Movie Review: ‘PACIFIC RIM’

There are legions of fans wanting cult director Guillermo del Toro to have a huge hit, more specifically an American film that makes the industry realize how strong and creative of a artist we have in del Toro. There is no doubt that Pan’s Labyrinth definitely helped bring his cult status up a level to more notoriety. However, his latest projects where he played producer like Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Mama have had mixed box office and critical success. Therefore, Pacific Rim is a big movie not only its scope but as well as how big of an impact it might make on del Toro’s filmmaking future in America.

Right off the bat, del Toro tells you that while you might have bought a ticket for a summer blockbuster movie, it is his interpretation of big budgeted blockbuster films. He has made the film to cater to himself and people like him. Using the iconic Godzilla (Gojira) as a template along with Japanese anime and, more specifically, Mecha. He is bringing Eastern icons to Western cinema. The film marries Western cowboy stereotypes with the backdrop of post-9/11 hope & unity and adapts it in a same fashion that the Japanese did with their infamous kaiju. That’s not to say that Pacific Rim is a serious film nor should it be taken as such. Pacific Rim is a live action cartoon. When given a budget like Pacific Rim why not live up to the tagline of Go Big or Go Extinct.

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While there are definitely some faults in the film, mainly with the lack of development of characters, that is not to say the characters are throw away characters. Charlie Hunnam is the weakest link in the film, as much as it pains me to say (I really dig Sons of Anarchy). However, his co-pilot Mako Mori played by Rinko Kikuchi has more depth than our main lead and, in my brain, could be taken as the protagonist of Pacific Rim. Also, Charlie Day as the hyperactive doctor, Dr. Newton Geiszler, who wants to learn more about the kaiju in order to defeat them and the other scientist, Dr. Gottlieb played by Burn Gorman, with different theories is a nice balance to a comedic team character element in the film.

The fight scenes are obviously the spectacle here though. All of which take place in the rain, which may be a problem for some but I had no problem with it. I believe it added that extra layer of coolness. The final fight scene is one of technical beauty. Gipsy Danger, the American Jaeger, hunts and fights down a nasty Kaiju in Hong Kong with the back drop of multi-colored neon lit buildings. It is seriously one of the most beautiful set ups I have seen on the big screen in some time and the lighting will make Argento & Bava fans proud.

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Honestly though, Pacific Rim will be a bit of a divisive movie. Geeks should love it but that doesn’t mean that many will have a easy time swallowing some of the script that feels like it hasn’t been cooked all the way. The general public that love the Transformers movies I think will find more to ooh and awe at in Pacific Rim, so in that aspect – the film excels. At times the story and dialogue feel hokey but overall, the film is wildly imaginative and paints a very wide scope that’s biggest flaw is it doesn’t really dig in too deep into the world or its characters but just scratches the surface. It’s the film’s imagination that I love. So maybe I should be more critical on the film because the film isn’t as perfect as some may tell you. The truth of the matter is that as soon as the film was done, I went out and bought a NECA Gipsy Danger and I cannot wait to see the film again. That is why I hope the film does well as this is a universe I want to get sucked into and explore. Beacham and del Toro give you hints of familiar storylines you have seen in films like this and make your imagination run with them. They know they don’t need to give you the storylines or those characters because they want your imagination to build it. They are giving you the building blocks and to me that makes the film even better as the team behind Pacific Rim just made me feel like a giddy teen.