Just got back from an IMAX 3D showing, and man...weak story, weak acting (aside from Idris Elba, who's fantastic as usual), and some plot holes, but my goodness...the action and special effects...UNREAL. Very entertaining and fun. Probably my favorite movie of the summer so far. 8/10
This is a better point than you know. There is a pretty well-developed sub-story here in which the director (notably anti-American) has two of the most powerful monsters display clear terrorist references. One has a face that, in freeze frame, apparently looks like Osama bin Laden. The other most powerful monster has a weird body type and head that resembles the robes and turban of a Taliban fighter. But I haven't seen the movie yet. Will be interesting to see if this holds water.
So true about your comment on Idris Elba. Loved how he portrayed his role in this movie. Personally, I'd give this movie a 7/10. I found the ending a bit weak.
I think you have spoken for all of us! You've covered everything that anybody has ever wanted to discussed. Please rep this man!!!
Nero's reviews are either spot-on or waaaaaaaaaaaaay out there, but hopefully I'll get a chance to see this movie (I know the wife will be major "meh" on it).
Man that was one big, bidasss brutal piece of cinema! Loved it! That is exactly what a giant robot action movie should be! The only thing that keeps it being awesome and not epic, was the lack of emotional resonance. I didn't really feel connected to any of the lead characters to care to much what happened to them either way. Spoiler And I actually liked the smaller character deaths (the brother, Chinese and Russian teams) more because it was so quick and brutal; they didn't build it up only for those deaths to fall a little flat. Loved the opening prologue, the effects were insane and the money shots were some of the best I have scene on film. Best part for me... Spoiler Jaeger and Kaijui, high above the earth and sword I hope we see more from this universe...much more looking forward to a sequel of this than say Transformers. But if they do, let's see some better character development and let's see some fights in day-time now, instead of the dark, pouring rain. And more robots from around the world.
Transformers had really good cgi. If they could take that and sync it with this franchise it would be awesome. I also wish they took the gundam approach with savers and stuff rather than punch hand to hand combat.
Here's one of my favorite pop culture bloggers (okay, the only one I follow): Six things to do before seeing Pacific Rim. http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2013/07/12/cineprep-six-things-to-do-before-seeing-pacific-rim/ LOL. Excerpts: "3. Listen to the first six songs on Judas Priest’s “Painkiller.” I considered several musical pairings for this movie. Side two of Van Halen’s “Fair Warning” and all of Helmet’s “Meantime” were also in the running. Ultimately I settled on the first six songs of “Painkiller,” Judas Priest’s big and bold 1990 rebirth as a speed metal giant. This is the best entrance music I could find for “Pacific Rim.” Listen to these tracks on the way to the theater. Make sure you start with “Painkiller” and end with “Night Crawler.” 4. Drink beer that costs no more than $6.99 for a six-pack. Do they still make Lucky Lager? Rainier Ale? Regardless, don’t make the mistake of drinking craft beer, top shelf mixed drinks or any wine that isn’t followed by the word “cooler” before watching “Pacific Rim.” This is a cheap beer movie. If you don’t hear the “pwfuush” of at least three people near you opening a Pabst Blue Ribbon, find a more awesome “Pacific Rim” crowd."
Nero's review is spot on. The movie is predictable but boy, this is so much fun. The action scenes are epic especially the Hong Kong encounter. A refreshing throwback to the days when summer popcorn movies did not have to apologize for being fun or awesome. Loved it.
I agree with Nero's review 100%. It's a lot of action and the CGI is great but everything else was 'meh'. Spoiler One thing that bothered me was how can you have these big ass robots being carried by small helicopters out into the ocean. Really liked the scene when they show the asian girl's memory of how she was saved by a monster as a child.
Expounding on Nero, I think the B-level actors can be explained by 1) that's just the formula Legendary/WB use for these types of films. They hire marginally talented actors for cheap so as to keep costs down. 2) As much as I admire GDL, the weakest part of his skill set is directing adult performances. Mimic/Blade 2/Hellboy etc... What i do find interesting though is that he's second only to Spielberg in directing children (Pan, Devil's Backbone). The little girl who played child Mako gave the best performance of the entire movie. The film was fun, in light of the stories cliche's and bad dialogue. It was worth it just for the fights alone. Solid 7/10
One other thing I was wondering... Spoiler Where the hell was the Japanese robot, aka Coyote Tango? He was in the movie posters but had no real role in the movie. Maybe he was one of the Jaegers in the flash backs or that defended Sydney? I really wish the badassery had been more split up between the Jaegers instead of having Gipsy Danger do everything.
Spoiler looks like there were ones from Canada and New Zealand too. They must have been destroyed in clips earlier in the film. A shame we didn't see more robot action besides primarily Gyspy Danger
