WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Mortal Kombat (2021), in theaters now and streaming on HBO Max.
In the Mortal Kombat reboot, one of the biggest things fans are looking forward to is the depiction of the sorcerer, Shang Tsung (Chin Han), as the shape-shifter is a popular figure in the hit video game series. Initially played by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa in the 1995 movie, fans gravitated toward him. He's a sinister, intimidating figure, sucking souls and trying to fix the tournament for Shao Kahn, his Outworld Emperor. However, while the remake's ending is quite action-packed and bloody, it really doesn't do the villain any justice whatsoever.
Shang Tsung is an iconic tyrant, with the potential to become the next Darth Vader or Thanos if 2021's Mortal Kombat portrayed him properly. However, he lacks oomph and imposing lines, coming off rather generic. Audiences don't get that many exchanges with him and his warriors, not even when Bi-Han says he prefers to be called Sub-Zero after donning his cryo-ninja gear.
It's implied Shang Tsung had something to do with this but nothing deeper comes. Instead, he assemble goons, touts Nitara, the winged femme fatale as his "beauty," and rants about having to kill the Chosen One, Cole (Lewis Han). Yet, he never explains how he knows about these warriors from Earthrealm with their dragon markings. Unfortuantly, this could have shed insight into his mission. Regarding the hope he might play a bigger role in the finale, sadly, that's thrown out the window too, as he barely makes an appearance.
When Kabal gets Kano to lower Raiden's shield at this temple, minions attack along with Reiko and Mileena. The Thunder God whisks his crew away after Kung Lao's death, which results in, one by one, the killers being transported to different locales to fight Raiden's champions. However, Shang Tsung doesn't coach them or suss out it might be a trap. Instead, he disappears from the film until the end when Team Raiden arrives to find Cole and his family at his MMA gym, right after Scorpion helped him kill Sub-Zero.
The sorcerer shows up in near-comical fashion. Right as he tells Raiden he has more soldiers, Raiden teleports him away with lightning. It's an underwhelming finish. There is no mention of his motives, if he's working for Shao Kahn, or if he has plans to betray his master a la the source material. Seriously, these are staples for the character, yet is ultimate power grab is danced around.
Shang Tsung is vanquished in the blink of an eye, without even setting up a new recruitment. He never visits Shao Kahn for new army members or explains his failure, making him totally bland as a villain. Worst of all, apart from the soul-suck on Kung Lao, he doesn't utilize his signature flaming skulls or ability to transform into other characters. In combination, this more or less sums up that this incarnation of Shang Tsung isn't as conniving or cerebral as the Mortal Kombat games, comics or even cartoons.
Directed by Simon McQuoid and produced by James Wan, Mortal Kombat stars Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson "Jax" Bridges, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion, Max Huang as Kung Lao, Sisi Stringer as Mileena, Matilda Kimber as Emily Young and Laura Brent as Allison Young. The film is in currently theaters on HBO Max.