mart-people-greeting Sheeva.


shudders

[Baloo]

Personally, I don't care for the new look. I want to go back to the great first Mortal Kombat movie. Now that's how a video game movie should be made right there.

This...looks too gruesome.

[The 1 2 P]

NEW GAME TRAILER:

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/wbs-new-mortal-kombat-tests-our-might-in-2011/

Looks good, like the older titles. Kung Lao's fatality looks sweet, btw.

I just watched that on another site and it indeed looked good, just like the movie trailer. It also looks like they are adding tag matches or atleast assist partners. BTW, Kung Lao's new fatality looks....painful.


Personally, I don't care for the new look. I want to go back to the great first Mortal Kombat movie. Now that's how a video game movie should be made right there.

Cheesy or not, it has always been one of the best video game movies ever made. It basically took the initial concept of the original game(a martial arts tournament to determine the best warrior) and made it into a fairly believable movie with very cool martial arts fighting scenes. At the time theres no way they could have made that movie any better. Perhaps thats why they are now going for a more realistic approach.

And I really don't blame WB. In the last five years we have gotten three extremely successful franchise reboots(Batman Begins, Casino Royale--Bond and Star Trek). It looks like Mortal Kombat is attempting to be the fourth successful one and so far they are definitely on the right track.

[thom_m]

I found this interview (http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/06/10/full-details-on-kevin-tancharoens-mortal-kombat-rebirth/) about it. I guess it hasn't been posted yet. Doesn't explain much, though.

As for the trailer itself...well, I had a geekgasm.

[Ze_ro]

NEW GAME TRAILER:

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/wbs-new-mortal-kombat-tests-our-might-in-2011/

Looks good, like the older titles. Kung Lao's fatality looks sweet, btw.
Christ, someone really needs to teach Boon and his team how to do character animation... This game has the same jerky, unrealistic movement that they've been doing since MK4.

--Zero

[portnoyd]

I get a heavy SFIV-type vibe out of the trailer.

[AllP0werToSlaves]

Not gonna lie dudes, as a die hard MK fan I'm not impressed. The only redeeming factor seems to be that Scorpion has somewhat of a lead role, but it skews the original story so out of shape it's ridiculous. Baraka is a joke, his blades look terrible! Lol @ Johnny Cage getting owned AGAIN, and Reptile being a full grown birth defect WTF?!

It's getting out of hand; everyone go play some MKII to remember what integrity feels/plays/looks like.

[Jorpho]

Christ, someone really needs to teach Boon and his team how to do character animation... This game has the same jerky, unrealistic movement that they've been doing since MK4.That's a bit like saying the next Tekken should have sharp, responsive controls, isn't it?


original story"Story" ? "Original" ?

[AllP0werToSlaves]

"Story" ? "Original" ?

The original Mortal Kombat storyline from MK/MKII. Scorpion and Sub-Zero should still be trying to kill each other, but it seems as if they are leaving Outworld out of it for the most part. They could be saving it for the movie, though. Again, this is all speculation/opinion based on what we were given.

[The Shawn]

Well, either way it turns out. It does just go to show folks that the MK series is far from dead in "everyones eyes". They still have a fan base, therefore money to be made.

[Jorpho]

The original Mortal Kombat storyline from MK/MKII. Scorpion and Sub-Zero should still be trying to kill each other, but it seems as if they are leaving Outworld out of it for the most part. They could be saving it for the movie, though. Again, this is all speculation/opinion based on what we were given.Alas, too subtle. My point is that a small bunch of short paragraphs describing some characters hardly constitutes a story, and if it can, such a story is unlikely to be particularly original.

[jcalder8]

It looks like the characters don't fit right with the backgrounds, I can't really explain it but they don't seem to mesh. Looks like they could be fighting in a field with flowers and they would still look the same.

