Friday, March 14, 2014
Pacific Rim (2013)
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Robert
Kazinsky, Max Martini, Ron Perlman
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Synopsis: Colossal, hi-tech, and otherworldly monsters called
Kaijus have instigated war with humans on Earth. These monsters enter Earth
through a portal on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, and they do so in
increasing frequency and power as the war continues. In response, the countries
in the Pacific Rim create massive machines called Jaegers that are controlled
by pilots who work together through neurological connection. Jaeger commander
Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) persuades Raleigh Becket, played by Charlie
Hunnam, to return to active duty and fight in a final effort against the
Kaijus, which he, his co-pilot Mako Mori, and Pentecost lead against all odds in
order to end the war.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4/5 Reels
Director Guillermo del Toro wants the audience to relate
to and connect to the characters, buying into the story and world of Pacific
Rim. In addition to being praised for fantastic visual effects and riveting
action sequences, the main characters, Raleigh Becket, Mako Mori, and Stacker
Pentecost are portrayed as courageous heroes fighting to save the world against
the giant alien monsters.
In the beginning of the film, the conflicts are
introduced. Raleigh’s brother, Yancy Becket, tragically died while they were
both connected in and fighting in the Jaeger. Although the audience, and to some
extent, the Pacific Rim residents are rooting for those who pilot the Jaegers
and support the program, the government deems the program ineffective as they
begin to lose against the powerful Kaijus. Without government funding, the four
remaining Jaegers are sent to Hong Kong to protect the coast while a wall is
being built. It is obvious that this man-made wall is going to be a feeble and
ineffective barrier. However, the destruction of the cities and the
Kaiju/Jaeger battles are visually striking with exciting imagery and
cinematography, which makes up for some of the predictable plot points. For
example, one memorable action sequences was the battle on the coast with the
two Category 4 Kaijus. In this scene, three Jaegers are sent out to the coast.
The special effects of the inside of the robot make the technology look
realistic and impressive and the jerking movements that the pilots experience
feel very real. The camera switches from the perspective of the pilots, shots
close to the water, and aerial or wide-angle shots to create a full 360° picture
and a suspenseful, edge-of-your seat mood. The Kaijus end up destroying Crimson
Typhoon and Cherno Alpha and disabling Striker Eureka, putting Raleigh and Mako
up to take a last stand.
What makes this movie stand out among the countless other
giant robots vs. giant monsters movies and stories is the potential for more
well-developed characters. Surprisingly, there is a lot more dialogue than
expected. Raleigh seems typical as a protagonist, in my opinion. But the
father-daughter relationship between Pentecost and Mako, the equal strength and
force of the various protagonists, and the partnership between Raleigh and Mako
make the film more interesting. I agree with other movie critics in that the
character development is not as good as it could have been, but it seems like
the director kept a fair balance between pure action and subtle, quality
character interaction.
Because of the father roles that Pentecost and Chuck have,
it is sad for the audience when they honorably sacrifice themselves and detonate
the bomb in the final battle. These actors did a good job of putting passion,
emotion, and overall life into their characters. Because of this, I would say
that the casting for the main characters is top-notch.
As a sci-fi action movie, Pacific Rim seemingly mixes more
meaningful and detailed narrative (that the Japanese are known for) with the
good ol’ Hollywood focus on straightforward entertainment and high-energy
action. If Kaijus really did invade the world, people would probably want to
build Jaegers or something similar in real life to use as a weapon. But of
course, as a broad application, I do think the story is something that the
audience can enjoy, not just as an entertaining piece of fiction, but as a glimpse
into what it would look like for different countries and people to work and
fight together for a common cause and for humanity and earth in general. Thus,
movie watchers from all kinds of cultures, but especially those who like sci-fi
action, can appreciate Pacific Rim.
By: Kim Davong
