• Never really got into MK, but I think I know enough to comment. This looks fairly cool, to be honest. Granted, incredibly cheesy, but still pretty cool. Maybe if I was more attached to Mortal Kombat, I would be pissed, but as it stands, this looks kinda fun.

• legend of chun li mortal kombat:annihilation mortal kombat street fighter super mario brothers guess what this is yet? the list of fail movies that attempted to bring it to the screen. when will you people learn? think about it, these movies were all based on games that have a shitload of potential to be made into great movies, as such every person sees this potential as exploitable in several different ways, i mean honestly how do you even make a game like street fighter into a good movie? answer that and you may become rich. the thing with games being made into movies is that everyone has a different view on how it should be done, especially when the game leaves alot to be imagined. for instance, how would you, any of you, make a mortal kombat game? more fantasy less gritty? congratulations you just made mortal kombat annihilation. more gritty less fantasy? wtf? legend of chun-li's fail adventure kombat style? of course you could always try to make it more action-packed and leave with x-men, rape at the box office, make a trilogy, a shitload of games, and then announce origin stories for tons of characters and sell your business to disney (wtf is disney planning anyways? a kingdom hearts/x-men crossover, i'm sorry but wolverine does not belong in the same world as sora, donald, and cloud) the thing is that no-one know what the most correct option would be for a franchise such as this, but you can attempt to attract others by simply making your own take on the world.

• Actually we did get a flightless superman. For 10 fucking seasons. They called it smallville.

• So because Superman Returns didn't work out we should make a real world Superman where he's a police officer with super strength, no flight, and no alien origin? WROOOOOOOOOONG. Just because one bad movie doesn't work it, it doesn't mean to make a new version that is an entirely different character than the source material the last crappy movie mucked up. Instead you should write a good movie that is based on the character. The source material isn't the problem. The bad movie is. And again, Mortal Kombat isn't complex source material. So how someone can muck up such a simple concept is beyond me. (And let's not forget that we maybe almost did get a flightless Superman because some producer thought it was too unrealistic and had already been done in prior films.)

• They made that movie already it was bad they made another it was also bad. Now it's time to do this and see how it works out.

• FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUCK this. Fuck it to hell. This is NOT Mortal Kombat AT ALL. I hope this is just a fan thing, although it does look very professional. DAMN IT FUCK SHIT BITCH CUNT THIS IS NOT HOW IT SHOULD BE! Where is all the magic? Where are the realms? The gods? The mythology? Where is it?! As an MK sucker, I definitely DO NOT approve this. Oh by the way, Sonya doesn't look like a fighter at all.

• Who says he's not an Otherworld Sorcerer using the identity of a gang leader as cover for his actions on earth? Reimagining does not necessarily equal bad.

• someone posted this on a board I was on.. <i> Subject: Chris Lamp, Shang Tsungs former electrician. After dedicating his life to Tsung's electrical needs for over 25 years he got fired over a busted light bulb. Vowing revenge Lamp strapped a car battery to his back and live wires to his hands and feet, electrocuting anyone he touches. Codename: Rayden </i> I replied with.. <i> Subject: John Gorzales, bodyguard to Tsung After having his arm severed in a shootout, one was reattached. Then in a plan to be more well armed and ready for a fight, Gorzales decided to have mad surgeon codenamed Baraka attach an addition arm to his side. Now with four guns he can take out all around him. Codename: Goro </i>

• I agree. I miss the more fantastical elements and style in the Bond films, and especially in Batman. With Batman, the idea that we can't see certain villains because they're too realistic makes me yearn for the days of Tim Burton. The more realistic Batman gets, the more boring it becomes. Bond, at least, fits in better in a more realistic setting that's more reminiscent of the original novels.

• One of the things I miss the most in the new Batman films is the comic book fantasy aspects. I'd miss that if Mortal Kombat left them out.

• Since Batman Begins was a hit, now everything has to be a gritty, real world reboot. It's getting old.

• Why the hell does Johnny Cage always have to be killed off? He was always my favorite character to use in the game, but he always gets picked off in the films.

