Movie Talk - Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins

After over a decade and a small webseries, we’re finally getting a new Mortal Kombat movie. This is one I’ve been curious about for some time now. I almost forgot it was being released until I started to see promos for it. The trailer for the movie looked pretty cool, but I am noticing the lack of Cage, man. Maybe this Cole Young character will liven things up, I’m not sure. One thing the new movie brought to mind was a previous “gem” from the past. It would be Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, an animated unofficial tie-in to the live-action movie that was also released in 1995. As YouTuber Phelous called it, “It’s the worst of 2D and 3D animation.”

I actually owned this thing back in the day. I talked my mom into getting it. She didn’t mind since I had already played some of the games at the time. You can thank my uncle for that. I vaguely remember seeing the video a few times. I also remember the trailer to the live action movie being included as well as a 20-minute behind-the-scenes look at the movie. Since then, I’ve seen the feature online as well as some hilarious reviews of it. I remember Phelous looked at it, and another reviewer from the old Channel Awesome days (Benzai?) reviewed it.

Favorites - Ten Bruce Lee References in Pop Culture

Well, it’s a new year once more. 2016 brought its mix of good and bad like any year does. Let’s not forget that. Here’s hoping 2017 can be a little better than the previous year. As usual for January, welcome to Martial Arts Month. Yeah, it’s such an original title, I sarcastically say. Every year around this time, I look at the various things in movies, games, or TV that involve the martial arts. I barely know any styles myself but I’ve always had a love for this stuff.

 I thought I’d start the month with the one who started it all for me: Bruce Lee. Yeah, it always comes back to him in one way or another. He was one of the most influential martial artists in that he introduced the wider world to martial arts and Asian culture in general. Even though he left this world too soon, his influence can still be felt today especially in pop culture. He’s been referenced in a lot of places. Heck, he’s even an unlockable character in a UFC video game. So, here are my favorite references or homages to the man himself. They come from everywhere including movies, video games, TV, and more.

Tales From the 50 Cent Bin! - Mortal Kombat: Blood and Thunder #1

Before I get to DC’s kung fu fighter, I think it’s time to return to the world of Mortal Kombat. Just imagine some foot-stomping musicplaying after I said that phrase. It seems like Mortal Kombat fever hit everything in the 1990’s. We had the movies, we had a crappy animated show (Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm), a somewhat weird TV prequel (Mortal Kombat: Conquest), and other stuff. It even spread over into the comics for a bit. Midway produced some comics that were tie-ins fro the game. I vaguely remember that there were MK comics on the rack in stores. I think I skimmed through some at Bi-Lo, an old grocery store in Pulaski that’s not there anymore.

Malibu Comics bought the rights to do some series featuring the MK characters. From what I’ve read online, Mortal Kombat: Blood and Thunder was basically an adaptation of the first two games. I definitely see that in its first issue. There’s a lot more at this page about that whole series. Mortal Kombat: Blood and Thunder #1 came out in 1994. It was written by Charles Marshall. The pencils were done by Patrick Rolo. The inks were done by Bobby Rae. John Tobias, one of Mortal Kombat’s creators, also served as a consultant on the issue and series.

Mortal Kombat: Blood and Thunder #1

Writer: Charles Marshall

Pencils: Patrick Rolo

Inks: Bobby Rae

Letters: Dave Lanphear

Editor: Mark Panicca

Editorial Consultant: John Tobias

Movie/TV Talk - Mortal Kombat

Stop! Ninja Time!

Duh duh-duh-duh! Duh-duh! Duh-Duh (Can't touch this!)

In one of the few surprises for this month, I’ll be looking at the Mortal Kombat movies as well as the Mortal Kombat Legacy web series. Ever since the 90’s, I’ve been a semi-fan of the franchise. It pretty much started with the first MK game. My uncle had a Sega Genesis back then, so I would sometimes play some of his games. I haven’t played all of the MK games. I know I haven’t even played the most recent one on the PS3. Still, if there’s a movie or series out there that involves Mortal Kombat, I’ve probably seen at least some of it even that piece of crap called Mortal Kombat: the Journey Begins.

Background

I don’t remember when I saw the first movie, but I know I saw it before I ever saw the second movie. I do own the first movie on DVD. I actually remember wanting to go see the second movie, MK: Annihilation, in Columbia. I think the movie was there for a couple of weeks and then gone the next. Ouch. I did eventually see it on VHS. About a decade later, I heard about the Rebirth video and the web series, and that got me a little psyched.  I saw first season when it came out back in 2011, and I saw the second season back in 2013.