TAGGED AS: Martial Arts, movies, video, Video Games
(Photo by © New Line Cinema)
For years, 1995’s Mortal Kombat held the title of Best Video Game Adaptation ever according to the Tomatometer. But it was never quite a “flawless victory” for Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and co.: The much-beloved cheesefest, which follows the story of three handpicked martial artists who compete in an inter-dimensional fighting tournament in order to save the planet (really), might have been the best video game movie ever made, but it was still Rotten according to critics, with a Tomatometer score of 48%.
For many fans of the game and the movie that so faithfully adapted it to screen, that score was spine-rippingly wrong.
In the second episode of our new podcast, Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong (A Podcast from Rotten Tomatoes), our hosts Mark Ellis and Jacqueline Coley are going deep on Mortal Kombat, exploring the techno-driven tournament flick’s journey to cult hit, how it managed to successfully bring the spirit of the game to the big screen where so many others failed, and why the filmmakers’ tamped down the source material’s infamous violence. They’re joined by cartoonist, podcaster, and Frogpants Studio founder Scott Johnson, who thinks Mortal Kombat‘s Tomatometer score is wrong for reasons that may surprise you.
Listen Now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Google Podcasts | Radio Public | Deezer | iHeart | Art19
Be sure to check in every Thursday for a new episode of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong (A Podcast From Rotten Tomatoes). Each week, hosts Jacqueline and Mark and guests go deep and settle the score on some of the most beloved – and despised – movies and TV shows ever made, directly taking on the statement we hear from so many fans: “Rotten Tomatoes is wrong.”
If you have a suggestion for a movie or show you think we should do an episode on, let us know in the comments, or email us at rtiswrong@rottentomatoes.com.
Meet the hosts
Jacqueline Coley is an editor at Rotten Tomatoes, with a focus on awards and indie coverage but with a passion for everything, from the MCU to musicals and period pieces. Coley is a regular moderator at conventions and other events, can be seen on Access Hollywood and other shows, and will not stand Constantine slander of any kind. Follow Jacqueline on Twitter: @THATjacqueline.
Mark Ellis is a comedian and contributing editor for Rotten Tomatoes. He currently hosts the Rotten Tomatoes series Versus, among others, and can be seen co-hosting the sports entertainment phenomenon Movie Trivia Schmoedown. His favorite Star Wars movie is Jedi (guess which one!), his favorite person is actually a dog (his beloved stepdaughter Mollie), and – thanks to this podcast – he’s about to watch Burlesque for the first time in his life. Follow Mark on Twitter: @markellislive.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