• Actually I'm a huge Connery fan. I know it might have come off sounding like I'm a Moore fan (granted there are only a few Moore movies I DO like), but I wish the films still had the same feel as the 60s films (ie:jet packs, helicopters that could fit in suitcases, SPECTRE, etc). And even on the Nolan Batman thing, as I stated I can't stress how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE those two films. Yes, the "realistic" thing worked in showing the equipment, making Gotham grittier (as a long time fan, like many of you, I can tell you that Gotham isn't supposed to be a "nice" place to live), and cool new takes on a few of the classic villains. What I had meant though was Nolan's attitude towards his "Bat-verse": Batman as the only hero in existence and a few of the villains deemed to "unrealistic" to portray on the big screen (namely Penguin). I mean, it's based on a comic book series that's an integral part of a HUUUUGGGEEE fictional universe. I'm still waiting till someone makes the most "accurate" Batman adaptation for the big screen, but for now Nolan's brilliant films will do me just fine.

• This. Looks. AWESOME.

• Is this a Marx-ist joke...HAHAHAHA...sorry.

• My vote is video game.

• Erm... I froze at 7:13 on that youtube and it appears as though Scorpion is holding a photograph of a woman spreading her legs and exposing her boobs with covered up nipples. Looks like Lady gaga infact... Check it out.

• I particularly love this comment since the original movie LITERALLY screamed "MORTAL KOMBAT!!!!!!!!!!!" at you in the first 5 seconds or so.

• I don't want to discuss the value of Video Game adaptations vs the worst manmade enviromental crisis in history, yet I feel compelled to reply. What IS Mortal Kombat? Ever stop and think about it? Mortal Kombat is Metal-Album-Covers and Kung Fu B and C films, wrapped around a comic book story that enables 1-on-1 fighting. NOT MUCH ELSE. Not even the devs could take it entirely too serious and had, you know, Santa Claus flying over the moon and by the 3rd game a guy took of his mask and killed people with his scarred visage. Grant you there is some Asian mythology there, but that's far from saying it's a rich, multilayered univere that "OMG this proto-film rapes"! Would it be a worst film without mention of the Tarkata or Zaterra or Outworld? I personally disagree. Because If you only watch Mortal Kombat adaptations for Baraka and Reptile, then I'm sorry for you. I think the first movie, minus the violence, adapted MK perfectly: as a Cheesy B movie. This one isn't a perfect adaptation, but mostly that's a good thing if this is any indication.

• Looks interesting. Sorry to see the fantasy elements removed/toned down but I'll give this a chance. Plus, am I the only one who kept thinking "Baraka Bama?"

• Seems to be a promo to sell the idea to WB. http://twitter.com/JeriLRyan/status/15752179609 FWIW, I thought it was pretty well done.

• Is just me or did anybody else think that Micheal Jai White would have been a much better Jim Rhides in Iron Man than Terrence Howard or Don Cheadle?

• Awesome!! Loved this, if its a full on film looks like lots of fun.

• hardcore MK fans may not agree, but this actually looks pretty good... and I believe it's the right track for a movie (or whatever it is). The real MK story is just too out there to be added into a movie screen without making it look foolish (proven by the past MK movies) The characters are being brought down to a more 'realistic' level which is a 'batman begins' strategy that will combine pretty well with the plot of an underground tournament like in 'blood sport' I think it has a lot of promise.

• As a huge Bond fan, heh heh ... no way. Sean Connery all the way. But I'm not so inflexible that I didn't enjoy any of the other Bonds. I think each of the different actors made at least one Bond film I enjoyed.

• The production values seem too slick for a fan film. The lighting and camera work are just too good, not to mention the quality of makeup. I'll bet some big studio's gone and "viralized" this to gauge overall nerd reaction. This is a great take on the MK universe if this ever leads to a full-blown feature film.

• "it makes me want to beat my non-existent wife." That's probably why you don't have one, just saying.

• If anyone is interested, freeze the video at 7:12 and you get a good shot of what Sub-Zero is going to look like: creepy as fuck.

• Your favorite Bond is Roger Moore, isn't it.

• Whoa, holy shit... Harpo? Really? That's one of the most amazing things I've ever heard, where is this documented?!

