WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Mortal Kombat, now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.
It's not an easy job adapting something as expansive as Mortal Kombat. It's a wide universe with decades behind the video game, which would have made it tough for director Simon McQuoid and his creative team to figure out which fighters to add, who to leave out, what realms to explore or what could pop up in a split-second cameo.
While there isn't room for everything and everyone as Shang Tsung's (Chin Han) forces break the rules and try to kill Earthrealm's champions, there are some pretty cool Easter eggs and hidden nods that old-school fans can appreciate.
When Sub-Zero first attacks Jax in a warehouse after the ice ninja came after Cole, on the wall we see a familiar move spray painted. The graffiti reads "↓, → and LP ," which are the buttons you need to tap to throw ice -- a staple that hasn't changed in the Mortal Kombat games. Sub-Zero uses this iconic move against Liu Kang in Raiden's temple, as well as others such as the ice wall and ice clone against Scorpion in the finale.
When Cole escapes Sub-Zero's wrath and gets to Sonya Blade's lair in Indiana, she tells him about the tournament, various realms and weird species, as she's been tracking its history and secrets. She reveals her wall of mystery, and there we see an article with a warrior from the Matoka tribe that looks very similar to Nightwolf, the supernatural shaman that fought for Raiden's side after debuting in MK3.
In this same conversation, we also spot a picture of a statue that looks similar to Kotal Kahn, who debuted in MKX as the Osh-Tekk leader. He wanted to free his Mayan-esque people from Shao Kahn, hoping to absorb the Emperor's forces and take Outworld to new heights. Ironically, he'd partner with Sonya's Special Forces and fight for the heroes.
While the trailer already revealed a giant statue of Shao Kahn, there's a closer look when the heroes get to Raiden's temple. There, Sonya sees the Emperor swatting enemies away with his hammer, evoking the look and feel of MKX. However, it does leave fans wondering if he's alive as neither Shang Tsung nor the Thunder God ever mention him.
Another mural shows the Edenian sorceress Delia, and Argus, a protecting god of Edenia. It was their responsibility to prevent the end of days, which their sons, Taven, and the evil Daegon, would be part of. The parents create Blaze, a fire entity, to guide their children's paths, but Daegon murdered them to start his destiny. This mural shows them putting Taven to sleep in hopes he'd fight for the light, a key arc in MK: Armageddon.
The original Kung Lao of the Order of the Light was Earthrealm's champion in the game, only to be stopped by Goro. In Raiden's temple, while we see him emerging victorious in one mural, there's another showing the Shokan Prince in his youth ripping him in half, which kickstarted the nine straight tournament wins, leading to Shang Tsung seeking a tenth and final to invade.
Shang Tsung orders "the Reptilian, Syzoth" to go after Sonya but it's not just a random name. While we know the creature to be Reptile when in his green ninja garb, Syzoth is his real name. Additionally, as he stalks his prey, we see his acidic saliva dissolving metal, nodding to his acid spit in the games, as well as his invisibility mode.
Bo' Rai Cho is a drunken master from Deadly Alliance who trained Earthrealm's warriors like Liu Kang. Here, the Shaolin warrior mentions Bo' when he talks about his past as a stray taken in by the Order. He tells Cole that Bo' trained him and set him on the right path in life, adding some nuance to his mysterious days as a student.
Jax pays homage to Ed Boon and John Tobias, creators of Mortal Kombat, early on in Cole's gym when he teases Cole about losing his belt. He says Cole failed against the fighter named Eddie Tobias, which definitely warmed the hearts of diehards. The gym has another nod in the end of the film with posters of Johnny Cage's latest movie, Citizen Cage.
The stage settings are a huge part of the Mortal Kombat games, and while we get the sand arena in Raiden's temple, the very popular Pit is seen when Jax fights Reiko. It's been there since the first game and fighters can be knocked off it, falling onto spikes in a gory Fatality. But while the spikes are present here, it's just for fan-service as no one falls off -- Jax just squashes Reiko's head after his famous "Gotcha!" grab and punch.
In Raiden's temple, when Shang Tsung's minions first arrive and get turned away, Kitana's bladed-fan is on display next to Kano. There's no conversation over the weapon, however, so we're unsure if the Edenian princess is alive and what happened to her realm after Shao Kahn invaded, killed King Jerrod and took Sindel as his queen. But seeing as Mileena didn't recognize it, it's likely there for fan-service.
In that same area of the temple, when Liu Kang first coaches the heroes about unlocking their powers, Kano tries to steal an amulet. Liu Kang tells him to put it back, but it's not any random trinket -- it's similar in design to Shinnok's amulet, which can control the elements, teleport, trap souls and bring Armageddon to fruition.
While training, Liu Kang keeps using the leg sweep to embarrass Kano. It evokes the move which fans used to great effect to spam opponents, especially in the first two Mortal Kombat editions. There's another later on with the uppercut, which Cole's daughter encourages him to use to deck Goro -- something she also wanted him to spam in the MMA octagon earlier in the film.
In the game, when Scorpion kills Bi-Han/Sub-Zero, the ice ninja's soul is warped into the Netherrealm by Quan Chi and he returns as a black-suited ninja, Noob Saibot (a reverse spelling of Boon and Tobias' names). The finale ironically has Sub-Zero stripping down to a black suit as he loses to Cole and Scorpion, getting incinerated and foreshadowing a turn into this wraith.
Shang Tsung tells his minions a couple times to "Finish Them!" which plays on when an opponent is beaten and primed for a Fatality. Liu Kang tells his trainees to "Test their might!" which nods to a side-game that evolved over the years with fighters breaking rocks and whatnot. Kung Lao later delivers the start to a round, telling trainees "Fight!" while stating "Flawless Victory!" after sawing Nitara in half.
Liu Kang says "Fatality!" after killing Kabal with his flaming dragon in the wake of Kung Lao getting his soul sucked by Shang Tsung, who actually drops his iconic "Your soul is mine!" Kano also exclaims "Kano Wins!" mimicking the game announcer after ripping Reptile's heart out, while Scorpion drops the "Get over here!" line when he hooks Sub-Zero with his kunai at Cole's gym.
Directed by Simon McQuoid and produced by James Wan, Mortal Kombat stars Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson "Jax" Bridges, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion, Max Huang as Kung Lao, Sisi Stringer as Mileena, Matilda Kimber as Emily Young and Laura Brent as Allison Young. The film is now in theaters and available to stream on HBO Max.
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