Xenoblast91

Seems this going to be a fantastic week after all! The news about the PStore upfront and live are truly refreshing to the soul. While reading an article from TechRadar which basically is (obviously paid) an apology for Microsoft where is discussed how the competition for Sony has restructured its business model to sustain their losses from the previous generation, I was feeling overtly ashamed for being a Sonier at least in recent times and how the other are managing their issues too. While the other 2 companies are doing their bets, I think Sony hasn't revealed their full poker hand yet, I feel that something is coming for the proper application and potential for PS5. 

But despite people start investing in Game Pass, the abyss between their earnings and the loss is still so huge that it'll take it years to fill such gap. However, oh boy, the revert decision to leave the store alive is absolutely the right thing to do! Recently bought the PS3, getting used to the interface and surprised me how outdated is, which the mayor feature lacking is the auto-installation of games (something that the Wii and the 360 do natively, speaking of the same gen...). Anyway, this gives me hopes because there's a little over 20 titles that I want to try in the console and is such a relief that I don't have to rush nothing, even to stop worrying about the potential trophies syncing shutdown into the servers!

Mortal Kombat (2021) - Film
[Spoilers FREE Review]

I went to cinema to watch this movie (my country is slowly lifting the pandemic restrictions for a variety of reasons that go out of the scope of this post), and the movie was released here before than the US. And I want to share my [unsolicited] review about it, since even isn't a video game directly, but oh boy, does to a tied to a game -or franchise- that actually is. I'm not going to comment anything that others have already said; instead I'm going to explain my blind and raw experience about it. 

My expectations for this kind of movies are always really low because let's face it, those look lame. We know by experience that the many attempts to mix Hollywood and the vast majority of studios that develop a different type of entertainment hadn't finished that well. Recently, we got the Sonic's, Pokémon's and (how to forget) Monster Hunter's approach to this media. Of course, is something cool to see that your favorite series are expanding to the mainstream media, as a mean to share the love we have for this hobby of us to all the people who are completely oblivious towards it. And despite the effort is appreciated, sometimes isn't that needed. 

However, this time was different. I just knew about the film months ago, maybe mid-February, and I was super skeptical since I never saw a single ad or anything pointing to this. C'mon, MK is a series that many, many people know so looking something about it before that was strange. That helped a lot to build my firsts impressions to it. The trailer is the generic, dubstep, nonsensical and typical one by law you must expect. But it has an atmosphere that, just by curiosity, want to explore, even mistakenly. Taking it lightly can help to calm the waters and then see what's going on. The production of the movie was in development hell by years, so despite being a risk, I think the waiting paid off. 

Without giving spoilers (in case some of you want to watch it or wait for later), I can say is enjoyable. It tries really hard to stay true to its original source, and the screenwriters seem to catch at least the atmosphere for the movie taking many liberties in doing it (many producers don't really know the source, as they just want the money straight away, we know...) but since each video game movie must face the same problem that has always existed, that is, the dilemma interactivity/lack of deep story/personhood vs. passive liability/plot duration/limited approach has to be solved one way or the other. And I believe that they actually did it cleverly; without presenting us all the plethora of characters and the ones who have an impact in the games, they build a good and understandable lore for the newcomer, as the world in which the film takes place makes many references to the original arcade games to the most recent interactions in the series. Of course, this has its double purpose (and that's why I say they were smart). Firstly, if they don't succeed, well, they just presented an ok movie without losing too much -or gaining backlash from fans or so, which I honestly hasn't seen much; which is good, I think- and secondly, allowing a potential sequel if it gains the track they were expecting (something that happened before... I'm waiting for you, Power Rangers 2!). It has many plot holes, and the story is rather rushed but has an understandable basis that everybody can catch quickly; I can dare to say even children, but well... going to explain that next. 

Much of the world's construction relied on into the many sources for MK exists. They avoided others, but I think they did it to allow the viewer focus on the action rather than the plots and so, despite the climax of the movie felt good, many other sides of it lost the emotion that a hardcore fan could expect or ask for. Those 90's kids around here can coincide with me that we, as the Gen-Zers now, grew up with a way different interpretation of MK in theaters. Actually, is a cheesy movie that when I think about it, I just can recall watching the 1995 version in a Saturday's afternoon in the middle of my lunch completely absorbed with the so outdated special effects. And I can say that has happened within video games too (anyone remembers Spider-Man for PS1/N64?). 

I grew with this Mortal Kombat version for movies. If you're a puritan, zealot fan for the franchise, please don't watch it. But If you're brave enough, give it a chance, you'll die laughing for the silliness and absurd themes you'll find here, despite the basis for the movie is solid, though. 

But the modern version isn't meant for children. Oh, no. There's a lot of gore, even a kinky feeling in it that you must be 18+ for sure to let the cinema allow you to get in (you smart people already can watch it on sites of doubtful origin, you can't fool me!) because there's a lot of blood, violence and of course, fatalities! I liked the nod they did with the narrator in-game that yells the events while you're playing. It's a nice touch and highly appreciated, something that even the 95's version tried to emulate, but now you feel it more organic and appropriate. Even the cast felt really fitting. That helped to feel the charm and charisma of the story through people that are introducing you to a new world, one that you maybe have already been into, but this time is different. You certainly feel that ambience from that. 

When I was on earlier 2000s, MK was a phenomenon. I remember playing it on the original arcades and trying to perform the finishers were mysterious, surprising and memorable; also I had the pleasure to try it on a Game Boy Color which was spectacular to play thanks to the imagination a child at that age has. Right now I'm tempted to try MKX even with the problem with Invasions missions; many of the movie was brought from this game and 11 because many of the lore has a different interpretation from what I can recall from the OG games. I'm not too fond to fighting games, but this series has a little site in my heart for the memories; even I read in an old magazine about the character Reptile and Noob Saibot; that hindered me into the series a lot more and make me to know more; so when I watched the 95's version it felt like a brutality into me. 

Yep, those are the graphics that I remember, but honestly, those looked like 4K UHD back in the day. Also even the pixel detail for the time was really impressive. And well, I love to see how Scorpion dances the theme while being super high and into drugs. 

TL;DR: The movie is pretty good for what intends to achieve. You'll certainly have an entertained time while watching it and feeling the hype to see characters you already feel familiar with. Despite that, don't have huge expectations about it; yes, is a decent video game movie, but you must be aware that it's a production made to sell and many aspects can't make you feel disappointed. Give it a shot and tell me what you feel, and what you expect from it if a sequel drops!

And I did it... Bought my so awaited PS3 finally! The circle is complete now. I possess the 3 tabletop consoles from the 7th generation, which in my opinion has been the best of all time. I feel insane... 

Let's see what kind of adventures await me in this new (old?) platform. And to spend hundreds of dollars before July 27th and the store closure. C'mon, tell me the titles that are a must in this! I have 10 games in my cart right now, but I want to look for more deeply insights. 

Now I must properly schedule my sleeping hours and be full throttle into this hunting, LMAO. 

I sometimes regret that I arrived really late to the Sony's hype train.