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On Episodes 81 and 81.5 for 'Mortal Kombat,' the subject of whether or not our intrepid podcast hosts should be familiar with the property being adapted before watching the movie version was once again brought up. While I totally agree that these are movies and they should stand on their own, I feel that for the purpose of THIS PODCAST, it would help if one person (a host or guest) was familiar with the property being adapted. Sure, movies like 'Max Payne' or 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' are shitty movies, but when you know the video game or comic they are adapted from, they become unfathomably, astronomically, more terrible. It's an almost viscerally painful experience watching them knowing how much better the original property was and how great a movie COULD have happened. Mortal Kombat is not a good film, but I think it gets worse when you recognize where something is coming from in the movie (like Liu Kang's random use of that "bicycle kick." which was mentioned in the podcast, or the fact that Reptile exists as a sort of "surprise" challenge). If nothing else, it would help the hosts discuss the movie if at least one person could account for, as Jason is so fond of asking, what is happening, or what is supposed to be happening. This is actually a subject that I'm sure concerns filmmakers. At this point, don't we all know that Batman's parents are dead, that Superman is from Kyrpton, that Harry Potter is a Wizard, or that The Force is a thing in Star Wars? But how much do you explain in the actual movie? It's also different for a sequel or another installment in a franchise, since you assume there's an interest in that property going in since you are making another one. Pretty much every joke in a Die Hard sequel is contingent on the viewer being a fan of the first movie. Most importantly, I realize this is a FREE PODCAST created and made by extremely funny humans with careers in film and television, careers that are probably a bit more lucrative and impactful than talking to nerds on the internet about crappy films. I am a person that has devoted way too much time to the history of the conflict between Scorpion and Sub-Zero and their respective ninja clans. I have problems. This podcast does not. This post is just friendly feedback from a loyal listener.