Mortal Kombat (2021) - 4/5

This is a love letter to fans of the video game, and delivers in a long, long string of mostly one-on-one fights with just enough plot in between to give us an idea of the character motivations in play. Instead of completely neglecting substance in favor of style, it settles for nuggets of hard-hitting character motivation that doesn’t get in the way of what the audience is there to see: awesome action. A few of the fights are a bit too dark or overly edited, but that still leaves a good dozen or so great fights. Not that it’s a high bar, but this is the best video game movie to date.

Content warning: some gore, some language

Closest comparison: It the visual sensibilities The Great Wall with the non-stop fight scenes of The Raid.

Setting: Action
Plot: Action
Tone: Action

The Night Comes for Us (Netflix) - 4/5

This is a martial arts-heavy protect-the-girl gangster movie, which tells you almost everything you need to know about it. The fight choreography is excellent, for the most part, but those who are squeamish at the sight of blood will want to pass on this one. A few of the fights have the classic one-at-a-time issue and there are definitely some eyebrow-raising “He’s not dead from that?” moments, but the movie deftly avoids allowing those issues to impact the plot at all. The characters are complex and conflicted enough to keep the audience invested and thinking, ticking it up from a 3 to a 4 out of 5.

Content warning: violent, bloody

Closest comparison: It’s like Safe (2012) by way of The Raid: Redemption.

Setting: Crime Action
Plot: On-the-run Action
Tone: Brutal Martial Arts

The Raid: Redemption - 4/5

This movie is a non-stop action thriller that achieved its level of fame by having a decent story and excellent fight choreography. It’s visceral and grimy in its realism, keeping most of the martial arts to what the actors can actually physically handle. Some of the fights have the one-at-a-time issue, but by setting most of the scenarios in hallways gives a practical logistical reason behind it and avoids breaking immersion. Instead, the viscerality deepens the immersion and keeps the tension right to the end.

Closest comparison: It’s like an Indonesian response to The Protector (2005).

Setting: Action
Plot: Action
Tone: Action Thriller