WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Mortal Kombat, now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.
In the Mortal Kombat film reboot, it was obvious that Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) would play a major role in tipping the scales when it came to Shang Tsung’s (Chin Han) ambush of Earthrealm. Many assumed it’d be his descendant, Cole (Lewis Tan), to travel to Hell and bring him back, shifting things in Raiden’s (Tadanobu Asano) favor. But as important as the MMA fighter is, it’s not Cole, but Scorpion’s spear that’s the most important aspect in all this.
The spear’s formed in Mortal Kombat‘s opening when Hanzo grabs a kunai used as a makeshift spade in his wife’s garden to fight the Lin Kuei assassins. They’ve slaughtered his family and the Shirai Ryu clan so he attaches it to a rope and uses it as an equalizer, killing many of Bi-Han’s (Joe Taslim) warriors. However, the tyrant who’d become Sub-Zero kills Hanzo, leaving Raiden to rescue Hanzo’s daughter and take the kunai for himself.
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It then fuels a prophecy the Thunder God follows over the ensuing centuries to see which of Hanzo’s bloodline would be the strongest candidate to win the tenth tournament. He doesn’t let anyone know of the weapon, but it’s clear that it’s going to be important as Hanzo, now in the Netherrealm, is being bestowed with a war suit, chain and, of course, a spear. The problem is, while Cole’s getting visions of the wraith in this nightmarish realm, Hanzo can’t find his way back to the land of the living.
That is, until the dagger appears at the end of Mortal Kombat with a new purpose. Raiden, after Shang Tsung’s team raids his temple and kills Kung Lao, gives the spear to Cole, telling him it’s his birthright. And his destiny comes full-circle when Sub-Zero lures Cole to his frozen gym to fight to the death, using his iced-up family as hostages. It’s similar to what he did to Hanzo’s wife and son in the 17th century, and when a desperate Cole tries to use the kunai, all hell breaks loose — literally.
Cole’s desire to protect his family activates the spear, and as his despair bonds with it, it acts like a totem and honing beacon. Hanzo uses this as a tracker and teleports in, hooking Sub-Zero, yelling “Get over here!” before proceeding to battle. He teams up with Cole and they kill the deadly war general, with Hanzo then asking Cole to protect his descendants.
It’s a powerful moment that speaks to the power of family, making it more than an iconic weapon from the hit video game series. It has more sentiment and emotion, with the signature spear really inspiring Cole as the Chosen One that’ll unite Raiden’s warriors across all realms now that he’s gotten Hanzo’s blessing. In the process, Scorpion lets go of his pain, realizing the weapon isn’t tied to death anymore, but rebirth.
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 now in theaters and available to stream on HBO Max.
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