You played the game, heard the soundtrack and read the novelization with your finger following the words and your lips moving, so you probably know that this sequel to the 1995 video game adaptation is aiming slightly lower than, say, Battleship Potemkin. Should you require a loud, brainless movie to go with your Saturday night takeaway, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation has enough cheesy effects, cheesy acting and cheesy fight scenes for 2 movies. Christopher Lambert doesnt return (always a good sign) so taking his place is James Remar, who dons a grey wig, strokes his chin and delivers stoic platitudes, unintentionally setting up one of the movies biggest laughs. Sacrificing his immortality in order to live as a human (only to regain it before the end credits), Remar undergoes a bewildering transformation from a white-robed sage into a kung-fu warrior with a buzzcut. Imagine Gandalf transforming into Gary Daniels and you've a fair idea of what's in store.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
