Review of Pacific Rim (2013) by Harry W — 11 Jul 2015

On the surface, Pacific Rim sounds like an absolute masterpiece. It has the simplest yet most awesome plot a good science fiction action film could ask for, and awesome looking special effects. Pacific Rim sounded like a film which could supply entertainment in a year that had consisted of many dreary films.

The intro sequence shows off the fast pacing of Pacific Rim's format and some of the issues facing dark lighting, as well as some occasional shakes in the cinematography and somewhat quick editing at times. But this proves to be misleading for the film and only really occupying the intro, because once it kicks off, Pacific Rim becomes interesting because of how it functions as a sophisticated science fiction drama in terms of its elements about understanding the creatures from beneath the Rim of the Pacific, as well as the drama that comes with merging the hemispheres of two soldiers and becoming sucked back into intense memories brought alive by the brain syncing process of the Jaegers. It supplies sophisticated drama to back itself up and makes Pacific Rim a surprisingly deeper story than the shallow Science Fiction action adventure it appears to be and was expected to be. But even then, it doesn't mess around pretending that the lives of its characters matter because they are all sketched to be little more than conventional archetypes. Viewers have time to figure this out after the intro action scene is over and then the next hour is bereft of extensive action. There are sporadic moments of short disaster related sequences, but most of the time is spent understanding the characters and the fictional scientific logic behind the biology of the Kaijus as well as the Jaegers. This is interesting in a sense and the pace of the drama is fast enough so that it doesn't spend too much time messing around, but it really is a bit much talk for a science fiction action monster movie. And even then, it's pretty much only there to tell a predictable story. But then again, this seems intensional because the story adheres to so many conventions in a rather gleeful manner that it really doesn't have time to stop and care. In that sense, the fact that Pacific Rim embraces its simplicity has its value. There are some occasional twists along the way and the script itself is not bereft of the occasional one-liner as part of the cheesy fun in the film, but viewers of Pacific Rim are there to see monsters fight giant robots, not watch humans discuss them. A little more action couldn't have hurt.

But I will admit, I was impressed by the fact that the tone remained strong the entire time. One of the most impressive things about the storytelling in Pacific Rim is its tone. While being a thoroughly intense disaster scale science fiction action film, it also knows how to have fun. And considering that the premise is about giant battle bots going against honour our aliens, this is only sensible. The characters are archetypes, and yet they are extremely serious. The story is ridiculous, and yet it has detailed mythology at its roots without spending way too much time discussing it, even if it can be a been talkative at times. And best of all, the story is a legitimate science fiction tale with a dark atmosphere and yet it has loosely the same kind of fun to it that Starship Troopers had. It's comedic edge is not as explicit and is far more deadpan, but the humorous touch is all there and it lightens the mood into being a blockbuster which is easier to watch.

And of course, the action is all an amazing spectacle. Making use of the most colourful effects available to him, Guillermo Del Toro fuels Pacific Rim with some badass battle scenes that Michael Bay could only dream of. By contrast to the over the top Transformers series, Pacific Rim presents battle bots being put to better use through mechanical close combat more than attempting to turn everything into an explosion. The action is creative and bombastic entertainment with a slight touch of deadpan comedy at some moments, and the consistent use of powerful visual effects and strong film editing make it an unforgettable visual spectacle while the sound editing helps to reinforce the intended scale of the film.

The cinematography used in Pacific Rim gives me mixed feelings. The genuine quality of the technique is all well and solid, but the specific style used bothers me a little. Pacific Rim is captured like a martial arts film, and coniderimg the nature of the close combat that is depicted between the beasts and machines of equal strength this makes sense. However, at the same time it feels like the scale of the narrative is reduced as a result. In contrast to other contemporary monster movies such as 2014's Godzilla, the foes engaged in battle for Pacific Rim are captured with extremely close cinematography which cannot help but feel a little too close for comfort. Pacific Rim does not precisely feel like an epic film which can be rather bothersome. But at the same time, the decision to capture everything extremely closely means that the extensive detail of the Kaijus and Jaegers can be captured while the cinematography can be more experimental. The use of close combat capture combined with extensive capture of the multiple visual fields and occasional use of Dutch angles ensures that everything looks great.

