This weekend saw the release of Mortal Kombat 2, a film that feels like we’ve been waiting forever for (probably because we have been). As a fan of the video game franchise, I quite enjoyed it, and felt that the fight scenes did a great job of emulating what we’d see in the games. It’s mindless popcorn entertainment and that’s always a great way to start the summer movie season (which seems to be getting earlier and earlier each year). I saw the movie on IMAX, where the fantastical visuals really got to shine. But if there’s one thing that annoyed me to no end (other than the really bad green screen) it was the shifting Aspect Ratios.
Now, I’m not a hater of when films aren’t able to utilize the IMAX format long term, as I know it is quite limiting and expensive. Not every film can be The Odyssey. But it’s very frustrating to watch a film that seems to have no rhyme or reason as to when it’s going to use it. MK2 will show an establishing shot in the expanded frame, then immediately go back to the letterboxed look. Sometimes it would even switch back and forth within the same scene. This lack of consistency is jarring and makes the viewing experience feel disconnected. The worst offender is a moment with Baraka, where the camera shifts to a “fighting game” side view, and the screen opens up to the larger format. This is a great callback to the games, which would do this at the start of a match. But then it went right back to the other format! I want to be lost in a film, not constantly having my attention drawn to weird formatting choices.
It stands out even more when something like Project Hail Mary, which was released only a few months ago, utilized it in such a great way. Sure, we would see aspect ratio changes, but it was to help symbolize the shift in setting. Space would take up the entire screen, further immersing you in the story, while the scenes set on earth, would have a 2:35:1 aspect ratio. It helped to visually differentiate, while also making the space scenes feel grander. Any shift made sense for what the filmmakers were trying to get across.
Either way, if you’re a fan of fun action or even better if you’re a fan of the games themselves, Mortal Kombat 2 is a great time at the movies. It’s filled with great one-liners, with both Johnny Cage and Kano being highlights. In fact, I’m pretty sure I could just watch an entire movie of the two just sitting on a couch and bickering for a full 90 minutes. I just recommend seeing it in a standard theater versus IMAX, as it seems like it would be a more satisfying experience overall.
What did you think of Mortal Kombat 2? Did you see it on IMAX? Did the aspect shifts annoy you as much as they did me? Let me know in the comments below
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