Mortal Kombat II and What’s Making Us Happy
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Rare earths have become a powerful political tool for China. But before that, one U.S. company monopolized the industry. We have the dramatic story of how America dominated the market for rare earths and then lost it all. I think about that almost every day of my life, Kenny. What could I have done differently? Listen to Planet Money on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
The ultra-violent video game franchise Mortal Kombat has spun off into movies, comic books, a TV show, and more. Now the latest sequel brings back more of the unforgettable characters you might have grown up eviscerating. I'm Stephen Thompson. Joining me today on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour is Jordan Morris. He's a podcaster and co-writer of the Marvel Comics series The Amazing Spider-Man Spider-Versity. Hey, Jordan.
Hi. Just real quick, I... I told your producer that for this episode, I wanted to be introduced as Jordan Morris. Jordan Morris. Anyways, if you just want to take that again, or we can do it in post if you want to.
If anyone really starts to lose an argument in this conversation, I will, as host, be obligated to yell, finish him. Also with us is Ronald Young Jr. He's the host of the film and television review podcast, Leaving the Theater. Hey, Ronald. Hello, Stephen. I'm normal. So trying to summarize a movie like Mortal Kombat 2 can take you in some very different directions. You could go on and on about the lore of the Outworld and the Earthrealm and the epic battles that determine who might rule various realms, which doesn't even begin to touch on the various fighters and their backstories and fighting styles.
What are the key elements of the Mortal Kombat II storyline?
But you could also sum up Mortal Kombat 2 in like three words. There is fighting. Because there is fighting. On top of fighting. On top of fighting with finishing moves that evoke memories of the Final Destination movies. The stakes for all of this very bloody fighting are extremely high. And also there's an amulet. Everyone wants the amulet. As a movie franchise, Mortal Kombat was rebooted in 2021 when it became a pandemic-era streaming hit. So now we've got Mortal Kombat 2. which centers the action on Katana, a warrior princess played by Adeline Rudolph, and the washed-up action star Johnny Cage, played by Carl Urban. Listen, I'm warning you. I got a Saturn Award for Best Fight in a Featured Film, so don't mess with me.
So you've got your battles for the fate of the world, you've got your comic relief, you've got your spirit realms, and you've got so much fan service. The new film is in theaters now. Jordan, I'm going to start with you. What did you think of Mortal Kombat 2?
I regret to inform you that this movie absolutely whips butt and I loved every single second of it. I can see the poster now. Mortal Kombat 2 whips butt NPR. I am the target audience for this. The Mortal Kombat games were huge when I was a kid. I've played every version. I play them now. They're still cranking them out. This is a collection of Easter eggs and references and music cues that I got, and I loved every second of it. I totally had a blast. If you haven't played the games or the games mean nothing to you, Should you see this movie? I would say probably not. I think if you're a huge martial arts fan, there's a lot of great fight choreography in this. So if you love martial arts movies and your local indie theater is not showing an old Jackie Chan movie, I think this is a good option.
But yeah, but I think this is the litmus test here. This movie features a zombie with a magic hat. When I say that, are you like, oh, cool? Or are you like, no, thanks. That's a pretty good indication as to whether or not you should see the movie.
Is the zombie with a magic hat a playable character?
Right. If you ask that. Yes, exactly. So, you know, I think you will know pretty quick as to whether or not this movie is for you. But I think if you're curious, I think if, you know, if you love seeing all your old buddies... Kung Lao and Shao Kahn, Katana and Baraka. If these names mean something to you, I think you're going to have a pretty good time in this movie.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–1:43
2
What are the key elements of the Mortal Kombat II storyline?
1:43–9:31
3
How does the film incorporate fan service for long-time fans?
9:31–12:50
4
What makes the fight choreography in Mortal Kombat II noteworthy?
12:50–15:07
5
How does Mortal Kombat II compare to its predecessor?
15:07–21:52