Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures Present:
“From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes the sci-fi action adventure “Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim. When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge.”
I will admit. I had very low expectations for this movie even though the directing helm was manned by Guillermo del Toro. My thought was that this was going to be another “Transformer-esque” film. I was very wrong… What could have easily become a “campy” concept was instead, brilliantly translated into a believable and epic adventure.
The film starts with a story montage of how the world created the giant robot protectors. I always love this type of approach in sci-fi movies as it gets the history out of the way quickly so that we can get right into the action…and that is what happens. Right away, we are treated to a behemothic battle between the defending Earth robot, called “Jaegers” and the abominable monster attacker from the sea, known as “Kaiju”.
What are Jaegers?
“Jaegers are a special type of mobile exoskeleton weapon created by the Jaeger Program. Jaegers are the Pacific Rim’s first and last line of defense against the Kaiju.”
What are Kaiju?
“The Kaiju are a race of amphibious creatures from another dimension. In 2013, a portal between dimensions at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, allowing the Kaiju to enter Earth’s dimension. Kaiju are extremely hostile and toxic creatures seemingly designed with the intention to wipe out humankind.”
The film doesn’t focus too much on the personalities and relationships between the members of the Jaeger Pilots but is more about the return of the battle hardened Gypsy Danger pilot, Raleigh Becket [Charlie Hunnam]…And this works! Upon Becket’s return, it is now his task to find a compatible co-pilot. He finds this in the very nervous but talented Mako Mori, played by Rinko Kikuchi. The Jaegers are led by the phlegmatic Stacker Pentacost [Idris Elba] as they race to build up their Jaeger numbers for a last ditch assault on the Kaiju portal.
The battles between the Jaegers and the Kaiju is where the film really excels! With the epic size of the battlers, there was a real risk of having too much going on with a confusing perspective. DelToro was able to produce a graceful, and discernible stage for his colossal combatants and produce some of the most legendary scenes in the scifi genre. The Kaiju were a fierce and unnerving enemy that surpassed that of the Cloverfield monster visually and in concept. Cloverfield was a monster movie, while Pacific Rim felt more like a war between to intelligent nations. The Kaiju were unpredictable and were competent and intelligent fighters, which added an element of hardship in the Jaeger missions. The scale of the battles was only rivaled by the films staggering sound effects. Sitting in the theater, you could feel the violent bass from the blows of the combatants that added a semblance of battle!
The film boasts a strong cast of actors including Charlie Hunnam (Raleigh Becket),Rinko Kikuchi (Mako Mori), and the Golden Globe winning actor Idris Elba (Stacker Pentacost). Elba also has one of the best lines in the film which sums up the overarching theme of “survival” and “teamwork”. As he delivers his motivational speech to the troops, he finishes with the authoritative line of “Today, we are cancelling the Apocalypse!”
Advertising of the film has been extensive with its sci-fi theme. The official Pacific Rim site offers an interactive look at the film and a deeper exploration of the film’s story. This includes an amazing custom wallpaper art designer, design your own Jeager feature, videos, and my favorite – Pacific Rim “combat simulator”. There are also many merchandise choices including shirts, action figures, comics and a line from Sideshow Collectibles!
Pacific Rim is a visually stunning and satisfying film! The Jaegers and its human pilot collaboration concept is one of the film’s greatest achievements. More than a story about giants battling, Pacific Rim is a story of the human will to work together for a greater cause. We see the usual story of great losses and the hero’s strength to overcome, but to me, it works in Del Toro’s film due to the subtle delivery. Much like Independence Day, the movie unfolds into a patriotic survival of the human race, but without the exaggerated and contrived dialogue like the Will Smith alien flick. Pacific Rim was a fun adventure. Supreme epic special effects, giant robots and humongous monsters keep you on the edge of your seat. Supported by a awe-inspiring story and characters, Pacific Rim is one of the biggest films of the summer, LITERALLY!
Steve “Rifflo” Fitch – Legendarium News Director
Steve, also known as “Rifflo”, is a University MBA Administrator in Ontario Canada where he lives with his wife, Lisa and two young daughters, Alexa and Ava. Steve has an extensive background in corporate sales. Steve also worked for ISAF: International Security Assistance Force and the Canadian Military as a recruiter in Human Resources for the operations in Bosnia and Afghanistan. When not amerced in Tolkien works,sci-fi, and film, you can find him training in Muay Thai, Italian rapier, German longsword, and Mixed Martial Arts. Follow Steve on Twitter @HobbitSteve
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