• I feel like I am probably right in their target audience for a movie like this. I liked and played Mortal Kombat, but wasn't even my favorite fighting game. I liked and watched the other movies in the theater, and thought the second one sucked. I for one welcome a complete re-imagining of properties like this. Especially since it has already had a go with a fairly close adaptation (one I feel worked, one I feel did not). But watching this I liked it, and yet could also see why someone who was more into MK would be turned off by it. For example, I was more into Transformers growing up so the awful version made me weep (and often still does in the late hours of the night) because it meant more to me. As for MK, it was present, but somewhat fringe to my childhood. I welcome it. But if they fuck it up, I'll probably still turn on them. But I'm willing to give it a chance . . . unless it sucks.

• This is the worst fucking thing I've seen to date. Yes, that includes the questionable casting in "The Last Airbender" and the oil spill in the Gulf. Garbage like this pisses me off to no end. It's not good enough that they make some soulless piece of crap. No, because they're just as unimaginative as their audience, they have to steal someone else's work (or sometimes, they're OWN work) and butcher with with this "gritty" nonsense. Like skin conditions, piercings, and painting the room in Shitstain Brown is somehow "edgier" than what everyone else is doing. But of course, people are doing this because they're copying the one or two people who actually did it right, without dragging established franchises through a crackhouse and throwing them in a toilet. This isn't gritty, this isn't Mortal Kombat, and it makes me want to beat my non-existent wife. By the way, y'know what I'd like to see in a video game movie? Being true to the source material, and not cutesy little in-joke nods. "Jacks" isn't clever. It just pisses me off more. -Tabris

• This: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293429/

• Ok, I enjoyed the original MK movie as much as the next fan, but you have to admit this took some forethought. I personally think its a really interesting slant on the franchise, and it works in my head because I can still see the metaphor of the original tournament concept here. It is just being repackaged to appeal to the Ultimate Fighter crowd. Note that so much of this is left unexplained. Wtf is up with Scorpion's eyes, for one? Why is Baraka emulating a horned demon of all things? They're depicting Shang Tsun as some kind of benefactor to all these psychopaths, surely he has SOME kind of ulterior motive? Something like cultivating the sickest, most depraved soul in order to...what? Usher in some hellish future? Sounds just like MK to me. Also, really digging that the Scorpion vs Sub-Zero enmity is front asnd center. They are practically the Ryu and Ken of the franchise.

• Annihilation was the royal piece of crap. The first one was decent. Toned down to avoid a higher rating, but it HAD "The essence of Mortal Kombat..." This, while good looking does not scream MORTAL KOMBAT! It feels like a Saw/MKino crossover fanfic. BTW Mario Brothers wasn't THAT linked to its source Material.

• I'm sorry..this freaking horrible. The crusty old Jeri Ryan? The worst part of Voyager (well Mulgrew too but..). I guess they're trying to reimagine Jax and Sonya as X-Files type Mulder and Scully team or FBI buddy-cop thing. Other than Matt Mullins, he's a complete obvious choice to play Johnny Cage, I'm really looking forward to this. It won't be awful as WMAC Masters (which had a lot of the Mortal Kombat video game cast) or the previous Mortal Kombat movies, but there were people that actually had MA fighting experience in those productions.

• Some properties are fine when you make them a tad more realistic, more gritty. I think Batman is one of them. The character is dark to begin with. I think Nolan went a little too realistic sometimes, sure...I agree with that. But it still feels like Batman. Mortal Kombat can be dark and gritty too. However, it does not need to be realistic. It can have the same tones the Resident Evil games (not movie) have. Fantastical things happening, but the tone is dark. Outworld is a very dark and grim place. I've seen plenty of martial arts movies set in the real world already. How about being different and embracing what Mortal Kombat is, the mystical, the supernatural, mixed with great martial arts action. When people go to redo stuff, they feel that they are "fixing" it. That's fine if it's just the rough edges but the core formula/recipe should never be touched. Glad to see some other fans here are on my side. Brothers of fanboyness, I salute you.

• It's a short designed to drum up interest from investors... a demo reel, as it were.

• I'm hoping the movie somehow blends this grittiness with the classic MK fantasy story. Examples could be Reptile having lost his soul and is trapped in Earthrealm, Scorpion perhaps being killed during the film and coming back as a demon, Shang Tsung's tournament being the MK Tournament we all know to save Earthrealm, just with these realistic elements thrown in. Sub Zero looked pretty cool and could maybe be a tease that maybe it isn't ALL so gritty.

