Interesting theory, but it really didn't seem like budget problems to me. It seemed like generic writing, direction, acting, and scoring. And most of that falls on the director. (Or the studio if they meddled too much.) But there's also the issue of having too many damn characters to flesh them out appropriately.
Shang Tsung was such a dull fu#king villain performance. Especially compared to the original MK. I mean he was a tough act to follow, but they didn't even try.
But I agree that Kano's personality redeemed the film about as much as was possible.
My assumption is simply to many chiefs not enough Indians. They probably get pressure from making it brutal and realistic and want it to be flashier and do stuff that would get the shit beat out of you in real life. Spinny, flippy, flashy moves that wouldn't work in real life.
Last edited by ShadowFyre on Apr 27th, 2021 at 09:25 PM
Well more money gives you better writers or more time for script rewrites. You can pad the time to flush out more characters. It allows the director to take more shots and retakes to get the best performance from your actors.
My take away is that the Sub-Zero and Scorpion sub plot was handled well enough that the crew had the ability to do good work but perhaps they just didn't have the budget to be consistent especially in such an effects heavy movie like Mortal Kombat
Hm.. unless I hear that there was a super rushed schedule and problems behind the scenes I'm not inclined to think a slightly bigger budget would have helped the mediocrity. Took em 25 or so years to do a reboot and they rushed it? I'm not buying it.
More than likely the director (who to the best of my knowledge is pretty unknown) just has mediocre vision influenced by the heavy prevalence of comic book movies. This honestly just felt like a bland comic book movie with blood and violence.
As I said some pages back in reaction to first seeing this film, found out that the director Simon McQuaid actually had not previously directed a movie at all; only did PS4 commercials, which explained a lot.
Paul Anderson at least had one film under his belt before he did the original MK film. He may have later become a hack with Resident Evil and such, but this McQuaid started out as one.
I think it's a pretty factual statement to say that when movie is given less money than what it probably needs to be successful in not surprised the.movie has flaws.
Like I spend 25 years designing the best car ever but if I'm only given half the budget I need to make it the quality of the car is going to suffer.
And once again not using to say the movie was good or that it excuses it. I just think if it gets that extra money in the sequels you'll see a better quality product most likely.
Imagine Escape from New York gets made without John Carpenter.
The thing of it is, once upon a time creative people could actually persuade upper management that their vision is a good one. I bet you the current crop of managers simply look at spreadsheets and nothing else. Weave a good story, get asked how this makes them money.
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You may not have used the word, but you heavily implied it...
Budget was not the problem with this film. It actually looked more expensive than it was. Mediocre writing and bland performances were the main problems.
That seems like a stretch to say I implied it was a rushed job :/
And say it with me. More money equals better writers, more chances to reshoot bland scenes, and hiring better actors :/
@Sqaulx
Actually good scripts do cost money. Maybe not good concepts but to hammer out all the story flow into a cinematic experience does cost money.
I also already mentioned deadpool. It actually has like a 10 million more dollar budget when adjusted for inflation. It also had a leading man in Ryan Reynolds pushing it forward.
John Wick one was made in 2014. When adjusted for inflation that still puts it over this movie.
Also this compared to John Wick 1 is a much more intensive special effects film with all the super powers. To pretend budget doesn't matter is kind of asinine.
Could’ve been better but it was about what I expected definitely wouldn’t be made a few decisions they did.
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Apr 27th, 2021 04:04 PM
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