Mortal Kombat (2021)

[AquaParade]

Nah, even with Johnny Cage in there, you would have had a limp script, poor camera work, goofy costumes, etc. Johnny Cage can't fix that.

It's like if you order a taco but they serve you a burrito with dog crap inside. You can exchange it for the taco, but there's still dog crap inside.

It would have slightly altered the plot, sure, but different doesn't mean good. I don't believe that simply changing the motivation of the main character magically puts you on the path to a better movie.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by AquaParade

Nah, even with Johnny Cage in there, you would have had a limp script, poor camera work, goofy costumes, etc. Johnny Cage can't fix that.

It's like if you order a taco but they serve you a burrito with dog crap inside. You can exchange it for the taco, but there's still dog crap inside.

It would have slightly altered the plot, sure, but different doesn't mean good. I don't believe that simply changing the motivation of the main character magically puts you on the path to a better movie.

I agree with all of this, but all of this could still be true and yet you'd still likely have a better movie than as-is because the Cole-centered issues would at least be gone.

Therefore, the same problems but minus one cluster of existing problems still equals a "better movie". I think you are looking at it as "the inclusion of Johnny Cage", but I'm looking at it as "the exclusion of Cole". lol!

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by Sumac

As for sex-appeal, MK9 went overboard with it.

There is NO SUCH THING as too much cheesecake. I'm not budging on this one, ever.

Originally Posted by IMJ

I agree with all of this, but all of this could still be true and yet you'd still likely have a better movie than as-is because the Cole-centered issues would at least be gone.

Therefore, the same problems but minus one cluster of existing problems still equals a "better movie". I think you are looking at it as "the inclusion of Johnny Cage", but I'm looking at it as "the exclusion of Cole". lol!

Nailed it.

Several people on this forum seemingly make "defending the indefensible" their full-time job. Tiresome.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Several people on this forum seemingly make "defending the indefensible" their full-time job. Tiresome.

People homogenize into groups. It's like when you were younger and got stuck at some low-level employment like a call center or retail and everyone is constantly undermining each other, or using "victimhood" as a tool for power, or flinging false intellectualism while trying to prove their worth at a level that is intellectually stunted.

They look around the room and call it "competition", but you look around the room and realize "I don't belong on this short bus and I'm stuck and I need to get out".

[Leo656]

At least most of them are more literate than TigerClaw.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Leo656

At least most of them are more literate than TigerClaw.

Well you've got to ask yourself what's worse? A douchebag or a Napolean Dynamite? A Napolean Dynamite would be worse.

[Leo656]

I confess that I chuckled more than once while watching Napoleon Dynamite so I'm not sure I'm the intended audience for your analogy.

Back later after I go walk and groom my pet Liger.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Leo656

I confess that I chuckled more than once while watching Napoleon Dynamite so I'm not sure I'm the intended audience for your analogy.

Back later after I go walk and groom my pet Liger.

We laugh at the behavior because on film it's an exaggerated parody making fun of fringe people who have facets of the Napoleon Dynamite persona. So we laugh.

But then you come here and find people with the same behaviors and false bravado as if it's a real way to operate. And you are aghast at the truth that the Technodrome forums have proven, in writing, that Napoleon Dynamite was not actually a parody, but instead a reenactment of people who really exist and are in the TMNT fandom.

[Coola Yagami]

Yeah Cage is a good fighter but the common folk think he's fake cause he's an actor and therefore he just have stunt doubles or whatever. That's why he enters the tournament (obviously before he finds out about all the Outworld weirdness), to show the world he really can fight. He was also expecting to be this big televised extravaganza, not a tournament in some hidden island in the middle of nowhere, and definitely not in fights to the death.

[Allio]

I’ll have to rewatch the film. Didn’t care for it the first time. The tattoo of destiny was a really dumb plot device.

[Leo656]

Originally Posted by IMJ

We laugh at the behavior because on film it's an exaggerated parody making fun of fringe people who have facets of the Napoleon Dynamite persona. So we laugh.

But then you come here and find people with the same behaviors and false bravado as if it's a real way to operate. And you are aghast at the truth that the Technodrome forums have proven, in writing, that Napoleon Dynamite was not actually a parody, but instead a reenactment of people who really exist and are in the TMNT fandom.

Ah, yes. Very fair and true point.

I remember initially being excited upon discovering that TMNT had a large online fanbase. Then becoming aghast when I discovered that most of them "ain't quite right."

"Back in my day, we'd stick that kid in the army and make him play the bugle." That quote is in my head A LOT when I read things people say here.

