Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

Forget the good guy's tournament victory in the first Mortal Kombat. For some inexplicable reason, Kahn (Brian Thompson) has broken the omnipotent Elder God's rules, and he's promising the end of the world in six days. For some other inexplicable reason, our pack of heroes, including the new Jax (Lynn Red Williams) in the role of Black Guy ("You want to go to Kahn's crib?"), aren't yet ready for battle alone. So who's going to help save Princess Kitana (Talisa Soto) from the clutches of Kahn and her evil mother, Queen Sindel (Musetta Vander)? Lord Rayden (James Remar) is up to the challenge, but that means he must relinquish his powers and become mortal (we've run out of inexplicable reasons, so you'll have to supply your own). Meanwhile, the seductive Outworld refugee Jade (Irina Pantaeva) says she wants to help the cause, but we have our doubts. In the end, of course, it all comes down to one thing -- tourney champ Liu (Robin Shou) engaging in Mortal Kombat!

True to the video game on which its based, Mortal Kombat Annihilation features evil ninja monsters popping out of nowhere. If at first these villains appear absolutely unbeatable, just wait a minute and you'll see them cower before our determined, team-oriented good guys. An eight-year-old walking out of the theater filed this review: "That was the bomb!" At the Harbour Mall, Holiday, Showcase, Tri-Boro, and Woonsocket cinemas.

-- Mark Bazer