• Probably just hopeful thinking, but it seems more like Jax and the rest of the police were just trying to make sense of what the hell they were seeing. Good luck explaining Sub-Zero without resorting to liquid nitrogen canisters cop out.

• YES YES YES YES NOW!!

• See, that's the funny thing. I really liked the Nolan Batman. Okay, they went a little too overboard with Ra's being too realistic and Joker's costume and lack of skin coloration, but I think the realistic approach worked for Batman. I agree they went overboard, but only at times. The Schumaher films were total garbage. If I wanted fun camp, I'd watch the 60s one. If I want dark fantasy, I'll take Burton's. Nolan gave us a good year one Batman with some of the crime and tech aspects from later comics. Same goes for Bond. Though there I saw it moreso going toward the spy novels and away from Hollywood excesses that killed the character. Meanwhile, a fantasy fighting game like Mortal Kombat? Gritty realism is pure poison for it. It almost becomes a parody of trying to make something realistic. If I didn't know better, I'd say this was a parody.

• HEY! HEY! I will not hear such fowl words against the Mortal Kombat movie. It was no Orson Welles epic, but it did what it did well, and it far from bombed. I'd still say it's the best video game movie out there. Now, if you were talking about the sequel, on the other hand....

• actually the Deadpool from the Wolverine movie was a Baraka rip off and disgrace.

• Or not at all maybe? Be an optimist.

• You know what kills me about nerds who get all upset when one of their beloved franchises gets remade with a new vision? They act like the original source material has been erased, destroyed, or no longer exists! I loved MK growing up, and enjoyed the fantasy aspects it had. While this obviously has replaced so of those aspects with a more down to earth gritty reality, I think this overall looks utterly awesome! This was very well done with cool actors and production, while moving the basic plot of MK towards something I'd want to see. Besides, if Shang Sung is the catalyst of the tournament who knows for what sinister, otherworldly purpose.

• The first Mortal Kombat movie was pretty good (I quite like it anyway). The second was redonkulos. I think a "real world" re-imagining of the series would be a decent enough idea.

• WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH SUB ZERO!? He looks too weird and creepy. I hope they follow the MK 2 story line, with the second Sub zero being a good guy, seems like they won't. Scropy's pupiless eyes give me hope for him being a spectre.

• I liked it a lot, whatever it is.

• That is exactly what I said! Take the last James Bond movie. Y'know why it didn't feel right to me? A): I miss the gimmicky villains and B): I miss the gadgets. Oh, but those things aren't "gritty" and "realistic" to drive the plot, but then again, why have the Bond movies always been successful? I think the words "escapist" and "fantasy" have a lot to do with it. And while I enjoyed the last two Batman films immensely, I seriously hate Nolan's take on "no, this villain is too unrealistic" or "Superman doesn't exist". Yep, because nothing screams "a realistic movie" like a guy dressing up like a flying rodent and fighting a guy dressed like a clown. I think filmmakers need to go back to, ya know, "suspension of disbelief". (by the way Violence Jack, I love the name).

• Dude. Look what happened with the original MK movie. It bombed. It was shit. If there was another MK movie that was directly linked to the source material, it would turn out worse than the Mario Bros. movie.

• That is exactly what I said! Take the last James Bond movie. Y'know why it didn't feel right to me? A): I miss the gimmicky villains and B): I miss the gadgets. Oh, but those things aren't "gritty" and "realistic" to drive the plot, but then again, why have the Bond movies always been successful? I think the words "escapist" and "fantasy" have a lot to do with it. And while I enjoyed the last two Batman films immensely, I seriously hate Nolan's take on "no, this villain is too unrealistic" or "Superman doesn't exist". Yep, because nothing screams "a realistic movie" like a guy dressing up like a flying rodent and fighting a guy dressed like a clown. I think filmmakers need to go back to, ya know, "suspension of disbelief".

• Johnny cage was such a dick!! The style of the trailer isn't really doing anything for me, I feel like this should be going straight to DVD.

• Yo - I'm sorry, but the appeal of Mortal Kombat can be boiled down to the simple pleasure of frying an undead ninja with lightning and then spin-kicking him into the acid pool while a scary voice announces that your moves were "excellent" If this IS real movie, then they're seriously barking up the wrong tree. Absolutely no one was clamoring for Mortal Kombat meets Se7en.

