Who Should Watch "PACIFIC RIM"

Pacific Rim - Movie Review

When gigantic monsters called "Kaiju" begin emerging from a dimensional portal in the Pacific Ocean, the world funnels its resources into creating gigantic robots called "Jaegers" to combat them. Over the years however, the Kaiju have evolved to combat the Jaegers more efficiently leading the world governments to try and find other ways to defending against the towering beasts. As the rate of Kaiju appearing from the portal increases, with extinction eminent, the last remaining Jaeger pilots from all over the world create one last stand to close the portal and stop the Kaiju once and for all.

Go big or go extinct!

Every Nerd/Otaku's Dream

There is something powerful about Pacific Rim. It holds two staples of Japanese Pop Culture in one film: giant mechs versus giant monsters. Its Gundam vs. Godzilla. An almost gritty semi-realistic but not too much take on Ultraman. It is a child's fantasy. Robots vs. Monsters. The closest otakus will get to an Evangelion live-action movie. It is also an "original" idea. By original however that means, its not directly based on something that already exists. This is a film that is inspired by all those aspects of Japanese anime and pop culture while at the same time finding a way to be new in a very simplistic format. It is a marvel to have a blockbuster that isn't based on an existing property and should definitely be a movie you should see on the big screen. And with the acclaimed Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro at the helm, what more could you ask for?

Then why do I not feel too amazed or dazzled?

I had a lot of expectations for Pacific Rim. With Summer 2013 pumping out rather dull or nerd raging movies (Iron Man 3, Into Darkness, Man of Steel) my hopes for a good summer blockbuster all looked towards Pacific Rim. When first trailer premiered, I was a little underwhelmed. While I love the robot designs, for some reason the monsters shown in the trailer were a let down. There was something about the kaiju, a term that any Godzilla fan should be familiar with, that didn't really hit me in any particular way. This is however about the kaiju that was shown in the first trailer, which were pretty hidden. Yet from the obscured nature shown in the trailer, the monsters didn't do anything for me. They didn't move me or bring back happy memories of my favorite Godzilla films or Ultraman episodes. Okay, it did bring back memories, but rather memories on how I think it SHOULD be done rather than oh that reminds me why I love this. However as I stated before, the robots got me hooked. Mainly because there was something realistic (although the concept is pretty far-fetched) about the robot's design. So I counted myself in. It wouldn't be until the WonderCon Trailer, that Warner Bros. courteously put online, totally convinced me that I needed to see the film. The more clear shots of the kaiju gave me an idea of what they are and was a little bit more impressed with their designs when given a clear glimpse. And so when July 12 came rolling in, my anticipation to be wowed was overwhelmingly high. Sadly however, it didn't quite wow me.

Don't get me wrong. I know what type of movie this is. I'm very well aware that if you're going to see this movie, you're seeing it for "Giant F***ing Robots fighting Giant F***ing Monsters!" I'm also aware that Guillermo drew a lot of inspiration from anime and various kaiju films. I'm also aware that the acting in this film should not be expected to be the most amazing acting in existence. And I'm very well aware that for something like this the characters won't be well rounded and the story will be extremely simplistic. I went in fully prepared to expect all those things, because I know that's what to expect. Which should be a warning to anyone expecting a complex plot with complex characters, this is not that type of movie. It delivers in what it sells: "Giant F***ing Robots fighting Giant F***ing Monsters!" And there really is nothing else you could really ask for. Sure there is a little sub plot involving where the kaiju come from which turns this Robots vs Monsters film into an alien invasion film...spoiler? Nah, if you can't figure it out from the trailers then I apologize for spoiling that bit. But really, that's the only "twist" this film has and its not a jaw dropping one. So if I'm not criticizing it for lack of strong characters and complex plot, then what is it that's not amazing me? Frankly if someone is well aware of what they're getting and get exactly what they expected, shouldn't that someone be satisfied with what they got?

Here's the answer: It's a Personal Bias/Expectation

I have a huge respect for Guillermo Del Toro. A huge respect. I first learned about him after watching Hellboy when I was in middle school. After that I started hunting down other films he made as well as anticipating anything that would come later. Cronos is one of my favorite "vampire" horror films due to Del Toro's unique take on the genre. Pan's Labyrinth and both Hellboy films are up there as my top fantasy movies. While he may be hitting my heartstrings in the right places due to his choices of genres it is how he makes films that gives me a lot of respect for him. Due to never having a gigantic budget, he always finds a way to create the things he wants to with the constraints that he's given. This usually results in creativity flowing in a spectrum of ways that really make for great films. His Hellboy films reminded me of George Lucas's constraints in the making of the original Star Wars. Del Toro though had a much more optimistic way of viewing things rather than the emotional train wreck that Lucas was emoting at the time. It could be that the times had change and old filming techniques are becoming less and less a necessity. But for Del Toro, old school techniques are his tools in crafting a film. What I'm saying is: for someone that I have often associated with using creature suits instead of going full blown CGI, I was expecting him to do the same even if he had the gigantic budget that he had. In other words, I was expecting guys in suits rather than CGI.

I always thought that would be the direction he would've taken. I'd think that he could see the difference a man and a suit could make against a CGI creature. Ex. Roland Emmerich's Godzilla vs. Godzilla 2000. I understand that the guys in suit thing may be too corny for an American Audience, but for a kaiju audience it would've (in my opinion) have been a welcoming sight. Seeing our technology aiding and enhancing an old form of filmmaking would've been something to marvel at. If anyone could've pulled it off right, it would've been Guillermo Del Toro. Unfortunately for me, that's not what I got. Instead I got CGI robots fighting CGI monsters. While there was nothing wrong with that, and the effects in the film were spectacular, there was a magic to suit acting that made the kaiju genre watchable. I may be alone in this camp, but that is how I feel about this film.

This is by no means a bad film. It did everything it was suppose to do, and when it did it did it right. I just wished that it was made differently. If there is one legitimate critique I would have to give to the film is that I didn't like how all the battles between the jaegers and kaiju were in stormy nights or underwater. This takes away from the details and sometimes you really have to strain in order to take the details in. There are two monster battles that take place in the daytime, but they are pretty brief.

Verdict: Delivers on what it promises and nothing more

Critical Score: 8.5 - The best summer blockbuster movie out right now

Personal Score: 7.5 - It is not how I would've wanted it to be done

Who Should Watch "PACIFIC RIM?"

Otakus (anime/manga fans) and fans of the kaiju genre. This is a mindless action adventure war movie that has no heavy meaning. As stated before, people who are expecting more than what the trailers have been promoting will be in for disappointment. This is the best dumb mindless action movie of the summer. If you want to feel like a kid again, go see this film.