Pacific Rim meets expectations and delivers what was advertised
Pacific Rim, the new movie from creative mind Guillermo del Toro, hit theaters in all its geeky glory, and the film is exactly what you expected. That means different things to different people. On one side of the coin is easily this summer’s biggest spectacle spewed out in high detail and aesthetically pleasing steampunk strokes. On the flip side, Pacific Rim is also essentially del Toro playing in the largest toy box he’s ever gotten his hands into, and some might find the results a bit childish and underdeveloped like an afternoon sandbox adventure.
Both sides of the coin make up the film’s currency, and it seems critics seeing one face are quick to dismiss the other with either a parental wag of the finger or an enthusiastic sense of excitement. Just know, if you buy a ticket to Pacific Rim while it’s still in theaters you’re going to get exactly what you expected.
Read a spoiler-free review of the film after the jump.
A steady monologue and descriptive text explains away the premise of Pacific Rim right out of the gate, and buying into the world del Toro has created is half the fun of the film. Without spoiling anything, the movie’s reality centers around the notion of enormous monsters from another dimension (creatures called Kaiju) invading our planet from an underwater dimensional rift. In order to combat these monsters “we built our own monsters” (as the trailers boast). We called them Jaegers, and for a while we started winning. Jaeger pilots were rockstars, their Jaegers international symbols of triumph, and humanity let out a collective sigh of relief. Like most infestations, pretty soon more Kaiju popped up, and the Jaeger’s ability to defend the planet came into question.
The details of why each Jaeger needs two pilots, how the concept of mind melding these two pilots works (a concept called drifting), why the Kaiju started crossing the rift, and how Ron Perlman fits into the picture are all explained along the way, and you’ll be as satisfied with the answers as you allow yourself to be. Pacific Rim is the kind of movie that says “Yeah, I’m essentially a live-action anime,” and in doing so hits the same kind of awesomely silly notes most animes revel in. The action on display is impressive. The character interaction is somewhat sappy and often over exaggerated. There are a handful of caricature types you’re not surprised to find filled by eccentrics (the twitterpated yet intelligent Japanese schoolgirl seems to be bothering some critics). The film knows what it wants to be, and del Toro slides each piece in place without hesitation. “Yeah, I’m essentially a live-action anime,” the film says, “and damn, don’t I look good.”
As the protagonist and lynchpin of Pacific Rim, Charlie Hunnam does a decent job. He’s not too outspoken or rebellious (although that character is here in some capacity), and he facilitates the role of a man who’s kind of neutral when it comes to caring about the end of the world. Hunnam plays the character like he’d be alright working a menial job as society crumbles around him (or maybe that’s just how the character was written). He brings no real baggage with him, although the film would have us believe he’s carrying quite a bit, and most of his actions seem driven by a “I don’t really have anything better to do” attitude. The part is reminiscent of anything Keanu Reeves, but unfortunately Reeves would have brought a little more emotion to the role as unbelievable as that sounds.
Hunnam’s co-pilot played by Rinko Kikuchi fairs a little better in the sense that she’s at least got an archetype to fill. What some are calling an inconsistency in character seemed more like the fairly familiar mold of an anime girl and nothing more. She’s a little unsure, lets her emotions get the best of her on occasion, has a nervous “oh God he sees me” moment, and is easily the cutest thing on screen. Both pilots are lacking a lot of depth, but it’s Kikuchi’s character whose actions at least reflect some kind of nuance or motivation.
Pacific Rim’s supporting cast fills in the cracks like any reliable anime characters should. Idris Elba embodies the overbearing commanding officer and father figure, and he’s got a hidden layer that plays well and helps ground some of the Jaeger science in realistic consequences. Speaking of science, the yin and yang of Charlie Day and Burn Gorman as white-coatless intellectuals was an enjoyable side story to follow as intermission when the fisticuffs between Kauijus and Jaegers wasn’t going on. The pair kind of have a Statler and Waldorf relationship in their observations of each other’s theories, and their time on screen worked more than it didn’t. Unfortunately underused actor Clifton Collins Jr. didn’t really get much to do, but it was worth a chuckle to see him in suspenders and a bow tie spitting out some technical jargon here and there.
When it’s not coloring inside the lines in terms of character types Pacific Rim is taking wide, reckless strokes through said lines with its outstanding action scenes. Describing any of the fights between Jaeger and Kaiju would be doing them a disservice, and watching the massive man-made creations wind up and unleash an “Elbow Rocket” punch on an animalistic Kaiju isn’t near as silly as it sounds. Every punch connects with convincing weight, and each snap and scrape of a monster’s jaw or claws is convincingly destructive. Surprisingly, critics haven’t said a word about the collateral damage caused by these fights, and after the buzz worked up over Man of Steel it feels a little unfair to that film that so many people decried loss of life while giving Pacific Rim a pass. Make no mistake, cities are leveled and human life is lost on an enormous scale.
Pacific Rim proves to be a triumph for geek film in its scope and realization, and del Toro has brought to life the fantasy of many. While his vision might not be in line with critical critics or casual viewers, the movie seems to be resonating well with the audience it aimed please. That said, it’s a movie that brings exactly what it advertised without promising more or delivering less, and that means different things to different people. Which side of the coin are you on?
BONUS: If you see the film in IMAX they’re handing out a copy of the very cool limited edition poster seen below. Get it while it lasts!
