Mortal Kombat

 

Not too different from Fox’s X-Men Franchise whereupon you can watch 90% of the films in sequence dedicated to the chronology of Wolverine. You can watch the animated films and live action Mortal Kombat properties roughly around either Subzero or Scorpion. Although none of the game adapted movies have any real connection to one another besides basic game play storylines from the conceived 1990’s games.

Liu Kang the Chosen One – a Bruce Lee imitation – Shaolin fighter – taken in by the order of light  or a member of the White Lotus Society – an organization founded  by Raiden, he has been groomed to represent the fighters of Earth Realm in the tournament of Mortal Kombat.  Sonja Blade another original game character, is a military officer within the Marine Corp in  pursuit of Black Dragons leader Kano she and her team were ambushed by Shang Tsung until a recovery team lead by Jax – Jackson Briggs rescued her.  Johnny Cage a Hollywood actor and martial artist, trying to cement his legacy and career by being convinced into taking part in Mortal Kombat - that the riches and notoriety will elevate his status.  Other Characters include Raiden the God of Thunder and protector of Earth Realm, Princess Kitana -  heir to the throne of her realm called Edenia.  Shang Tsung an evil sorcerer who is hundreds of years old living on the souls of fallen fighters, and serves a greater master  Shao Khan a tyrant and ruler of Outworld looking to expand his rule by invading and conquering Earth Realm.  In the original arcade game there were only seven playable Characters and as the series continued the roaster also increased.

Like Wolverine – Scorpion is a tragic figure, surrounded in violence and bloodshed, his true origins of how he became to be this specter of revenge was shrouded in mystery for the formidable years of Mortal Kombat and overtime revealed as part of a larger plot with the sorcerer Quan Chi pulling the strings.   The 2021 Mortal Kombat live action movie and animated movie Scorpion’s revenge does address Scorpions origins and view him as a tragic hero.  Wolverine is a Samurai betrayed throughout his history and no memory of his past;  until house of M, He finds himself at constant odds with his nemesis Sabretooth ,  In Wolverine Origins, the story has them as close adopted brothers,  until circumstances have them part ways and become mortal enemies. 

From the creators of Boon & Tobias, and midway games; and played from the arcade to the home console - Mortal Kombat is a historic game that continues to grow in story, creative game plays, visual elements and lore. The medium of storytelling as a live action movie, animated movie, or animated/live action series is just an example of the lush landscape and histories that this expanded game has to offer.  

Spiderman: No Way Home

Spiderman No Way Home has been characterized as being the equivalent to Endgame; as it represents the entirety of Sony’s Spiderman franchise.

For the most part, critics and audiences have approved and championed this latest installment of the Spiderman franchise. Without us delving into spoilers, what this movie accomplishes is its ability to sway the general audience and comic book fans, by leaving the audience feeling hopeful.   Hopeful, that it’s a brand new day for the character, the hero is left completely removed from the MCU, alone and back to basics.  Saying it out loud sounds horribly unattractive, but the hope is we see the Spiderman of the comic books, both in look and in composure.  This is an amazingly confident and optimistic hero that readers have grown up with for generations.                

What are these back to the basics. 

The Look,   gone are all the Stark technologies, gone are the clumsy hoodie, sweatshirt and woolen mask outfit that he sported it homecoming.  Audience caught a true shining glimpse of the original comic book outfit.  The strong Blue, Red and Black web designed costumed that has been a stapled identity of the character for the past 59 years.

A Lone superhero – even in comic books Spiderman was a lone hero - he worked alone, Becoming a team member of the Avengers for the first time with Captain America after the Raft Breakout - he still had difficulty working with the team he would continue to go out and fight crime solo albeit the neighborhoods, but New York is still a pretty big place.  It took his then wife Mary Jane to tell him to smarten up when you got a good thing going…. And as comic book fate raised its mighty pencil. He rarely has ‘life perfect’  with a personal win, as marvel comics introduced us to Marvel’s Civil War and Brand New Day, which is pretty much where we end Spiderman No Way Home – our Hero –Beginning his brand new Day. Without Mary Jane or any heroes or friends knowing who he ever was. 

Independence  – comic fans and the general audience criticized on how dependent Tom Holland’s  Character portrayal  had given way to having a constant father figure , or mentor to guide him. Spiderman had Stark’s Suit/technologies and sought after the approval of Tony Stark, as seen throughout Homecoming, Civil War, and infinity War.  He had a surrogate in Happy Hogan for ‘Far from Home’, and kept the Stark Technologies suits right up to the very end of No Way Home.   We leave the latest movie, with a character evolution and revolution, having him moving forward out of high school, In control of his own life, capable of being a leader, but now  alone and living a simple low end life as Peter Parker and as a Spiderman who is confident , intellectual and independent - foiling crimes and saving people. As seen swinging  from above in the neighborhoods of New York City as the future is uncertain and unwritten.