Mortal Kombat fans will remember the nostalgia of the 90s, when it was revealed there would be a movie produced based on the popular game and then the pure excitement of when that movie later came into existence. Sure it was campy, at times cheesy, and the FX were very dated for its time, but that was then and the best that could be offered way back when. However in case fans of the game didn’t get the memo, there has existed for a years no, a web series on YouTube known as Mortal Kombat:Legacy.
A web series on YouTube known as Mortal Kombat:Legacy. In 2010, director Kevin Tancharoen created a brief short titled Mortal Kombat:Rebirth.
In 2010, director Kevin Tancharoen created a brief short titled Mortal Kombat:Rebirth. Fans were shocked at the concept, quality, and the direction of Tancharoen’s creation. As a result Legacy followed shortly after, with one season hitting YouTube in 2011 and the second following sometime after in 2013. The first season is more an introduction into the main characters of the original story, each episode focusing on one or more of the character’s origins. Season two places focus on the tournament itself, which has always been the central focus of the video game and the original movie. To fans who’ve yet to see this, make no mistake, Legacy is a completely different beast in comparison to the first two films.
This series is best to watch now, as both seasons have been completed and when ran together it actually almost functions as watching it as a movie. The nonlinear style of telling the story is purely episodic but it does not make for a difficult watch. The production quality is far superior to that of the 90s pictures, and the style of the mini-series is far grittier and even by a stretch, more realistic than its predecessors. There is a hint of campiness here and there, and the acting was never going to have critics raving, but then again the subject matter was never going to allow for that and this is still based on a video game. The show is still entertaining, and the fight scenes are exceedingly better in choreography and in how they are shot. Viewers can also expect to see more evolved editing, and overall, an immensely broader story-line that will fill in the blanks and answer questions that people may have always had or maybe in contrast, never even thought to ask. All in all, Legacy is everything the movies were not and more, and for most, will likely be a much more enjoyable viewing experience in comparison to what once was.
All the episodes are quick watches, all being less than fifteen minutes. Now if watched all at once, the nineteen episode series will take about as much time to watch as a full feature length film. The best part though, is it’s free. No subscriptions, no fees, just an internet connection, and YouTube. So to fans who still don’t know, it’s there at no cost! For neophytes and gamers, think of it as a game, and go play it.
