Overview: The fate of the universe once again hangs in the balance as warriors come together for one final clash in Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, an all-new, feature-length film produced by Warner Bros. Animation in coordination with NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms picks up shortly after the explosive finale of Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge, the 2020 blockbuster hit that initiated these animated films – which are based on one of the most popular videogame franchises in history.

In Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, our team of heroes are besieged by the enemy forces of Shao Kahn – forcing Raiden and his group of warriors into a deal to compete in a final Mortal Kombat that will determine the fate of the realms.

Now our heroes must travel to Outworld in order to defend Earthrealm and, simultaneously, Scorpion must find the ancient Kamidogu before it’s used to resurrect the One Being – which would mean certain destruction of all things in the universe.

Time is short and the stakes are high in this action-packed continuation of the Mortal Kombat journey.

Blu-ray Verdict: Sure, this is just another typical Mortal Kombat movie, only beautifully animated and where the thrills just keep coming! Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms (also to be found on Amazon Prime) is a stellar example of how animation can often be superior to live action. Just from the way the characters moved through a cartoon environment, and also fought in it, infused plenty of entertainment value to this memorable addition to the MK franchise.

The story unraveled back in good old Earthrealm where our favorite heroes were summoned to come fight for the survival of their home-planet. Emperor/Warlord Shao Kahn played a key part in all the chaos, not to forget Nether-Realm’s own Shinnok - just like old times, indeed. This time round, a final Mortal Kombat tournament was called for, and ahead of schedule; and it was set to take place in Outworld.

The story is a continuation (of sorts) to the events that transpired on The Island. Shang Tsung’s island, to be precise, the same one that featured in the original 1995 movie as well as the Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins animated video set in the same year. Shang Tsung played an active role this time as well.

Battle of the Realms features a few good portions involving the Elder Gods, the originators of Mortal Kombat who even came up with that idea to help keep entire universes from merging (ie: long story). The film also covers interesting lore regarding the One Being capable of dissolving the Realms if he was made to reappear courtesy Shinnok.

The tournament plays out via some brilliantly created, albeit ultra-action glory. It essentially stays within the framework of what this franchise has always been known for - a draconian multi-character gladiatorial fight-fest between the forces of good and evil.

Ethan Spaulding’s direction is clever and sharp. Jeremy Adams’s screenplay is cutting edge and oh-so neat. This animation movie relied on what the original Mortal Kombat creators, John Tobias and Ed Boon, manifested all those years ago. The result is a faithful visual creation that released in 2021, and yet manages to inspire yesteryear nostalgia throughout.

More than a handful of amazing voice over artists worked on Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, and many of them lent their talents to more than one character. If I start naming names I’ll have to name them all, but you can check out who the skilled people behind the characters are below this review.

Oh, and with the behind-the-scenes people brought forth for a moment, John Jennings Boyd and Eric V. Hachikian did great work scoring the music for this one. Kristopher Baldwin’s effect animation work was stellar - those slow-mo sequences - and they never once went light on the gore, which was more than welcome considering that this is Mortal Kombat, after all!

The rest of the team in varied categories - especially the Art Department gang - all did great work. While this film can in no legitimate way be considered an original story, it was regardless commemorative, attentive to MK lore and origins, and fun to watch from start to finish.

In conclusion, Warner Bros. Animation can be very proud with what they have brought forth with this new title to the cannon. It is artsy, interesting, amusing, humorous at times, and yet captivating throughout. You will most assuredly be entertained, but if for some reason you feel you might be let down, just imagine the movie growling at you to Get over here!, because it’s honestly a lot of kick-ass Kombat fun!

FYI: The appearance of Scooby-Doo hero Shaggy Rogers in a Mortal Kombat feature is a homage to the Ultra Instinct Shaggy trend that started in 2017. It got so popular that fans were campaigning for Shaggy to appear in a Mortal Kombat game. The logo joke is the closest fans will get to an official Scooby-Doo/Mortal Kombat crossover! [BN]

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms Special Features
Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital

● The God and the Dragon: Battling for Earthrealm (Featurette) - Go behind the scenes and inside the creative process of bringing Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms to action-packed life on screen.

● Voices of Kombat (Featurette) - Join Joel McHale, Jennifer Carpenter, and the cast as they detail the process of creating unique and compelling voices for the larger than life characters in the film.

● Kombat Gags: Gag Reel (Featurette) - Step inside the VO booth with the cast of the film for all of the flubbed lines and outrageously improvised lines from the cutting room floor.

● Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms Audio Commentary (Audio Only) - Producer Rick Morales and Screenwriter Jeremy Adams take the audience inside the art of writing and animating the film in this feature length audio commentary.

The film arrives from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack on August 31, 2021.

Joel McHale (Community, Stargirl) and Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) return to their lead roles as Hollywood star-turned-fighter Johnny Cage and all-business warrior Sonya Blade, respectively. Also returning for the sequel are Jordan Rodrigues (Lady Bird, The Fosters) as Liu Kang; Patrick Seitz (Mortal Kombat X, Aggretsuko, Naruto: Shippuden) as Scorpion & Hanzo Hasashi; Artt Butler (Her, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Shang Tsung & Cyrax; Robin Atkin Downes (The Strain, Batman: The Killing Joke) as Shinnok & Reiko; Dave B. Mitchell (Mortal Kombat 11, Call of Duty franchise) as Raiden, Kintaro & Sektor; Ikè Amadi (Mass Effect 3, Mortal Kombat 11) as Jax Briggs & One Being; Grey Griffin (The Loud House, Young Justice, Scooby-Doo franchise) as Kitana, Satoshi Hasashi & Mileena; and Fred Tatasciore (Robot Chicken, Family Guy) as Shao Kahn.

New to the Mortal Kombat Legends voice cast are Matthew Mercer (Critical Role, Justice Society: World War II) as Stryker & Smoke; Bayardo De Murguia (Tiny Pretty Things) as Sub-Zero/Kuai Liang; Matt Yang King (Mortal Kombat 11 video game, Justice League vs. The Fatal Five) as Kung Lao; Paul Nakauchi (Carmen Sandiego, Overwatch) as Lin Kuei Grandmaster; Emily O’Brien (Days of Our Lives, Constantine: City of Demons) as Jade; Debra Wilson (World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, MADtv) as D’Vorah.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms will be available on Blu-ray (US $29.98 SRP; Canada $39.99 SRP) and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (USA $39.99 SRP; Canada $44.98 SRP) and Digital.

The Blu-ray features a Blu-ray disc with the film in hi-definition and a digital version of the movie. The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc featuring the film in hi-definition, and a digital version of the movie.

Pre-orders will be available for the Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack beginning June 28, 2021, and for Digital starting on July 8, 2021.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms | Green Band Trailer | Warner Bros. Entertainment

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