First Mortal Kombat live-action short is as classy and serious as the games aren't. Also great

Directed by Kevin Tancharoen, the man behind the rather excellent reimagined, real-worldMortal Kombat short "Rebirth", part one is a grimy, punchy re-telling of one of Sonya and Jax's early run-ins with a pre-metal-face Kano and the Black Dragon group. There's also a couple of nice foreshadowing references, and the promise of much more reworked MK lore to come in the next nine parts. It's worth a watch however you feel about the game series.

Impressed so far? Intrigued as to how Tancharoen is going to reimagine the series' more fantastical elements in this tone? Secretly hoping he just makes a long, episodic version of his Rebirth film? I am, but how about you?

April 12th, 2011