Spelling problems aside, ‘Mortal Kombat’ is brutal, ponderous, silly This is the movie poster for "Mortal Combat." The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (CNS photo/Warner Bros.) By John Mulderig • Catholic News Service • Posted April 30, 2021 NEW YORK (CNS) — The problems with “Mortal Kombat” (Warner Bros.) go well beyond off-kilter spelling. In fact, director Simon McQuoid’s feature debut — a reboot adaptation of a series of video games previously brought to the big screen via a couple of movies dating from the mid-1990s — is, by turns, brutal, ponderous and silly.