Annihilation picks up immediately after the original's conclusion: the heroic team of gladiators led by Liu Kang (Shou) and Rayden (Remar replacing Christopher Lambert) have seen off the baddies, meaning, under the rules of Mortal Kombat, that the Earth is safe for another generation. However, for reasons never satisfactorily explained, evil tyrant Shao Kahn (Brian Thompson) overturns this rule and once again declares war on humanity...
by William Thomas |
Published on
Release Date:
13 Feb 1998
Running Time:
94 minutes
Certificate:
15
Original Title:
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Any excitement generated by the original has evaporated and the resulting farrago will only appeal to the most easy-to-please fight fans. Our heroes only have six days to prevent the evil Kahn merging earth with "the other realm" to become supreme ruler of everything.
It would miss the point to complain that the plot is nonsensical drivel peopled by paper-thin characters and a paucity of ideas. But where Annihilation really falls down is in the fight sequences - its raison d'etre after all - which are poorly edited, monotonously choreographed (peppered with ludicrous backflips and somersaults) and enhanced with CGI that would look dated in an 80s pop video. To add insult to injury the whole thing is wallpapered with irritating techno, a lame attempt to pump up non-existent excitement levels.
On the acting front, only Remar proffers anything like a performance, most others seem happy just to flex muscle and grimace.
Worst of all, everybody involved seems to take this pap incredibly seriously - portentous, cringeworthy dialogue delivered with total earnestness leaving little room for any sense of fun, adventure or surprise. Witless, charmless and clueless.
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