[AllP0werToSlaves]

Alas, too subtle. My point is that a small bunch of short paragraphs describing some characters hardly constitutes a story, and if it can, such a story is unlikely to be particularly original.

Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough; I assumed everyone had read the official Mortal Kombat komic book that came out in 1993; it was written by John Tobias. He was responsible for the majority of the story/character development, and we learn a lot in that coming that the game doesn't really touch base on. The characters stories are more in depth, and it leads right up to the events that caused the second tournament.

Also, I am very aware that a lot of ideas for characters have been borrowed from movies/novels/comics, etc, and wasn't using the term "original" in context to the characters and stories themselves. Rather, when I said original, I was speaking in terms of it being the first MK storyline that was established. This "straight to DVD" schlock is almost blasphemy to the classic storyline. Yes, we all know you can only tell the story so many times, but then why bother making a movie if you have to chop up the story?

Look at the countless amounts of re-makes being made these days! It kind of pisses me off that out of all things, they try to re-arrange the Mortal Kombat storyline out of boredom.

[Jorpho]

I assumed everyone had read the official Mortal Kombat komic book that came out in 1993I doubt that.

Say, no one seems to have mentioned the animated Mortal Kombat movie either.

[AllP0werToSlaves]

I doubt that.

Say, no one seems to have mentioned the animated Mortal Kombat movie either.

Yeah it's pretty terrible lol. I remember buying it out of the bin at Blockbuster video back in 1995. It's definitely a collectors item to have, but it's nothing special. The limited edition MK4 comic book that came with the PC version is another neat item. The original MK comic will always be my favorite, though.

[Arcade Antics]

This "straight to DVD" schlock is almost blasphemy to the classic storyline.
It's already been established that the promo trailer is only a piece of hype. And for that, it's done quite well.

Gotta side with Jorpho here on the story angle too. There's never been a solid MK story, just a lot of vague generalities that made sense at the time of whatever game was released. If you're looking for well developed backgrounds, plot, character development in the MK universe, you're looking in the wrong place. The one thing you can count on in those "stories" for lack of a better term, is that they'll never be consistent. The trailer with MJW and JR is just another extension of that.

The MK series has always been about over the top fun. For story, check your local library.

[The 1 2 P]

It's already been established that the promo trailer is only a piece of hype. And for that, it's done quite well.

Gotta side with Jorpho here on the story angle too. There's never been a solid MK story, just a lot of vague generalities that made sense at the time of whatever game was released. If you're looking for well developed backgrounds, plot, character development in the MK universe, you're looking in the wrong place. The one thing you can count on in those "stories" for lack of a better term, is that they'll never be consistent. The trailer with MJW and JR is just another extension of that.

The MK series has always been about over the top fun. For story, check your local library.

This man speaks the truth.

[AllP0werToSlaves]

I'm sorry, but I still have to disagree with you. While things went non-cannon as early as UMK3, that fact alone doesn't negate the original two games stories. I think it would be more appropriate so say that everything post-MKII is where it gets messy.

The concept of Outworld, the introduction of Tarkatan species (Baraka, Mileena), a BETTER sub-boss (Kintaro) and the debut of Shao Kahn (Emperor of Outworld) all interacting more than qualifies for an original story. If anything, the first MK was rushed in comparison to this. I will be the first to admit that after MKII everything only went downhill, but to say that the first two games stories were inconsistent doesn't seem like a fair statement to me.

While it may not be as impressive or thought out as other certain fighters, that's not to say that it's story is inconsistent. Maybe you were referring to the series as a whole and how they are all connected, in which case I agree with you about how broken it is. My argument is that the first two games have a consistent story, and just so happen to be the best games in the series anyway.

[Jorpho]

the introduction of Tarkatan species (Baraka, Mileena)See, I thought Mileena and Kitana were the same species. Most people would probably agree.

[todesengel]

See, I thought Mileena and Kitana were the same species. Most people would probably agree.Yeah wasn't Mileena supposed to be a deformed clone of Kitana or something?

