FILM: Pacific Rim (2013)

[crocodile 8,020]

Should one decide to make an effort and paint a mental picture of a film in which giant robots fight giant monsters, he/she might arrive at the conclusion it can’t possibly be any good. Not only the tired concept itself, but especially the spectacle, which by 2013 we’ve all seen (and endured) many, many times before - literally dozens of films out there follow this pattern. It’s better if I state the obvious right away.

Pacific Rim is not great.

It tells a story of an epic struggle between seemingly doomed humanity in the wake of the monster invasion from another dimension. In an attempt to regain control over our planet we build big robots to face-off those formidable Kaiju creatures. There are some humans involved in as well, of course, but, in short, that’s pretty much all there is to know.

The problem, perhaps unsurprisingly, lies in the script. Bland characters no real development, under-wrought structure, all spiced up with a fair dose of Hollywood cliches. From the storytelling point of view, the whole thing is terribly inconsequential. The main character Raleigh Becket (played by Charlie Hunnam) is supposedly damaged by the loss of his brother on a mission and refuses to go back into fighting. Piloting Jaeger robots requires two pilots to meld their minds with the machine and each other, which creates a strong bond between them. But that plot point is disposed of after literally a single line of dialogue from Edris Elba’s commander officer Stacker Pentecos. In fact, all characters are painted with such simplicity that the only thing left standing is the spectacle itself. This thing is a train wreck. Case closed.

Not quite so.

This latest monstrosity of a film has one substantial advantage - namely it’s director. If you watched early trailers and started to worry whether the director became a latest Hollywood sell-out, rest assured - Guillermo Del Toro is still there, well and alive. While many blockbusters these days swamp us with an equal dose of stupidity and in an increasingly humorless and witless fashion, Guillermo Del Toro’s latest at least manages to acknowledge itself for what it is - 200-million dollar B-movie. It becomes more and more obvious as the story unfolds. The quirkiness of production design, elements of practical sets, Ron Perlman in a secondary role - all of that pretty much saves Pacific Rim from oblivion. One could wish for a more practical execution of the Kaiju creatures, but, still. it’s done with taste and some style. And sense of chutzpah as well, a much needed quality in this type of genre.

What separates the film from most of its contemporaries, is that, even at its most ludicrous, you can still follow the action on screen. The action sequence are exciting and well-paced. Del Toro has a clear affinity for Godzilla films, among other monster cinema, and it shows. Those are the best moments, which is quite surprising, given how unexciting extended sequence of this sort tend to be these days.

Ultimately, not a seriously witty and entertaining summer blockbusters, even if it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as brain-dead Man of Steel last month. It does accomplish very little, but because its heart is in the right place, you can almost forgive another shameless jump on your wallet. Thanks to Guillermo Del Toro’s touch Pacific Rim remains a refreshingly uncynical in its cynicism.

Karol

[Hlao-roo 389]

I think the only way to see this movie was on IMAX, which elevates the spectacle of the action to a point that you more or less forgive the rest of the film.

[Quintus 5,399]

Nah, it's just that Karol has recently embraced trendy internet snobbery, that's all. Spends a lot of time reading "influential" commentators etc etc. He never used to be like that.

For balance see his soundtrack reviews - he loves almost everything he hears

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Hlao-roo 389]

Thanks to Guillermo Del Toro’s touch Pacific Rim remains a refreshingly uncynical in its cynicism.

Karol

Would you say that Spielberg's films are cynical in their uncynicism?

[Luke Skywalker 1,796]

charlie's day character remembered me of JJ abrahams

[crocodile 8,020]

Nah, it's just that Karol has recently embraced trendy internet snobbery, that's all. Spends a lot of time reading "influential" commentators etc etc. He never used to be like that.

For balance see his soundtrack reviews - he loves almost everything he hears

Hey, didn't I say the film is enjoyable?

Karol

[Quintus 5,399]

Yeah I was only winding you up anyway Croc

[crocodile 8,020]

"I don't even know who you are anymore"

Karol

[Brónach 1,302]

Oh, and I absolutely loved the colours in this film!

The film looks gorgeous. It has some serious world building going on.

I love the shots where Knifehead launches itself against Gypsy opening its mouth, under Gypsy's lights, and when Leatherback jumps over Cherno Alpha like an ape with the lightning behind. There's loads of amazing moments like these through the film.

I think Knifehead is my favourite kaiju in the film. At least, it's the one that looks the more scary and "kaiju-like". The big one, Slattern, at the end looks too unusual for that kind of impression.

[crocodile 8,020]

The film is actually likeable for one reason - it it's very clear what the intentions are. And that's fine.

And yes, direction distinguishes it from some other CG-monsterporns out there. It's very clear what's happening.

Karol

[Quintus 5,399]

Will you guys earnestly scrutinise and dissect the new ID4 movie as well I wonder? Will you miss the point entirely there, too? Probably.

The first movie was luckier than it'll ever know - being that it came out before the internet. Innocent times.

[crocodile 8,020]

But then, if you actually stop talking about it, what's the point of a place such as this one?

I have yet to see ID4, by the way.

Karol

[Quintus 5,399]

You could watch it and post an earnest review on here!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Thought I downloaded a torrent of this film. Turned out it was another one called Pacifics Rimmed. Where collage student Haley Sweet finds her year as an exchange student more then she bargained for.

A very good film, but not in a way I can go into detail here.

[Hlao-roo 389]

Thought I downloaded a torrent of this film. Turned out it was another one called Pacifics Rimmed. Where collage student Haley Sweet finds her year as an exchange student more then she bargained for.

A very good film, but not in a way I can go into detail here.

Monsterporn?

[Brónach 1,302]

Will you guys earnestly scrutinise and dissect the new ID4 movie as well I wonder? Will you miss the point entirely there, too? Probably.

I think Pacific Rim is much more fun than ID4, a film that admitedly I've never been a fan of.

[Hlao-roo 389]

I'm not sure I've even watched ID4 all the way through.

[Brónach 1,302]

Is it like, 150 minutes or so?

I thought it was stupid in a boring way. Pacific Rim is stupid in a Kaiju movie way so I'm ok with it. Partially because in its particular case it's way more openly childish.