• CHUD says it's for real: it's a preview of the movie. http://chud.com/articles/articles/23984/1/IS-THIS-VIDEO-FOR-THE-NEW-MORTAL-KOMBAT-MOVIE/Page1.html

• Amen to that. Instead of a lizard from a hell dimension, the fun goofy character of Reptile is made into.. ugh.. a real life tragedy of a harlequin baby. As goofy and stupid as the original MK is, making it overly realistic like this is somehow more goofy and stupid. They're just trying too hard to go all Batman Begins and it's painful. It's like making Lord of the Rings into a realistic urban drama. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

• Sold. I'm betting this is just a teaser clip, not from the actual movie (but perhaps edited from it) to get our mouths watering. Also, the CU of Reptile came right as I was finishing my chili. Nearly hurled. Thanks to all responsible.

• Actually, it used to be common practice (although it was decades ago) for celebrities to be used as spies. Hell, Harpo Marx transported "sensitive documents" from pre-glasnost Russia during the latter stages of his career.

• I was right in the middle of a roast beef sub when reptile ate that face bit......

• Sucks they killed off Cage in a freaking Teaser. That's lame! Seems like they are trying for a harder "Batman Begins" type of reimagining. Enough with the film footage...what does the GAME look like? (provided it is for a game, but I just don't see them doing a show without a game...this is MK!)

• I don't like this version of Mortal Kombat. Hate it when people feel the need to take out the fantastical elements to make the property more "realistic". Hey, let's do a Star Wars remake and take out The Force, the space ships, and light sabres because they don't exist in real life and thus the audience won't buy it. Argh!

• I'm guessin' it's a well connected fan film.

• I think I agree with your wins and fails. As cool as Reptile is now, I think I enjoy the original story line too much to let some of this pass. I do enjoy me some underground tournaments, though...

• Your definition of "subtle" does not match mine.

• It's too expository for a movie I think. Reads more like an intro to a game,

• Michael Jai White = Epic Win.

• but another MK live action game would be so sick

• hahaha I wasn't serious, I figured as much. As for WTH instead of WTF.. Thats just how I roll. And I just GOT married 2 weeks ago. I think divorce is far off.

• Jeri Ryan was the singular reason I stuck with Voyager, which was otherwise a pretty shitty Trek series. She remains unbelievably hot to this day ("Leverage"). I'm hoping this is a real movie, because I really like the direction it's taking. However, the title (Mortal Kombat) now seems decoupled from the actual film. I would not be TOO surprised if this was some kind of giant E3 teaser. We've known for awhile that the series has been quietly undergoing a revival under new management.

• I like it!!!

• I'm almost positive it's for a game. It's right before E3, so we'll probably learn more then about this. If it were a film, I'm sure whatever studio has the rights would have done a more predictable job at marketing this and we'd have heard more about this. Youtube viral marketing campaigns in Hollywood don't work this way unless it's JJ Abrams... and its not. Exhibit A is the Tron Legacy campaign. I'm sad too, this has the making of an awesome movie, but probably awful game. :(

• This looks awesome, no matter what it's for. Can't confirm it right now but supposedly Ed Boon on Twitter said something to the effect of "What's going on?" Craziness going on today.

• I'm almost positive it's for a game. It's right before E3, so we'll probably learn more then about this. If it were a film, I'm sure whatever studio has the rights would have done a more predictable job at marketing this and we'd have heard more about this. Youtube viral marketing campaigns in Hollywood don't work this way unless it's JJ Abrams... and its not. Exhibit A is the Tron Legacy campaign. I'm sad too, this has the making of an awesome movie, but probably awful game. :(

• That's not saying much. And it didn't help that she became the number one main character from that point on. I think the Doctor was the only one to get more episodes, and everyone else was just "Oh, hey, there's a crew on this ship?"

• I'm not where I can watch the video yet, so all I was going on was the comment, and that phrase just annoyed me. It occurs to me, though, it probably wouldn't matter who's in it, the same phrase would've still been there with someone else's name inserted. That's why I usually just don't bother commenting.

• oh god i hope its for a live action video game. yes, live action video game.

