In Pacific Rim we are greeted
by an imminent future in which humanity has been besieged by giant monsters
known as “Kaiju,” which emerge from a dimensional rift deep beneath the Pacific
Ocean in order to wreak havoc on humanity. To combat this threat, humanity
comes together to create “Jaegers,” giant robots controlled by two mind-linked
pilots.
If the spectacle of big robots
battling it out with big monsters is all you’re interested in, then Pacific Rim
is going to be a five-star experience that you should wholly enjoy in the
biggest IMAX 3D theatre you can find. However, if you require a deeper story to
sell you on all the spectacle than despite a parade of “cool moments,” a
mishandled central storyline ultimately makes the experience a hollow one.
Though there’s a pervading
sense of fun and joy that the director Guillermo del Toro has infused his
passion project with; the goal is to entertain and entertain it does, for the
most part (it does get cartoony, but that cartoon is still pretty fun). The
script however is not impressive. The story is straightforward enough, but an
abundance of sub-plots often makes it feel scattered-brained. The emotional
core and character development are even more unfocused: this is supposedly
Raleigh and Mako’s story we are being told – and Hunnam and Kikuchi are both
solid leads with solid chemistry – but beyond a couple of superficial dramatic
moments, there is no real conflict between our central characters, and no real
arc for them to complete as individual characters. Our protagonists are often
the least interesting parts of the film, which inevitably means a sort of
detached viewing experience.
On the whole, Pacific Rim has
its creator to thank for elevating it above so many similar and forgettable
action blockbusters, through sheer creativity, love and force of will. While
the storyline and emotional core aren’t strong, the action and spectacle are, and
del Toro builds his world well enough to create plenty of future opportunities.
FilmGodz Rating: 7/10
Author: Wilson Phan
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