Pacific Rim Movie Review

Pacific Rim Movie Review

Pacific Rim is one of the engaging and entertaining films I have watched this year. It has everything and everything is in a huge scale.

Pacific Rim tells the story of giant monsters called Kaijus who intend to destroy our planet and make it their own. Our ways to fight them are the Jaegers, giant robots that go head to head with the Kaijus. At first glance, you may think this is just all about giant monsters fighting giant robots. Well technically it is but the film has a lot more in store in terms of emotions and plot.

Director Guillermo Del Toro brings us a film of fighting giants like the ones we saw as kids (Godzilla, Ultraman). Only this time, he ups the ante. When you look at Del Toro’s films, you will notice how detailed the sets, characters and costumes are. For Pacific Rim, designs are just top notched. The Jaegers are realistically made. Every joint and bolts are well placed and you can really feel that this thing can survive a fight with Kaijus. Now, the Kaijus are just scary. Del Toro managed to make monsters that will haunt you. These creatures have a fierce design and the details are just precise. From the eyes, to the scales, Del Toro’s Kaijus are one for the record books. They are cool.

When you talk of a film this size, the special effects are as large. The movement of the Kaijus and Jaegers are realistic. You can feel the forces during the fights as well as their interaction with the elements. In a film where the fights are in water and in heavy rain, Del Toro and his team were able to perfectly blend nature with the fight sequences. The underwater sequence is one of the best scenes for me, especially in 3D.

The main casts of this film are the monsters and the robots. But the human cast brings the balance tht make this film work. Del Toro took a big risk in casting actors that are not that well known except for Idris Elba and Ron Perlman. But the two play supporting roles and Perlman’s performance adds the comedic flair in the film. The lead acting is focused on Charlie Hunnam (TV’s Sons of Anarchy) an Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi (Babel). Hunnam portrays a burnt out jaeger pilot who is put back into action. His performance clearly conveys the pain he is going through as well as his fears. He is not you hero-type guy rather he is like those soldiers coming home from a war and just hides from everyone. Time and time again he shows us that he feels he is not the right guy for the job but his actions say otherwise. Rinko Kikuchi plays Mako, a young and up and coming pilot who has some secrets of her own. Rinko’s performance is just great. She manages to show us this cute and vulnerable woman that turns into one hell of a fighter. Her emotions are greatly conveyed on screen and you will feel her pain. She has great chemistry with Hunnam as well as the rest of the cast. But she always manages to rise on her own. Idris Elba, what a performance. He plays the Marshall of the Jaeger program and he is one tough guy. If you think the Kaijus are scary, wait until you meet his character. His final words at the end of the film will be remembered. As people are saying, his speech is this generation’s Independence Day as said by Bill Pullman back in the day. Perlman, though has less screen time, gives a memorable and funny roe in this film. He plays a black market dealer who portrays a tough exterior but when the scary things happen, he just runs. His performance will make you laugh and cry. He and Del Toro really work well.

The plot of Pacific Rim isn’t that deep but is easily relatable. It engages you form the very first time we see the first Kaiju and the first fight against a Jaeger. It brings out the kid in you when you were watching past Japanese series featuring giant monsters. I watched this in 3D IMAX and I was just immersed in the film. I was literally holding on to the seat while watching the fight sequences. I t was fun and enjoyable.

Pacific Rim, for me is one of the best films this year. It may not be for everyone, but everyone will have a great time. Like past Del Toro films, it engages you and makes you part of that world he has created. Pacific Rim brings in the punch and hits its target. It really is a great movie experience. I give it 9 out of 10.