Top 10 Beast Mode Moments in Mortal Kombat 2021
#10: The Battle Begins
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If you were disappointed that the previous live-action “Mortal Kombat” movies were restricted to PG-13 violence, the reboot immediately puts its R rating to effective use while also upping the drama. Before the carnage commences, Simon McQuoid creates a tranquil ambiance as Hanzo Hasashi, aka Scorpion, lives peacefully with his family. Of course, we know this won’t last long. In a genuinely chilling introduction, Bi-Han, aka Sub-Zero, ices his rival’s wife and son. A vengeful Hanzo single-handedly takes out the assassins, creatively demonstrating how a kunai can be used for more than just gardening. It all builds to an intense one-on-one match between Hanzo and Bi-Han. While the upper hand shifts throughout, the fight ends in Hanzo’s defeat, but not the end of his bloodline.
#9: Sub-Zero vs. Jax
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Sub-Zero knows how to make an entrance, raining upon Cole Young and his family with boulders of ice. Jax buys the Youngs some time by facing off against the frosty foe, who levels the playing field by solidifying and shattering the major’s gun mid-blast. Now that’s an image we’d like to freeze-frame and hang on our walls. From there, the fight is mainly driven by hand-to-hand combat, although Sub-Zero finishes things with his signature ice powers. Jax’s hands may be deadly weapons, but his arms meet the same fate as his firearm. He falls to what would be his demise in any other movie. Since this is “Mortal Kombat,” though, it’s nothing that a pair of mechanical arms can’t fix.
#8: Jax vs. Reiko
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See, we told you. In the final act, our heroes decide to bring the tournament to Shang Tsung with each of them taking on a different opponent. Having recently upgraded his mechanical arms, Jax volunteers to challenge Reiko. The battle doesn’t last especially long, but if this franchise has taught us anything, it’s that even the quickest brawls can pack a powerful punch. Reiko’s hammer is ultimately no match for Jax’s metallic fists of fury. The fight is virtually won once Jax breaks and discards of the hammer, although he doesn’t let Reiko down so easily. After painting his face red, Jax leaves a big open space where Reiko’s skull used to be. Let’s all give a big hand for that head clap.
#7: Mileena vs. Cole & Sonya
By this point in the film, Cole Young has more than proven his worth as a fighter. Staring at Mileena’s blood-thirsty set of teeth, though, Cole finds that maybe he bit off more than he can chew. Mileena’s teleportation attacks only make her more formidable. Fortunately, Sonya shows up just in time to provide backup. Since Sonya received the dragon mark from her previous battle, we finally get to see her arcana in action. As Cole hurles Mileena aside, Sonya sends a burst of pink-colored energy her way with precise aim. We’ve heard of a gut punch, but this is ridiculous… ridiculously awesome, that is.
#6: Reptile Fight
After fleeing one fight, Cole is tracked down by Reptile at Sonya’s hideout. Ninjas are known for blending in with their environment. Being reptilian, this assassin takes camouflage to the next level. Although Sonya and Cole fight admirably against the literally hidden character, this is Kano’s time to shine. Reptile loses his advantage once Kano sticks him with a flare. As the wall begins to go up in flames, Reptile fully reveals himself. Sonya seizes this opportunity to stab him with a knife, but it’s Kano who delivers the finishing move. Few things scream, “Beast Mode,” or “Mortal Kombat,” quite like Kano reaching inside an opponent’s chest and ripping out their heart. All that’s missing is Kano winking at the camera when he says, “Kano wins.”
#5: Sonya vs. Kano
Kano may rip hearts out, but Sonya establishes early on that she can take him in a fight. While she resists acquiring his mark at first, Sonya’s ready to finish Kano after his betrayal. Now that Kano has a laser eye, though, the fight is more evenly matched. Powers or no powers, Sonya is still a boss. She also has wit on her side, using her environment to sneak up on Kano before an all-out brawl breaks out. Upon giving her rival the slip, Sonya retaliates with a bottle of acetone, shorting out Kano’s robotic eye. The fight proceeds into the bathroom, out the window, and onto the lawn where Sonya emerges victorious. You know what they say, an eye for a dragon mark.
#4: Liu Kang vs. Kabal
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In the wake of Kung Lao’s demise, Liu Kang channels his grief into his rematch against Kabal. Picking up where they left off, this is another relatively brief fight, but it still finds plenty of room for punches, swordplay, mid-air kicks, and fire power. It’s Liu Kang’s finishing move, however, that earns this fight such a high place on our list. With Kabal stuck in place, Liu Kang summons a towering dragon composed of flames. The blazing beast bites right into the masked warrior, leaving nothing but a burning corpse behind. Just when you think that this moment can’t get any more epic, Liu Kang says what we’ve all been waiting for: “fatality.” Consider this an apology for that dragon transformation in “Annihilation.”
#3: Cole vs. Goro
Although this film is wall to wall with fan favorite fighters, it shines the spotlight on newcomer Cole Young. Giving center stage to a character outside of the games was a risky move, but Cole officially won us over with this fight. Cole needs motivation to awaken his arcana. When the four-armed Goro threatens his family, the warrior within is unleashed. As Goro takes an axe to the truck, Cole receives golden armor that can even withstand a car door. This is where the fight truly begins. Being twice his size with two extra arms, Goro seemingly has the upperhand, but Cole has his uppercut move. His new armor also comes with a couple of nifty accessories that leave Goro with fewer hands and eyes.
#2: Temple Fight
When Kano sells out his allies, Shang Tsung and his fellow evildoers are finally able to invade the temple. This sets the stage for several rousinge one-on-one fights, most of which end badly for our heroes. This sequence mainly belongs to the baddies, as Reiko wallops Jax around with his hammer while Mileena gets a taste of Sonya’s blood before Kano buries her under a giant hand. Kabal is too fast for Liu Kang, but Kung Lao does score one point for his team. Facing off against the winged Nitara, Kung Lao shows what his hat is capable of in what might be the film’s gloriest fatality. Alas, this flawless victory is short-lived as Shang Tsung sucks out his soul. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Cole’s Cage Fight We’ll Have to Wait Until the Sequel For Johnny Cage, Though Cole vs. Kung Lao Nothing Like a Martial Arts Training Sequence Egg Roll So, Apparently Kano Has the Same Motivator as Po in “Kung Fu Panda”
#1: Sub-Zero vs. Scorpion & Cole
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Throughout the “Mortal Kombat” mythos, there’s never been a greater rivalry than the one between Scorpion and Sub-Zero. If this movie was going to stick the landing, it needed to deliver with their long-awaited rematch. The climax gives fans exactly what they wanted. While the fight starts off between Sub-Zero and Cole, the latter receives a helping hand from his ancestor. During his time in Hell, Hanzo has picked up a few tricks and a new name. What follows is the ultimate showdown that pits fire against ice. Everything, from the familiar music, to the iconic weapons, to the classic one-liners, will get any nostalgic arcade-goer pumped. With Cole helping to finish him, Scorpion delivers a fiery fatality. This is what “Mortal Kombat” is all about!
