As somebody who HAS played the games, the way they used him in MK9 was pretty much perfect for what they felt they "needed" this Cole character to do: bring the audience into the world of the movie. Cage has always been kind of a lame fighter IMO, but in the lore he's one of the fuller non-Outworld characters there is. Take this exchange from early in the game:

Raiden : You fought well.
Johnny Cage : Thanks. Nice hat.
Liu Kang : You should be more respectful of Lord Raiden. He's the protector of Earthrealm. The God of Thunder, the...
Johnny Cage : Look. I don't know what kind of role playing you guys are into, but count me out.
Liu Kang : This tournament is more than a chance for personal glory. We are fighting for the very surivial of Earthrealm.
Johnny Cage : What are you talking about?
Raiden : Your last opponent was Tarkatan. He was born with those blades.
Johnny Cage : Yeah. Those things are real.
Raiden : He represents Outworld. Had you lost, the Emperor Shao Kahn would come 1 step closer to physically absorbing *our* world into his.
Johnny Cage : Outworld, yeah. Right, right.
Raiden : The Elder Gods created the Mortal Kombat tournament to give Earthrealm a chance to defend itself. But if we lose this time, Shao Kahn will conquer all.
Johnny Cage : Dun, dun, duuuuunnnn. Look, guys. I'm an actor. I save the world for the cameras. If this emperor is *really* a threat? Call the military. Me? I've got a date with a blonde. Ciao.

Liu Kang : What do you see in him?
Raiden : He is a hero, Liu Kang. Though he may not yet know it.


I swear, the guy that wrote this movie is an idiot.


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"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
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