Mortal Kombat 2 premieres next Friday, May 8, and there is great anticipation. The expectations are monumental, as the previous film was a huge box office and audience success, even if the critics were not thrilled. This seems to be shared with its sequel, at least in part. It has completely divided the press: there are as many fans as there are true haters.
A Divisive Movie
According to IGN, which gave it an 8 out of 10, the movie “completely understands that its appeal lies in the thrill of watching characters tear each other apart, not so much the motivations behind it.” Slashfilm, which agrees with its rating, has described it as “if the mix of chocolate and peanut butter were a movie,” stating that “easily one of the biggest surprises of the year”. And in Cinemanía, with three and a half stars out of five, has defined it as “highly enjoyable for both nostalgic fans and those who have never picked up a joystick in their lives.”
That doesn’t mean everything is enthusiasm. For Polygon, which did not give it a rating, “calling it a movie is, in fact, tremendously generous.” According to AV Club, Mortal Kombat 2 “combines direct-to-video trinkets with the boredom typical of a blockbuster” and for Mashable it is simply “another ugly and senseless disaster.”
The movie, divisive as it has been, seems to be less so due to flaws than because of a clear difference in the sensitivity of the critics approaching it. This could well play in its favor. Those who liked the first movie seem to find in this second one an even more intense and enjoyable journey. Those who hated it seem to find nothing here for them. What seems certain is that it will not leave anyone indifferent and that Mortal Kombat 2 will be one of the movies of the season, for better or for worse.
