Mortal Kombat (1995)Movies

The new “Mortal Kombat” is a popcorn movie, but it’s a high caliber popcorn movie, made with skill and enjoyable from start to finish.

While the fondly remembered and exuberantly goofy 1995 film was an example of the kind of top-tier genre output from New Line Cinema, so is the remake.

The studio may be owned now by Warner Bros. and no longer an independent entity, the new “Mortal Kombat” is a reminder of New Line’s 1990s brand of f/x-heavy but enthralling, R-rated escapism for grownups, like “Dark City” and “Blade” (both 1998).

Once again, the plot concerns an all-or-nothing fighting competition in another world, which is overseen by the good Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) and the evil Shang Tsung (Chin Han).

A Mixed...