[Icarus Moonsight]

https://sites.google.com/site/projectteambeta1/participate/challenges-awards/canon%20avatar.jpg

[The Shawn]

See, I thought Mileena and Kitana were the same species. Most people would probably agree.

Kitana is Syndel's daughter. Mileena and Baraka are supposedly the same species.

[pepharytheworm]

Some people I guess didn't read thier booklets or watch the Bios during the games. Or dare I say beat the game as different characters to get more of the story.

[geezuzkhrist119]

if this movie does get made, there best not be any stupid ass hair cuts like Raiden in Annihilation

[E Nice]

Some people I guess didn't read thier booklets or watch the Bios during the games. Or dare I say beat the game as different characters to get more of the story.

Yeah. Mileena is not an exact duplicate of Kitana. There's a reason for the face mask. But she's also not totally Tarkatan. As much as I can remember, Mileena was created by Shang Tsung's sorcery, made in Kitana's image. At that point I'm not entirely sure why, though I would presume because Kitana was opposed to Shao Kahn being ruler and stepfather, and Mileena was made as a possible replacement to fool the people of Edenia or whatever realm Sindel/Kitana's was called. Though that's just a guess on my part for the reason for Mileena's existance.

[CelticJobber]

Here's a video hands-on from E3 showing several of the brutal new Fatalities:

http://screwattack.com/videos/Hands-On-Mortal-Kombat

[The Shawn]

Here's a video hands-on from E3 showing several of the brutal new Fatalities:

http://screwattack.com/videos/Hands-On-Mortal-Kombat

Very nice!

[The Shawn]

Also Kratos will be a playable character for PS3 owners only.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt05QoHNeow.

Kinda sucks for us 360 owners :(. Allthough there will be an 'ultimate' edition.

[WCP]

Has anybody played this demo? I tried out the demo today for my Playstation 3, and I was very impressed overall. It actually has a 3D mode, and I tried it out, and it looks really nice in 3D. It's not one of those 3D games that are going to make your eyes really tired. It's more subtle.

In the demo, you're allowed to use 1 of 4 characters, and 1 of 2 backgrounds. The character that you choose will fight the other 3 characters, plus themselves. Once you get to Goro, they have a cut-scene showing highlights of what the whole game has to offer.

The most impressive thing to me was the sound design/ sound effects. The sound effects are some of the best sound effects that I've heard in recent memory. Anybody with a slightly high-end audio setup absolutely needs to play this game, and make sure to crank the volume while you do.

[Neil Koch]

I thought the demo was good. I liked how the special movies, combos, and especially fatalities were pretty easy to pull off. The little touches like the "toasty!" guy were nice too. I'm not much into fighting games these days, but I'll probably end up picking this one up at some point if I can find it cheap.

[kupomogli]

First off I have to say this is the first MK game I've liked since Mortal Kombat Trilogy. I've hated all the other 3d MK games. Scorpion, Mileena, and Johnny Cage were good, but I was disappointed that Sub Zero sucked so badly compared to the others because he's always been my favorite character.

The base style of gameplay is more similar to the MK3/UMK3/MKT style where while you have set combos, you can still put these into different sets of combos. Unlike the 3d games where you had very small combo sets and you could barely make a combo with anything outside of the small button presses.

The best feature that was added is that you can now add your special abilities into combos and the reaction time to almost every attack is much smaller, making this the easiest MK to combo outside of the specific sets.

[G-Boobie]

I messed around with the demo, and it's fun... But not my cup of tea. I'm having a rough time adapting to the control scheme: I'm essentially programmed to think in Japanese button terms. I can't wait to watch tournament play, though.

Too many Goddamn fighting games these days. Super Street Fighter 4, Marvel 3, Arcana Heart 3, Melty Blood Actress Again, Blazblue CS, Skullgirls, MK9... Can't play 'em all. At least not well.