Kevin Tancharoen, the director of 2009’s “Fame” reboot–perhaps one of the most unnecessary remakes that I can recall–was so impressed with “Mortal Combat” that he directed a series of short films, four of which I have included below, that reinvented the series in a more realistic, gritty fashion than Paul W.S. Anderson’ s original film.

New Line, the studio that directed the original, liked Tancharoen’s approach well enough that they went to him to direct the relaunch of the property.

In case anyone has forgot the original film, here’s the trailer.