Happy Hump Day Imaginarians!! I've been remiss this week so far, but today I'm bringing you a review of my favorite summer movie of them all so far, Pacific Rim.
I was strapped in for this one from the first frame. Guillermo Del Toro delivers a powerful, high octane anime come to life with terrific characters, a wonderful, yet cheesy script and fx that some of the best I've seen on film.
A dimensional rift has opened in the Pacific Ocean allowing giant monsters known as Kaiju to come through to earth. They attack Pacific Rim cities like San Francisco, Tokyo and Manila. To combat these beings, Earth has banded together and created the Jaegers, giant robots that require two pilots who are completely in sync with one another mentally. As the war drags on, the Jaegers become obsolete as Earth pins its hopes on continental walls to hold back the Kaiju. When the wall fails (and you knew it would) there are only 4 Jaegers left. Raleigh Becket, a former pilot, is called back into service when the remaining Jaegers are sent to Hong Kong.
Charlie Hunnam steals the show as Raleigh. He's vulnerable, smart, strong and has enormous chemistry with his badass co-star Rinko Kikuchi who is Mako Mori. Mako is the assistant to and adopted daughter of, the director of the Jaeger program, Stacker Pentecost. Idris Elba plays Stacker and he does a good job being leader, hardass and father figure. Charlie Day and Born Gorman are terrific as the dork scientists, Geiszler and Gottlieb, who are trying to figure out how to understand the Kaiju. Day is funny, silly, providing a certain comic relief that was great, but got on my nerves after a while. I was hoping he'd get eaten or squashed. Ron Perlman shows his villainous side as Hannibal Chau, a black market dealer in Kaiju parts and other things who helps Geiszler get his geeky hands on a Kaiju brain. There is great chemistry between Perlman and Day.
The fx are huge. Beyond huge. They are definitely what a summer blockbuster is all about. I found myself gasping for breath as the monsters attacked, just like I did as kid and first saw Godzilla. The Jaegers were ultra impressive and I so wanted to try my hand at driving one.
Guillermo Del Toro has created an adrenalized tale of giant robots vs. giant monsters that is an epic summer film you'll want to see again and again.
One of my top 3 of the summer. We are both in total agreement about this one, really hope it does strong business going forward because I'd love to see a sequel.
ReplyDeleteHigh fives, Daniel! I hope it does much better, too because this one deserves a sequel no question. I loved it and so did my nephew. I think our jaws hardly shut after that first monster attack. :)
DeleteThe twelve year old in me had a blast! It was giddy fun.
ReplyDeleteMy twelve year old was a happy, happy kid for sure. :)
Deletewoot, very excited! starts here this Friday, and I'm gonna watch it Imax-style =D
ReplyDeleteYou are going to have an absolute blast Maynard. IMAX, man I'm jealous. ;)
DeleteStrap in tight Melissa! How could this movie not do well?! I fear for America's youth.
ReplyDeleteI know!! I could not believe that it placed 3rd. 3rd?!! What is wrong with people? Adam Sandler's effort was surely awful as his other films have been since the Wedding Singer and Punch Drunk Love
DeleteSounds awesome... but time constraints will probably keep me from seeing it in the theater.
ReplyDeleteToo bad, I think you'd really, really enjoy this on the big screen. Giants vs Giant Monsters...Big screen material for sure. ;)
DeleteSounds awesome... but time constraints will probably keep me from seeing it in the theater.
ReplyDeleteand yet it flopped at the boxoffice. This shocked me, since I thought they've had a strong marketing. And having in mind which movie won that week in cinemas, just makes it more sad :(
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Adam Sandler's juvenile flick placed ahead of it. People have no taste. ;)
Deleteto make it even sadder, I've never even heard of the first part of Sandler's film :)
DeleteWill definitely see this one, but wait for DVD. Our budget never allows for GOING to movies. Well, maybe if I could curtain my Kindle habit...but that ain't happening.
ReplyDeleteTina @ Life is Good
Hey Tina! I do think you will enjoy this one. I for one, am very happy you have a Kindle habit. I appreciate the support very much. Hugs!
DeleteThis didn't do well at the box office? I'm really surprised by that. And I agree with you on the Adam Sandler movies.
ReplyDeleteI was totally surprised, M.J. And fist bumps on Sandler. I would love to see him get back into form, but nothing of his has appealed to me in years.
DeleteSounds like a fun movie. Will have to see it sometime.
ReplyDeleteI think you would get a kick out of it, Mary. It was great fun.
DeleteI had fun watching Pacific Rim for most of the time. The visuals were stunning. The action sequences are never ending and overlong. It had strong chemistry between the actors. I loved the scientists' subplot - I wanted more of that than "let's cancel the apocalypse". I loved the theme song that played during the end credits. Pacific Rim definitely has its faults, but nothing I would watch again. I'm surprised I got through the movie! The AWESOME word-of-mouth convinced me to see it on the big screen. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that it flopped at the box-office. It should be doing better than that. Pacific Rim is a good film, people! :)
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, Livia! Let's here it for the giant monsters and robots!! The scientists were fun and I loved Ron Perlman as Hannibal Chau, he was so cheesetastically delicious as the villain of the piece.
DeleteI keep hearing good things about his film. Maybe I'll go see it with my son.
ReplyDeleteSusan, you will absolutely love it! it's just plain awesome. :)
DeleteHell yeah. I love this show.
ReplyDeleteIt is awesome, isn't It?
DeleteTotally agree. This is what an effects heavy blockbuster should be! Wonderful movie and great write up!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Thank you very much, my friend. Always like to hear you enjoyed my posts as I enjoy yours.
DeleteOh wow. I'm going to have to see this!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelley! You have got to see this, it's just awesome. :)
DeleteI grew up on Godzilla films, so I enjoyed it even though I didn't love it.
ReplyDeleteI loved Godzilla growing up and this took me right back there. :)
DeleteOk, I skimmed some of your post because of spoilers. PR just came out here in French land and I can't wait to see it. I just need to find a cinema that shows it in English. No way would I watch this with bad French voice-overs.
ReplyDelete
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Thank you, Anna!
DeleteI agree with everything you said in your review, Mel. This movie is pure effing awesomeness!!
ReplyDeleteHigh fives, Maynard!! Yes, this was total adrenaline rush from start to finish and I could watch it again and again. :)
DeleteOMG, this sounds like the BEST SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER!!!!! I heart Del Toro's work but it seems that, this summer, all the awesome flicks aren't making it into my radar. Man, the rock I live under's gotten pretty darn big, I'll tell ya what. :-/ Thanks for the heads up about this, Mel; if I hadn't read this post, I dunno I'd ever have heard about it!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSome Dark Romantic
Del Toro is incredible and this movie is definitely one of my favorite of his. I want to own this one so I can watch it as many times as I want. Charlie Hunnam's abs are perfection. ;D See this ASAP!
DeleteI soooo want to see this one! The preview in 3D looked amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love your review :D I am a Charlie Hunnam fan-I love his voice. Okay and his abs, lol
Charlie is beautiful, isn't he? Love those magic abs of his and his oh-so-sexy voice. LOL Glad you enjoyed the review, my friend. :)
DeleteThanks Mel! I wanted to see this before and now I have goose bumps...I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteYou are going to love this, Siv! I want to see this again and again. My nephew and I watched it with our jaws unhinged. LOL
DeleteAnime fans love this. Sadly, there are not enough of them to help at the box office. So there looks to be no sequel. Yet, let's just be glad there was a first one, right? :-)
ReplyDeleteRoland, I just could not believe how poorly it did. It should have at least been second. Alas, it was not to be, but you're right at least we got this one. :)
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