KOMBAT BEGINS.

Three martial arts pros (Robin Shou, Linden Ashby, Bridgette Wilson) compete for world domination in a tournament that is set on an island.

A picture that’s part of a genre the 1990s never learned to master – movies based on video games. The production design looks good enough, but there’s nothing here but uninspired fights and contrived jokes.

For better or worse, Christopher Lambert’s appearance as an “electrical” god elevates his acting from wooden into sheer camp.

1995-U.S. 102 min. Color. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Cast: Christopher Lambert (Lord Rayden), Robin Shou (Liu Kang), Linden Ashby (Johnny Cage), Bridgette Wilson (Sonya Blade), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Talisa Soto. 

Trivia: Sharon Stone and Christina Applegate were considered for the part of Sonya; Cameron Diaz was initially cast, but dropped out. Jean-Claude Van Damme was offered the part of Johnny Cage. Followed by Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) and two TV series in 1996 (animated) and 1998. Rebooted as Mortal Kombat (2021).