[AquaParade]

Originally Posted by IMJ

I agree with all of this, but all of this could still be true and yet you'd still likely have a better movie than as-is because the Cole-centered issues would at least be gone.

Therefore, the same problems but minus one cluster of existing problems still equals a "better movie". I think you are looking at it as "the inclusion of Johnny Cage", but I'm looking at it as "the exclusion of Cole". lol!

It's sort of semantics at this point, I guess.
My sticking point is that there's no way adding Johnny Cage somehow makes this a noticeably better movie, and therefor, it's the least of this film's worries.
I'm just emphasizing that, were I to give the studio notes on how to improve the film, Cole would be near the bottom of my list. There's so much else to be concerned with.

Personally, I don't think excluding Cole makes the movie any better either. It still is a poor script, poor acting, bad camera work, poor directing, stop me if you've heard this one before.

Give George Miller the job, but tell him that he has to use a descendant of Scorpion named "Cole" as the protagonist, and you're going to end up with a kick-ass film, I promise you. Give those same notes to a less talented director/crew and you end up with something like this.

But I'll totally concede that Cole is written poorly and therefor brings the film down.

But hey, friendly reminder that we aren't here to agree, as you already know, so agree to disagree at all times.

[TigerClaw]

Its gonna be interesting on how they will cast as Johnny Cage.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Allio

The tattoo of destiny was a really dumb plot device.

Yeah that was "awful Hollwood addition # xyz"

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

Its gonna be interesting on how they will cast as Johnny Cage.

They will hold meetings and auditions and then put an actor in the movie.

Originally Posted by AquaParade

It's sort of semantics at this point, I guess.
My sticking point is that there's no way adding Johnny Cage somehow makes this a noticeably better movie, and therefor, it's the least of this film's worries.
I'm just emphasizing that, were I to give the studio notes on how to improve the film, Cole would be near the bottom of my list. There's so much else to be concerned with.

Personally, I don't think excluding Cole makes the movie any better either. It still is a poor script, poor acting, bad camera work, poor directing, stop me if you've heard this one before.

Give George Miller the job, but tell him that he has to use a descendant of Scorpion named "Cole" as the protagonist, and you're going to end up with a kick-ass film, I promise you. Give those same notes to a less talented director/crew and you end up with something like this.

But I'll totally concede that Cole is written poorly and therefor brings the film down.

But hey, friendly reminder that we aren't here to agree, as you already know, so agree to disagree at all times.

LOL you know how the newer MK games add fighters from other I.P.s?
They need to add the flame-throwing guitar player.....

[AquaParade]

Adding the flamethrower-guitar guy to MK is just crazy enough to work. I do really want a George Miller Mortal Kombat movie now though. It would hardly even need a story.

[Leo656]

So basically, "Cole's existence is justifiable simply because the movie had other problems"?

That's false. The movie does have other problems but Cole is simply not defensible on ANY level, independent of those other things.

Stop trying to make "fetch" happen.

[AquaParade]

Originally Posted by Leo656

So basically, "Cole's existence is justifiable simply because the movie had other problems"?

That's false. The movie does have other problems but Cole is simply not defensible on ANY level, independent of those other things.

Stop trying to make "fetch" happen.

Close, but no. Cole's existence isn't "justifiable, because the movie had other problems", it's just the least of the film's worries.

Give the concept of "Cole + Mortal Kombat" to George Miller and watch it sing.
Whereas, give the team behind this film Johnny Cage, and you still have a pile of steaming crap. But I guess you pleased a few whiny "purists" who don't mind cruddy films.

Critiquing Cole is fine, but I think it's far from the reason this is a good or bad film.

[Andrew NDB]

Cody Rhodes might be Johnny Cage in the sequel.

https://comicbookmovie.com/video-gam....0f4d79.v4otbs

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Cody Rhodes might be Johnny Cage in the sequel.

https://comicbookmovie.com/video-gam....0f4d79.v4otbs

I guess the Mizz wasn't interested. He woulda been perfect.

[IMJ]

All Martial Arts movies need to rid themselves of the "pose of renewed determination". It's always so ridiculous....

Guy gets his ass kicked but we, the audience, now know that he is going to dominate because he gets up and slowly does some kind of extravagant kung-fu pose as if he's "centered" and then ends the movement with a terse jerking of his body and a new look of determination. This movie had way too much of that.

If anyone ever wants to laugh their asses off at that nonsense, go check out the live action "Fist of the North Star" with Gary Daniels, oh my God......