At the time of it's release, 'Mortal Kombat' was perceived by many to be the finest transition from video game to the silver screen, and examining it 10 years later that still remains a fair assessment that is relatively unrivalled today. Although clearly not without faults, the film boasted reasonably high production values and a decent cast whilst also maintaining the important factor of keeping the majority of the characters and story intact from the game (a must if you want to keep the existing fan base happy). Robin Shou in the leading role was a risky choice, especially considering he was a relative unknown, but it proved to be an extremely effective one as not only does he provide the viewer with a believable hero in the action department but he is also an actor capable of keeping his acting talent on a par with his physical attributes. In the director's chair was the relatively fresh faced Paul W. S. Anderson who proved here that he could maintain a fast paced and strong action movie which has been echoed by the fact that he has now become a highly sought after talent.

It's fair to say that 'Mortal Kombat' was also one of the main films responsible for the revival of Hollywood Martial Arts movies that are still in evidence at present. This was mainly due to the fact that Shou and the team of fight choreographers leaned heavily towards the Hong Kong influence, showcasing some flashy techniques that had rarely been witnessed in the big budget affairs. However, Shou wisely chooses not to over-complicate the choreography and although it is acrobatic and kick orientated, it is nowhere near the pacing seen in Hong Kong films. Amazingly though, the most impressive factor about the fights is that Anderson actually does a surprisingly good job directing the action as he chooses not to restrict the camera angles or utilise too many annoying editing techniques. Unfortunately it can still be said there is perhaps an over-reliance on slow motion to display the more athletic moves but that is a minor complaint in an otherwise striking effort.

Although not up to Eastern Martial Arts movie standards (but then again what American film is?), 'Mortal Kombat' remains one of the most admirable efforts to emerge from Hollywood to date. It's surprising that Robin Shou didn't receive better vehicles after this (the sequel and the relatively poor 'Beverly Hills Ninja' remain his only other notable entries) but I suppose that no matter how much talent you display, Hollywood is still very blinkered when it comes to handling an Asian star. Still, 'Mortal Kombat' has aged well and Shou can be very proud he has this film in his back catalogue.