Mortal Kombat Legacy

Mortal Kombat Legacy II - Episode 1.

Cast Series cast summary.Johnny Cage.Hanzo Hasashi/.Kitana.Ermac/.Kenshi.Shang Tsung.Kung Lao.Kurtis Stryker.Sub-Zero/.Raiden.Mileena.Kano.SWAT/.Kana.Liu Kang.Shang Tsung.Lin Kuei Clansman/.Narrator/.Mileena.King Jerrod.Jubei.Lt. Kurtis Stryker.Quan Chi.Technician #2.Narrator.Samurai.SWAT.Japanese Translator.SWAT.Edenian Knight #1.Edenian Woman.SWAT.Edenian #1.Black Dragon.Edenian #2.Tarkatan Warrior.Kuai Liang.Young Hanzo Hasashi/.Young Kuai Liang.Hanzo's Father.Jubei.Armed Gunman #1/.Armed Gunman #2/.Cyrax/.Johnny Cage.Lance.Sektor.Blue.Dr. Gadsen.Emile.Action Star.White Coat #1.Technician #1.Grand Master.Queen Sindel.Self.White Coat #2.Ed Goodman.Computer.White Coat #3.Shaun Lo.Police.Baraka.

The famous ultra-violent video game franchise gets a 'Dark Knight' styled make-over. This is Mortal Kombat revised. Mortal Kombat redone.as yet another live action iteration of the fantasy fighting game. Originally conceived to be realistic remake which cleverly replacing the more out-of-this-world concepts with gritty real world explanations, MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY drops that ball right into its second episode where we have mercenaries firing plasma weapons. Two episodes later, we are right back in familiar fantasy territory of other realms, monsters and magic.

This is Mortal Kombat rehashed, Mortal Kombat repeated with merely cosmetic changes, and Mortal Kombat recast in such a haphazard way between its two seasons. This web series, originally debuting on the Machinima youtube channel, consists of 6 story arcs over 9 episodes for season one.

Season two comprises an ongoing story arc of the tournament plus three origin stories told in flashbacks for a total of 10 episodes. Each episode is so distinct in tone, style and entertainment value that they are almost like mini- movies unto themselves.

Two things that permeate the both seasons seems to be director Kevin Tancheroen's indecisive directing style and the annoying music. Tancheroen seems to be copying the style of other directors like Zack Snyder's slow motion speed ramping, Neveldine and Tylor's high speed shaky cam digital photography, and Luc Besson / Paul Greengrass's hyper fast cuts. All these stylistic touches seem thrown in at random and overdone in many instances. Much of the fight choreography for season one is fantastic. But it is done great injustice by Tancharoen's quick cuts, extreme close ups and shaky camera. The first two episodes of season one go into the back story of Sonya Blade, Jax and crime boss Kano presented in a familiar 'Cops and Crime boss' setting.

Sonya is taken prisoner and Jax leads a special forces team to take down Kano's gang. This is a strong start, with a look not unlike modern Hollywood action movies and a realistic gritty tone. Next we get the tale of washed up action star Johnny Cage trying to pitch his latest production.

Again, realistic and right in place in our real world, done very creatively in the form of a TV documentary. Now after that, in comes some hokey fantasy. Kitanna and Mileena: a tale of sibling rivalry and teenage identity set among the CGI mountains of Edeina and the dark Canadian- looking woods of Outworld? Our first dud of season one, the Kitanna / Mileena arc spans two episodes but half of the second episode in this arc is a flashback to events in the preceding episode, making the actual runtime of content a lot shorter.

Flash animation is used to pad out the story almost like a motion comic. Thankfully the subsequent episodes return to the more realistic setting and more ambiguous fantasy.

Take Raiden for instance. How would people, realistically in today's world, react to some dude claiming to be a thunder god?

The highlights of the season are of course Scorpion Vs Sub-Zero arc and the final episode about the Lin Kuei Cyborgs. Old school runescape membership cancel. Scorpion's backstory and ensuing vendetta against ninja leader Sub Zero is explained via a beautifully shot period piece, seemingly set in feudal Japan. Characters speak Japanese, authentic Asian actors play the roles, even the costumes seem true to the feudal period. Lastly, the Lin Kuei cyborg segment. This is real eye candy here, featuring cutting edge CGI and motion capture work, creating one of the more brutal bouts in the series.

So after a generally enjoyable season one, disregarding some missteps here and there, season two comes around. Season two showcases a little more backstory of other characters like Kung Lao and Liu Kang, as well as finally showing the start of the titular Mortal Kombat Tournament. It may have well been a completely new show altogether as only a couple of returning faces and story elements bear a resemblance to season one. More than half of the roles have been recast with new actors, there are many continuity inconsistencies, the special effects look cheaper, and so do the costumes. For an example of cheapskate costumes and inconsistencies just compare the stories of Scorpion and Sub Zero across the seasons. Season one was simple yet effective, giving a production design of outfits that may have been plausible during feudal Japan. Season 2 reveals that our feudal japan period piece actually takes place in modern day; a modern day where Japan never outgrew its swords, samurais and shoguns and everyone suddenly speaks American English!

Season 2 also downgraded the ninja outfits from realistically plausible to ripoff Power Rangers and pyjamas. Lacklustre fights which lack the gritty brutality of the previous season lead up to one disappointing conclusion that is all build up without any payoff. With season three set to veer off into adapting characters and concepts from the recent Mortal Kombat X video game, MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY's first two seasons ends off on a low note.

The episodes of Sonya/Jax/Kano, Johnny Cage, Raiden, Scorpion/Sub-Zero and the Lin Kuei Cyborgs Cyrax and Sektor stand as true gems. Featuring feature film-like production quality and design, brutal fight choreography, as well as cleverly reinterpreting the established mythos in a fresh manner. Downer episodes include the Kitanna/Mileena and most of season two (except perhaps the Kenshi Vs Ermac episodes).

