ANI-MOVIES, *Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge

With the whole timeline getting redone for the second time, the Mortal Kombat video game series decided to create a fresh take on the original game's storyline. Legends is first animated project based on the games in over 25 years, aside from some random episodes on the Legacy web series. Thundercats reboot producer Ethan Spaulding directed this Warner Bros. project which finally give MK the R-rated title it deserved, while focusing on one the fan favorite's.

Hanzo Hasashi is the leader of a clandestine ninja clan, but his entire town and family are wiped out by rival ninjas lead by the cyromancer, Sub-Zero. After dying and getting set to the underworld, Hanzo makes a deal with the hellish dimensions current lord, Quan-Chi. The sinister sorcerer makes a bargain with Hanzo to join in the latest Mortal Kombat tournament between the realms to act as his champion, while secretly plotting to steal a relic that will free Quan-Chi's god Shinnok, all while Hanzo(now calling himself "Scorpion")can also confront Sub-Zero. The tournament takes place on an island between other realms, ruled by the wizard Shang Tsung, working for the godlike Shao Khan. If Khan's realm wins this Mortal Kombat, then they can finally invade Earth. The thunder god Raiden assembles a handful of fighters to help protect Earthrealm, including his disciple Liu Kang, female badass Sonya Blade, and Hollywood action star Johnny Cage. Raiden also convinces Scorpion to forget his bargain with Quan-Chi to instead go after Sub-Zero. After taking out the other fighters, the trio from Earth along with Scorpion encounter the crime lord Kano's hit squad. Scorpion gets his revenge against Sub-Zero, but Quan-Chi reveals that is was really himself disguised as Sub-Zero that lead the raid on Scorpion's clan, and leaves the ninja to die on a spike. Sonya and Cage going after Kano, while Liu Kang battles the four-armed tournament champion, Goro. Despite his skills, Liu Kang gets beaten by Goro, but a revived Scorpion pulls the monster's brains out, leaving Scorpion as the winner, of which he relinquishes to Liu Kang. Shang Tsung is brought back to Outworld by Shao Khan, while Scorpion has a deadly duel with Quan-Chi.

Scorpion's Revenge leaves room for a possible follow up, although considering that the last few games have totally rewritten the entire history, so it is difficult to say whether this animated feature is officially canon with any current or future incarnations. This along with the production of a new live-action movie on the way, the better idea is just to enjoy this as an entertaining bloodthirsty retelling of the original video game plot.