Despite The Trailers, Johnny Cage Isn’t The Main Character In Mortal Kombat II – SlashFilm

This text incorporates main spoilers for “Mortal Kombat II,” so beware.

Ever since “Mortal Kombat” started as a online game franchise again in 1992, it has been an ensemble effort. In the unique sport, a staff of warriors together with the likes of Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, and extra from Earthrealm are recruited to battle within the titular event so as to cease a violent takeover by Outworld, which brings their very own staff of fighters like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Kano. Since then, the story has expanded even additional into Outworld, together with the fiery depths of Netherrealm (or Hell), and expanded the roster to dozens of fighters. The mythology is deep, wealthy, and complicated for the uninitiated, which is why the “Mortal Kombat” films have sometimes stored issues easy.

In the latest massive display effort to show “Mortal Kombat” right into a viable movie franchise, the story centered on combined martial artist Cole Younger (Lewis Tan) as he seeks out Earth’s biggest champions so as to stand in opposition to the enemies of Outworld in a excessive stakes battle for the universe. Nevertheless, that first film by no means truly correctly obtained into the event on the heart of the online game franchise, even when it nonetheless provided loads of fight sequences. Fortunately, “Mortal Kombat II” wastes no time entering into the precise event, however followers is likely to be shocked to find who the story really focuses on.

Whereas the “Mortal Kombat II” trailers largely spotlighted Karl City’s debut as fan favourite fighter Johnny Cage, all of the sudden pulled into the fantastical event that he would not even imagine in, the washed up Hollywood star and former martial artist champion is definitely solely the secondary lead. As a substitute, the true primary character of “Mortal Kombat II” is Kitana.

“Mortal Kombat II” wastes no time establishing Kitana as the primary character of the film with a gap flashback sequence within the kingdom of Edenia. Emperor Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) challenges King Jerrod (Desmond Chiam) to a battle to find out the destiny of Edenia. Since Shao Kahn wins the battle, Outworld takes over the dominion, and the emperor takes on Queen Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen) and a younger Kitana as his personal. 

Years later, the tenth Mortal Kombat event is approaching. If Earthrealm loses, it’s going to fall beneath the rule of Outworld. An grownup Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) nonetheless resides in Edenia, and although she acts loyal to Shao Kahn, she’s secretly working with Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), feeding him beneficial details about Outworld’s efforts to defeat Earthrealm within the subsequent event. Kitana even spares Johnny Cage in one of many first battles of Mortal Kombat, opting to defeat him however not kill him, regardless of Shao Kahn’s orders. However the warriors of Earthrealm will want greater than a spy to win this event, as a result of sorcerer and necromancer Quan Chi (Damon Herriman) has some methods up his sleeve.

Not solely has Quan Chi resurrected deceased Earthrealm warrior Kung Lao as a fighter for Outworld, however he is additionally introduced again Kano (Josh Lawson), who’s in possession of an amulet that offers its holder immortality. When Shao Kahn takes maintain of the amulet, he turns into unstoppable in Mortal Kombat, seemingly making Earth’s possibilities of successful inconceivable. 

Whereas Kitana tries to maintain her betrayal of Shao Kahn and Outworld a secret, the emperor’s loyal warrior Jade (Tati Gabrielle), who educated Kitana for battle, discovers this treachery, leading to Kitana’s imprisonment in Edenia’s city sq. for all to see. In the meantime, Johnny Cage and Kano, the latter fed up with Outworld, are despatched by Raiden into the Netherrealm to retrieve the amulet, which is being held safely by one other resurrected warrior: Bi-Han, or Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), who has returned because the shadow warrior generally known as Noob Saibot. 

That is the place Johnny Cage’s secondary lead position and Kitana’s main protagonist in the end come collectively to finish the story.

Whereas Johnny Cage has been quipping his method via “Mortal Kombat II,” to not point out defeating the Takartan warrior Baraka and making his total clan a believer within the would possibly and knowledge of “Johnny Motherf**king Cage,” he is but to faucet into the ability that can make him a correct warrior of Earthrealm. It is not till Cage groups up with Kano and the spirit of Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) to defeat Noob Saibot within the Netherrealm that he realizes his true potential as a fighter and completes a satisfying character arc by believing in himself and executing his signature shadow kick to retrieve the amulet. With the added assist of Jade, after realizing the error of her methods, the fighters handle to destroy the amulet, simply in time for Kitana to modify sides and battle Shao Kahn on behalf of Earthrealm.

In a closing battle in entrance of the folks of Edenia, Kitana fights the now mortal Shao Kahn. Although the emperor is powerful and swings a hefty hammer, Kitana makes use of her distinctive combating abilities to execute a signature transfer, utilizing her bladed followers to slice and cube Shao Kahn’s head into a number of items. Yeah, it is a fatality.

Having defeated Shao Kahn in the identical city sq. the place her father was killed by the hands of the emperor years earlier than, Kitana has honored her late father, and she or he is now queen of Edenia, which is now not beneath the rule of Outworld. In her new position, she now takes a cue from Shao Kahn to make use of Quan Chi’s necromancer powers to assist Earthrealm. Joined by Johnny, Sonya, Raiden, Jade, Kano and Baraka, the staff prepares to seek out their not too long ago deceased associates and convey them again from the lifeless.

Johnny Cage might have been on the heart of the advertising push for “Mortal Kombat II,” presumably as a result of “The Boys” star Karl City would assist get extra audiences into theaters, however the sequel’s story largely belongs to Kitana. Will it’s sufficient to warrant a “Mortal Kombat III” getting greenlit? Solely time will inform.

“Mortal Kombat II” is enjoying in theaters in all places now.