Ha Nguyen

Designing a Cross-Cultural Epic

Mortal Kombat is a blockbuster epic about a band of mortals from far-flung regions of the globe who must battle against supernatural beings to save the planet from ultimate destruction. Costume designer and FIDM graduate Ha Nguyen faced the challenge of developing costumes on a vast scale, mastering the nuances of different cultures and eras and, finally, developing clothing suited to jumping, kicking, punching, falling and other extreme martial arts movements. She also needed to work with broad strokes to create stereotypical images of good versus evil, with good guys dressed in white and bad guys in black.

The result is a fresh interpretation of a classic cliché that holds its own and then some in a world of dazzling special effects.

Previously, Nguyen designed the vibrant costumes that defined the look of the 1994 smash hit The Mask and worked with director Oliver Stone on Heaven and Earth. Other credits include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Robocop III and Gentle Giant.

Please Note: The information contained herein was confirmed at the time of original publication.