And last of all technical aspects, the intense work of Ramin Djawadi as the composer for the film is grand. His musical score captures the intense scope of the events in the story through strong orchestral work, but at the same time it captures the brilliant high octane fun of the film with some awesome guitar riffs along the way. The central theme song to Pacific Rim is awesome, and whenever the film is getting dramatic or action packed, Ramin Djawadi is right there waiting to take a stand with his exceptional musical talents.

In terms of casting, Pacific Rim doesn't skimp on finding good actors in lieu of its epic scale action.

For one thing, Charlie Hunnam makes a powerhouse charismatic lead. As a star who is rather unknown as a celebrity, Charlie Hunman firs the profile of a rather nameless soldier and while proving to have the same type of patriotic heroism and charisma that Chris Evans used to capture the role of Steve Rogers in the Captain America films. He captures the intense emotional drama his character faces with perfect emotional intensity and timing, articulating his voice perfectly and even crying on command. He puts more than enough meaning into the character which transcends the limitations imposed by the fact that the character is an archetype, and he works his character into the action and drama genres well. And as you can tell from his fight scenes. The man is a very talented martial artist which he shows off in both fight scenes and within the props of the Jaegers, and his acting makes him an ideal candidate as the lead.

He is generally a good actor with the appearance of an everyman, making him emerge as a talented actor with a breakthrough in Pacific Rim which will lead to a good strong career ahead.

Rinko Kikuch does the same, making her female character a badass one that isn't too cocky for her own good, but rather one facing her own trauma which makes her a good pair with Charlie Hunnam. She's a real character, not one who has to prove herself as a woman but rather as a person. This is positive because as a childI would have viewed her as a strong female character as I do now, simply because she is seen as a human being and not a woman. She is fragile because she is human, she has emotions because she is human. And importantly, she kicks ass with her powerful martial arts skills.Rinko Kikuch puts determined emotional and physical spirit into her role which comes off as admirable.

Idris Elba was also badass, providing a performance reminiscent of Lou Gossett Jr.'s Academy Award winning performance in An Officer and a Gentleman. He is a sold human addition to the resistance, and his performance is strong and sophisticated which produces legitimate dramatic support to the film. His line delivery encourages a sense of wisdom within the character and he never goes back onto a stereotype, confidently establishing a character with a strong understanding of the universe around him and determined to make a change. Idris Elba's natural presence makes him a fine addition to the cast of Pacific Rim.

Charlie Day provides a fine level of comedic cleverness for his part in a sophisticated manner. With impeccable timing and perfect energy, Charlie Day brings along a strong level of comic relief to Pacific Rim along with a character who is genuinely intelligent. He is so Ito the story like an obsessed fanboy that he perfectly captures the character, and as a result he makes the experience all the more fun when it's not about the battle. Charlie Day establishes himself as the most entertaining cast member in Pacific Rim by capturing both extensive dramatic flair and comedic charm. And even though his high pitched tone of voice may render the former a little less legitimate at times, his charismatic energy is just wonderful while his distinctive charm makes him very difficult to dislike. Even though his high pitched voice isn't ideal for the gritty and hardcore tone of Pacific Rim, his natural comedic talent just makes him work it, as well as the dramatic moments. He just adds fun to Pacific Rim, and Burn Gorman was also funny when tagged alongside Charlie Day because the two just bounce off each other.

Lastly, Ron Perlman is really the icing on the cake in Pacific Rim. I didn't expect to see him, but he's a great actor when he's working with Guillermo del Toro as well as beyond. And if course, he's badass. Dressed up like a mix of a pimp and a king and using his iconic badass voice to dominate his moments on screen, Ron Perlman makes himself a genial presence in the blink of an eye with Pacific Rim by adding intimidation and a comic touch. His chemistry with Charlie Day is impeccably awesome too as they both address each other intelligently.

So Pacific Rim occasionally gets a bit too caught up in storytelling to deliver enough action and is proudly packed with story and character conventions, but the talented cast keep said characters entertaining while the amazing spectacle of powerful action and visual effects make it an awesome action spectacle.