Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim (2013)
Image From IMDB
“It’s time to cancel The Apocalypse” Not since Independence Day have I heard such a badass speech in an alien invasion movie.
Pacific Rim is one of those movies that feels like you’re smashing your toys together, and it’s awesome. It has enormous kaiju creatures shaped like sharks, Giant human piloted Robots, Rifts in dimensions, Idris Elba being badass, Neon cities being destroyed by the monsters and robots, Guillermo del Toro visual flair, and societies living around huge monster carcasses.
Pacific Rim picks up after the invasion has began. Huge monsters from another dimension are attacking Earth, and we’ve built massive robots to defend ourselves. But, the attacks are becoming more regular, and the robots are being replaced by a wall. A final stand is inevitable, but can we work together to stop it?
It’s Tranformers meets Power Rowers, courtesy of Godzilla, in all the best possible way. Sometimes movies feel like they’re made for me, and this is one of them. I love all of the world building aspect in this one too. Outside of the awesome monster and robot designs is these societies that have continued around the fallen bodies of the invaders. It’s an incredible sight seeing a stripped down skeleton of a massive monster laying in the neon Hong Kong streets. It gives it an almost body horror elements, yet it’s mise-en-scene.
Our heroes are all macho beefcakes, and they’re exactly who you want defending the Earth. Charlie Hunnam as always is getting into scraps, while Robert Kazinsky also wants to piss everyone off, while being super brave. Idris is cool, and Rinko Kikuchi is kicking ass too, while looking a little less aggressive than the rest. Everyone is brave. Fearless. And heroic. Whatever meathead personality they have, doesn’t stop them being Earth’s saviours.
And the movie has a good theme and heart to it as well. Everything is about connection. The Robots are so big they require two pilots who’s brains must connected in what’s called the drift. There is connections between brothers, fathers and daughters, scientist, man and machine, man and monster, monster planet and Earth. Everything is connected, and while most connections can be positive, some need to be broken. Somethings the subtext is on the nose, other times its hidden between monster mashes.
It really is a giant punching movie on the surface, but as mentioned, there’s plenty of world building and thematically work going on around that. Giving a direct like Guillermo this kind of budget will always lead to something unique and interesting, and Pacific Rim is one of those movies where you’ll discover something else about it you like on each watch.
It’s a shame he never returned to the short lived franchise, but this movie stands on its own. If you like Transformers or Godzilla, there’s no reason you won’t love this and be cheering on our heroes. If you want a little more heart in your big dumb Hollywood Blockbuster, than Pacific Rim delivers on that front too. Plus… there’s that Idris Elba speech.