• This also has Lateef Crowder (Eddy Gordo in the upcoming Tekken movie) and Michael Jai white (Black Dynamite) in it. If this is a fan film, it has some serious star power in it

• A gritty real world take on Mortal Kombat... WHY?! This shit didn't work for that shitty Street Fighter Chun Li movie or even Doom when they took out the hell dimension from that. Why the hell would it work for Mortal Kombat which relies even more on the fantastic than those two?! It's too bad because the cast and production values sound pretty amazing.

• Lateef Crowder as Baraka? Hotness!!!

• Because MK was a Beat'em up.

• Could be for a movie (which would seem reasonable considering Michael Jai White and Jeri Ryan) Could be for a new game also seeing how E3 is next week.

• I dunno. It LOOKS good, but it's not MORTAL KOMBAT. This is a prime example of way too many changes that stray from the source material. At least the result looks good. Want my Saholin monks, ninjas and people from other realms battling to win Earth.

• Meh

• Terribly sorry, Boosh. I saw it over at Kotaku and posted it before I saw your email. It happens sometimes.

• I say fanfic! It screams of it.

• Choosing "WTH" instead of the usual "WTF" indicates a true reluctance to use profanity = a true lover scorned... I hope Boosh gets the house and kids in the divorce.

• Michael Jai White is a good start. I just hope they let him show off his skills in this movie.

• WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS??? IT WAS ROB!!!

• it's for mortal kombat 9.

• That instantly reminded me of that part in the office when an IT technician starts talking about Bruce Lee not actually being dead but working underground against the triads- shortly after which Tim instantly shoots him down.

• Kombat did the concept first

• OKAY WTH ROB ! I sent this to you and you give all the credit to KOTAKU !!! I'M DONE WITH YOU & THIS SITE !!!! FATALITY!

• Seconded, my amigo. Everything about the trailer screams disaster. Where to start: reptile? baraka? shang tsung being a gang leader or something? Whatever happened to outworld, evil sorcerers and the original origins of MK characters? Making a beat em up into a movie should be banned by law! These games simply can't be put to film.

• I am somewhat pleased with the direction that this, what ever this is, is heading. Too many times we get a reboot or a franchise leap to live action, that refuses to mature with the core audience. MK took many, many quarters from some of us back in 1992. Even if you played the original while you were in the womb, you would be old realize that the story was so convoluted that it needs to be re-tooled to into something is better than the background to a fighting game. Was it the story of behind MK the reason for us dumping our lunch money away day after day, or was it the brutal combat, insane combos and over the top finishers that kept us enthralled ? Trust me, I like my demons to spit fire and teleport, I love the idea of a hot chick in a green leotard standing on head and wrapping her legs around my face but no movie company worth it's salt would fund that. This would push it into a smaller budget production, meaning not as much money for special effects and thus a grittier "realer" feel to the movie/trailer/game. On a side note... who else would have loved to see Johny cock punch ol'e Baraka (Block,LP)?

• I would watch the FUCK out of this.

• Anything is better then MK: Annihilation. that movie was terrible. I'd watch this movie in a heartbeat!

• Woah! Okay... Liu Kang not being the focus = Win. Reptile being a deformed 30 year old Cannibal =Win, Win. Michael (BLACK DYNAMITE) Jai White as Jax= Fuck yes & WIN. (Can't believe more people aren't fired up about that. It's Bril. Ya'all!!) Jeri Ryan as Sonya Blade - Uh, isn't she like 50? = maybe win? Baraka being a "Deadpool" from Wolverine Origins knock-off with dreads= Potential Fail... Unmasked Scorpion as the anti-hero / lead? =WTFF?! There's no IMDB for "Mortal Kombat Rebirth" and not a peep about this on White's page either... I'm hoping it's a movie. Even direct to DVD would be good, as long as they have like an over the top level of cartoony gore, I'm sold. Not bad fighting choreography either... Is it too "hip" to hope?

• For Mortal Kombat this looks pretty cool. One problem, the last person I would ever use for undercover work is a former Hollywood action hero. I think most people, even underworlders would recognize Jean-Claude VanDamme if he rolled up in your crack house...or illegal fighting tournament...just the facts. I still would watch this.

• He may have made a good choice there. He was the original choice for Jax but turned it down to do Spawn. Both movies sucked but this looks like it has potential

• The Fuck?

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