Relatively smaller scaled stories focusing on a handful of characters and sub-plots is good way to go with these.
If nothing else, with Kitana left out, this movie won't screw her up like the previous two did.
Kenchi is a young man while the other established characters are old? Ok. I didn't expect Tremor so that's a nice surprise.
Looks like they changed the art style and recast some characters. Although Sub-Zero's design in his "glory days" looks about the same.
Didn't expect a Mad Max style Mortal Kombat film, but okay.