When Warner Brothers and director Simon McQuoid rebooted "Mortal Kombat" in 2021, they got most of the way there but didn't quite nail the execution. The reboot was enjoyable, but it never fully embraced the absurdity of the Mortal Kombat universe. Thankfully, "Mortal Kombat II" doesn't make the same mistake.

"Mortal Kombat II" doesn't waste any time getting to the action. The opening introduces us to a young Kitana as she watches her father, King Jerrod, face off against Shao Khan for the fate of Edenia. It's not long before we see the first fatality of the film. "Mortal Kombat II" doesn't shy away from blood, but it delivers violence in an over-the-top way. That first fatality (along with others that followed) elicited cheers rather than cringes from the screening audience.

Despite the audience reaction, the fatalities aren't the main draw. Each of the fights is well paced and well choreographed, with cinematography that allows the action to shine. McQuoid smartly gave the actors (and stunt doubles) room to breathe by using wider shots for much of the action, as opposed to a series of quick cuts.

One of the more memorable fights happens at the midpoint of the movie when Liu Kang (Ludi Lin) and a resurrected Kung Lao (Max Huang) face off in front of an ethereal blue portal. Fans of the franchise will quickly recognize the location as the Sega Genesis exclusive hidden stage. Guess we know which system McQuoid favored in his younger days!

The fight itself is emblematic of how the filmmakers approached "Mortal Kombat II." The actors are clearly athletic, fighting with a combination of regular choreographed moves and wire work. We get a chance to see a few special moves, a fatality, and a one-liner. "Mortal Kombat II" isn't afraid to get funny, and it's stronger for it.

Much of the humor is seeing Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) completely out of his depth in Outworld. The Baraka (CJ Bloomfield) vs. Johnny Cage fight is both visually impressive and hilarious at the same time, but it all works within the crafted world of the film.

Surprisingly, the standout character of the entire movie is Kano (Josh Lawson). Resurrected by Quan Chi (Damon Herriman) but "too corrupt" to be corrupted further, Lawson dials up Kano's "gives no f*cks" attitude to 11 and pretty much steals any scene he's in. He's scum, but you can't help but root for him.

While "Mortal Kombat II" doesn't shy away from references to the original arcade games (there are fights in the Pit and the Dead Pool), it also tells you everything you need to know if you've never played a single game or seen any of the prior movies.

If a big budget B movie with plenty of action sounds like fun, "Mortal Kombat II" is right up your alley. It doesn't quite hit the highs of the original 1995 film, but it is a notable improvement over the 2021 reboot. The movie smartly integrates key elements of the game lore, while not being afraid to take things in a new direction when needed.

"Mortal Kombat II" is rated R and has a running time of 1 hour and 56 minutes. It is showing in standard theaters and in IMAX.

Score: 7.5/10