(September 12, 2013 – West Hollywood, CA) – All of the second season of 'Mortal Kombat: Legacy II' will debut worldwide at once September 26, 2013 exclusively on Machinima (YouTube.com/Machinima), the number one video entertainment network for young males around the world. “Mortal Kombat: Legacy II,” produced by Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, is the hit live action web series based on the legendary Mortal Kombat video game franchise, co-created by Ed Boon, developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. 'Mortal Kombat: Legacy II' is directed by Kevin Tancharoen (“Mortal Kombat: Legacy”) and co-written by Josh Baizer and Marshall Johnson (“Dead Loss”). Check out the new trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46l9Zc7DBxE The first season of 'Mortal Kombat: Legacy' was one of 2011’s most-viewed web series and has generated more than 70 million views to date on Machinima. In the highly anticipated second season, the saga continues as Liu Kang and Ermac join the ranks of fighters introduced in the series’ first season, including Kenshi, Kung Lao, Kuai Lang, Stryker, Kitana, Mileena, Johnny Cage, Scorpion and Sub- Zero. This new season uncovers the rivalries and histories of these fierce warriors as Raiden and his recruits clash against the dark forces of Outworld. Chronicling the tournament and the interweaving storylines of the most beloved Kombatants, fans also will learn of the complex relationship between Liu Kang and Kung Lao and revisit the complicated family dynamic of Kitana and Mileena. The epic battle for EarthRealm has finally begun! “Machinima has a passionate and engaged global audience. Our audience isn’t shy. They tell us what content they want and how they want to watch and interact with it,” said Chairman, Co-Founder, and CEO of Machinima Allen DeBevoise. “This is why we decided to deliver all of ‘Mortal Kombat: Legacy II’ at once. There is no need to wait to see what happens next, they can enjoy everything back to back. With companies like Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO GO as destinations where consumers can watch multiple episodes consecutively, binge-viewing is a major movement in online video. We’re a part of this movement, and we expect this to make for an amazing and extremely engaging user experience.”“There has been so much anticipation around ‘Mortal Kombat: Legacy II,’” said director and co-writer Kevin Tancharoen. “I’m excited to deliver this season to fans. There’s more action, fights, special effects, and overall, more of what fans want.”'‘Mortal Kombat Legacy: II’ follows the record-breaking first season of the series and treats fans to an even higher caliber of online filmmaking,” said Lance Sloane, Producer, Warner Bros. “Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition” was recently released on Steam and is also available for purchase on major gaming consoles. The latest chapter of “Mortal Kombat” was released in 2011 by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, marking a triumphant return to the series’ roots. Selling nearly five million units worldwide, the reinvention of the franchise became the highest-selling fighting game of the year and won numerous “Best Fighting Game” awards, including Spike TV’s 2011 Video Game Awards, 2012 Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Interactive Achievement Awards, and recognition from Game Informer, Official Xbox Magazine and GameTrailers.com. Tancharoen (“Mortal Kombat: Legacy”) returns as director and co-writer of “Mortal Kombat: Legacy II” alongside writers Josh Baizer and Marshall Johnson (“Dead Loss”). The cast includes Harry Shum, Jr. ('Glee') as the warlord adviser Kuai Liang, Casper Van Dien ('Starship Troopers') as martial arts film actor Johnny Cage, Brian Tee ('The Wolverine') as Shaolin Monk Liu Kang, and Mark Dacascos ('Cradle 2 the Grave ') as Kung Lao - a close friend of Liu Kang. Additionally, Ian Anthony Dale (“Hawaii Five-O”) returns as the resurrected ninja Scorpion, and Cary Tagawa reprises the role he made famous in the 'Mortal Kombat' theatrical release as the powerful, arrogant sorcerer Shang Tsung. “Mortal Kombat: Legacy II” is produced by Lance Sloane (“Act of Valor”) and Tancharoen. About Mortal Kombat:
First released in 1992, “Mortal Kombat” spread quickly from the arcade to home consoles, spawning a 20 year franchise that to date includes numerous sequels, two feature films, television shows, a comic book series and over 35 million games sold. Known for its popular characters, deep story line and its trademark “fatalities,” “Mortal Kombat” continues to be one of the most influential fighting games in video game history. The original development team, now known as NetherRealm Studios, led by creative director and game co-creator Ed Boon, continues to develop the game and build upon its enduring success and incredible fan support.About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution:
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) oversees the electronic distribution of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s content through Video-On-Demand, Pay-Per-View, Electronic Sell-Through and Subscription Video-On-Demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels. WBDD also distributes content through third party digital retailers and licensees. A worldwide industry leader since its inception, WBDD also manages the Studio’s e-commerce sites that include WBShop.com and WarnerArchive.com. About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment:
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.About Machinima:
Machinima is the dominant video entertainment network for young males around the world. One of the top entertainment networks on YouTube, Machinima serves over 2 billion video views per month, and reaches over 199 million viewers monthly. The network features scripted series, original content, weekly and daily shows, official publisher content, and gameplay videos, all aimed at the coveted 18-34 year old male demographic. The company is backed by MK Capital, and Redpoint Ventures, and is headquartered in West Hollywood, California.
For more information, please visit www.Machinima.com and YouTube.com/Machinima About NetherRealm Studios:
NetherRealm Studios, wholly owned by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a leader in the development of interactive entertainment as the creator of the billion dollar Mortal Kombat franchise. Mortal Kombat has spawned two theatrical films, multiple television series, and has sold over 28 million games to date. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the award-winning NetherRealm team has been working and creating games together since 1992. Additional information about NetherRealm Studios can be found at www.netherrealm.com###