Pacific Rim (2013) - Film Review

Starring: Charlie Hunman, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi & Charlie Day

Screenplay: Travis Beacham & Guillermo Del Toro

Directed By: Guillermo Del Toro

Certificate: 12

 

In the current film climate, the arrival of Pacific Rim is a huge and welcome breath of fresh air for blockbusters. Many blockbusters in cinemas today are usually part of an established franchise spanning a number of years, such as Marvel's Cinematic Universe. While there's nothing wrong with that, it can be difficult to know whether or not to watch these films if you're not all that familiar with the respective franchise. Pacific Rim doesn't come as part of an established franchise and it is instead an original blockbuster. So can it do as well without a sense of familiarity with the audience?

 

In 2013, an inter-dimensional portal opens at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, allowing giant monsters called Kaiju to come through and attack cities on the Pacific Rim. To stop the Kaiju and save the besieged cities, humanity builds giant robots called Jaegers to fight and kill them. But by 2025, the Kaiju keep coming through the Breach, in bigger and stronger forms, and the once-successful Jaegers start to lose the fight. In a last attempt to save the world, humanity plans to hurl everything it has got at the Breach to seal it once and for all and put an end to the Kaiju threat

 

The driving force behind Pacific Rim isn't too original, and some may argue that it's Godzilla meets Transformers. However, it's so much fun, and it's the epitome of an enjoyable time at the movies. Travis Beacham and Guillermo Del Toro's script never bores the audience and there's always something going on to keep viewers engaged. Under all the blockbuster and fan-boy elements of the film, there are also some subtle, yet significant messages to be found, such as warnings against climate change and the idea of humanity having to work together in times of crisis. These messages are effective whilst never detracting from the pure sense of fun and wonder that Pacific Rim has to offer.

 

Due to the immense size of the Jaegers, it is established early on that it is too much for just one person to pilot them. To overcome this, a mental link, known as a neural handshake has to be established between two pilots, and when mentally linked, the two can work together to bring the Kaiju down. While this strengthens the film's message about coming together to achieve a certain goal, it also sets up partnerships between certain characters. The most notable being Raleigh and Mako. Both characters, especially Mako, are likeable and the two actors certainly work well together. Time is also taken to flesh each character out, as both are given a great and interesting backstory, with the first fifteen minutes of the film spent on Raleigh's backstory alone. Another partnership, not seen until the end of the film, is commanding officer Pentecost and Chuck. Chuck is definitely the weak link of the characters, and he seems a little more one-note compared to everyone else. The rivalry that we see between him and Raleigh throughout the film, while not bad, doesn't feel necessary – especially in a film that has gigantic Kaiju as the central threat.  Meanwhile, Pentecost is definitely my favourite character here. As Raleigh's commanding officer, he is able to stay cool, calm and fair, but at the same time, you know not to mess with him. Part of what makes him so great is Idris Elba's impeccable performance, and he is perfectly cast in this role. On a lighter note, the doctors Newton and Hermann are also partnered together. Both Charlie Day and Burn Gorman are really great to watch, and while their characters don't exactly contribute the most, they do help to add some laughs and stop the film from becoming too serious and grim. The characters of Pacific Rim really help to show that these events are taking place in the near future, as they depict a great and extensive multicultural world.

 

As for the more action-packed scenes of monsters and robots fighting, there is a key component that always makes these segments incredibly tense to watch – the balance of power between the Kaiju and the Jaegers is always in flux. There are moments in these fight segments where it appears that the Jaegers are winning, but just as you slip into this sense of security, the film pulls the rug from under your feet, and another Kaiju may spring up from the ocean and pull the Jaeger to pieces. This really prevents the audience from becoming bored, and instead puts them on the edge of their seats. Speaking of the monster-fighting scenes, Pacific Rim really showcases what it has to offer, particularly around halfway into the film. With Raleigh and Mako piloting the Gipsy Danger Jaeger, they have the immense task of having to take down two Category IV Kaiju, while also trying to save the people of Hong Kong from the destruction it causes. The fight gets so intense that it even makes it up into space.

 

If you've watched the trailers, you'll have seen that Pacific Rim is a complete feast for the eyes with some utterly breathtaking visuals. The special effects department really deserve all the recognition they can get for their stunning work here, as computer-generated creations such as the Kaiju and the Jaegers are some of the best visual creations ever seen. Every aspect of the production here works and compliments each other spectacularly. Ramin Djawadi's music is brilliant and emphasizes some great moments like the Jaegers rising from the oceans, the screenwriters never fail to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, and special mention has to go to the already acclaimed director, Guillermo Del Toro. You can't help but see that he has put so much effort and soul into Pacific Rim, and for the majority of the time, his direction is stellar. Admittedly, in the first fifteen minutes, the shots of Gipsy Danger fighting a Kaiju were somewhat difficult to watch, seeing as the scene took place at night, and with rain obscuring the view, this problem became less apparent as the film progressed.

 

In conclusion, I can say without doubt that Pacific Rim is an example of how love and effort for a film project can pay off. It's easily one of the best films of the year, and one of the most intelligent blockbusters seen on cinema screens in a long time. With a simple, yet fun and engaging plot, likeable characters and such an obvious sense of care and commitment, Pacific Rim is a film that should definitely be watched, especially if you're looking for a fun time at the movies.

 

 

Pacific Rim



9/10