Summary
The wait forMortal Kombat 2feels long, but this action show starring one of the movie’s lead actors is perfect to watch in the meantime. TheupcomingMortal Kombatsequelwill see the return of many familiar faces, including martial artist and actor Joe Taslim, who played Sub-Zero in the 2021Mortal Kombatreboot. Taslim also stars in a highly-rated action series on Netflix, which boasts a 93% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In the upcomingMortal Kombat 2,Taslim will likely play a new version of Sub-Zero, named Noob Saibot, who is a longstanding character in the video game franchise. The wait to see Taslim as a slightly different character inMortal Kombat 2’s castwill be until late 2025 when the sequel is released. Until then, he can be seen in the critically acclaimed show on Netflix, and with three seasons available to stream,Warrioris the perfect replacement to see Joe Taslim’s martial arts skills at their best.
All 16 Mortal Kombat 2021 Characters, Ranked Weakest To Strongest
Mortal Kombat’s 2021 reboot had a lot of characters, but only one can claim to be the strongest out of a cast of beasts, ninjas, and martial artists.
Joe Taslim’s Warrior Show Is Perfect To Watch Before Mortal Kombat 2
Joe Taslim Starred As Li Yong in Warrior From 2019 To 2023.
InWarrior, Joe Taslim plays the role of Li Yong, a martial artist who acts as a rival to the main character, Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji). The fights Taslim is a part of with Koji are fast and well-executed and show their abilities as top martial artists. There is no recent news of aWarriorseason 4, butthe first three seasons are worth watching to see the evolution of Li Yong’s fighting abilities and his character growth beyond the role of a fighter.
This complexity in the show’s characters encourages viewers to become invested in Li Yong and Ah Sahm while also enjoying the action-packed segments.
Li Yong is fascinating inWarriorbecause he is multi-faceted, and the show does a great job of making even its villains complex. Ah Sahm, another skilled martial artist, struggles with his identity as a Chinese immigrant in America, and Li Yong struggles to balance his loyalty to the Long Zii Tong and his relationship with Mai Ling. This complexity in the show’s characters encourages viewers to become invested in Li Yong and Ah Sahm while also enjoying the action-packed segments.
Warrior’s Fight Scenes Are Some Of TV’s Best
Both Andrew Koji And Joe Taslim Are Trained Martial Artists.
Warriorhas some of the best fight scenes on TV, and that is partially because Andrew Koji and Joe Taslim are trained martial artists. Combined with the work of great other actors, stunt performers, and stunt coordinators,Warrioris satisfying to watch because the fight scenes feel real and well-coordinated. Watching Li Yong and Ah Sahm in their many on-screen fights, it’s easy to believe that they are rivals who are some of the best fighters in any of the Tongs.
Aside from the actors nailing their fights, the martial arts choreography enables the synchronization of scenes. To do this,Warrioremployed various stunt coordinators and martial artists to perfect the process of each fight.Brett Chan was the main stunt coordinator forWarrior, noting in an interview withVarietythat he’d use script outlines and the input of his actors to help choreograph and change fight sequences to match their characters' personalities. This is somethingMortal Kombatcould employ for future fight scenes.
Mortal Kombat 2 Should Have Fights As Good As The Ones In Warrior
Mortal Kombat 2 Needs To Step Up The Fight Game.
The fights inMortal Kombat’s 2021 reboot fall short, especially since the games are known for their combat scenes. Even though Lewis Tan is a trained martial artist, the action is undermined by choppy editing and strange choreography which doesn’t work for a movie about professional martial artists. A prime example is the fight scene between Tan’s character Cole Young and the CGi version of Reptile, where quick cuts and awkward movements make the scene look unnatural.This is not the case inWarriorbecause the fight sequences are more collaborative and don’t rely on technology for realism.
Quan Chi, who is usually behind Sub-Zero’s return as Noob Saibot, will be inMortal Kombat 2.
Mortal Kombat 2should feature fights with smooth transitions and realistic choreography, similar to Joe Taslim’s fight scenes inWarrior. Warrior’s fight scenes showcase a fluidity and authenticity that enhance the credibility of Taslim’s character as a martial artist, in contrast to the unorganized and CGI-heavy action in the firstMortal Kombat. To elevateMortal Kombat 2, it must deliver high-quality, believable fight sequences to ensure the movie feels true to the story material and can showcase the actors' skills.
