Pacific Rim

Reviewed by: Alaina M.

Director Guillermo Del Toro takes two tried and true blockbuster mainstays-giant monsters and giant robots-and combines them for a new and exciting twist in Pacific Rim. Massive sea monsters called Kaiju are swimming up from the depths of the sea through an interdimensional portal in a deep ocean trench, technically making them aliens. As these enormous killer creatures begin their invasion, toppling major coastal cities around the globe, world leaders team up to create Jaegers, larger than life robots named after the German word for “hunter.” The Jaegers are effective until the Kaiju attacks increase and worsen, causing world powers to discard the Jaegers in search of better alternatives. The remaining Jaeger pilots must team up without outside help and stop the invasion once and for all.

Although the story is interesting and the action fun and exciting, weak acting at times takes away from the movie itself. Charlie Hunnam plays Raleigh Becket, a Jaeger pilot. I was not impressed with Becket, who initially comes off as a reckless and cocky ace who disobeys orders and does things his own way-usually with success. Some of his lines clichéd and overdone, others are just plain goofy. Although he does seem to mature later on in the film, there is still nothing very unique or even interesting about him.

         

But where Becket fails to impress, some of the other characters bring a little more depth to the story. Rinko Kikuchi shines as Mako Mori, skillful and determined fighter-in-training who had a traumatic experience with the Kaiju as a young girl. Idris Elba does an excellent job as Stacker Pentecost, the leader of the operation who brings a balance of strong, borderline harsh leadership and a sense of quiet heroism the film would otherwise lack. Then there is Elba’s “research team” of two quirky scientists who offer comic relief and occasional moments of genius.

The initial idea of the story is great for a summer action flick; I mean who doesn't want to see giant robots fighting it out with giant sea monsters on the big screen? But the plot at times seems very simple. Del Toro sets his characters up for predictable events, relationships and character transformations. There were many times when you could easily tell what was going to happen next. In spite of that, you couldn’t help cheering for the characters when they succeeded.

Having given Pacific Rim ample criticism, I wouldn’t go so far as to condemn it. It does have several redeeming moments. The fight scene in Hong Kong is everything an epic monster vs. robot battle in the city streets should be. The relationships between the main characters grow throughout the story as we are shown both past events that brought them together as well as current events that forge new bonds or strengthen existing ones. The graphics are not dazzling but still fairly good. In sum, it’s not the greatest movie ever made, but it’s still an enjoyable, if mindless, trip to the movies.

Good:

-Interesting initial story and action that makes it a good summer popcorn movie

-Epic fight scenes in dramatic locations

-Good development of some of the character’s stories

Bad:

-Weak acting by the lead character that makes him seem incredibly cliché

-Predictability of the plot makes a creative story seem less original

Rating: 6/10