In opposition to the season’s other major blockbuster, Zach Snyder’s
brooding, poorly paced and generally dull Man
of Steel, this takes advantage of a lighter tone and a unique brand of
humour that fits into De Toro’s world, while ensuring we grow to care about the
characters and the sacrifices they make along the way. Comparisons will be made
to Michael Bay's Transformers series, which is very unfair. I can safely
assure you, this is a cut above those abominations.
To oppose an invasion of the Kaiju, gargantuan other-realm monsters who
enter from a portal on the Pacific Ocean floor, humanity united to create giant
mecha robots called Jaegers. Controlled by two human pilots, who share the
psychological load by drifting their minds together via a neural bridge, they achieved
success in fighting off the repeated swarms that wreaked destruction across the
globe. In the latter stages of the war, with the Jaeger program shut down and
alternative methods of protection put in place, a team of resistance fighters
led by Marshall Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) commence a desperate attempt to
defeat the Kaiju. Partnering up to pilot famous Jaeger, Gypsy Danger, are a washed-up
former pilot (Charlie Hunnam), and an enthusiastic rookie (Rinki Kikuchi).
Giving support are an Australian father and son pilot team (Robert Kazinsky and
Max Martini), a pair of eccentric scientists (Charlie Day and Burn Gorman) and
Marshall’s veteran Jaeger technician (Clifton Collins Jr.).
While humanity is under threat during the entirety – a swift montage at the beginning reveals that many cities have been decimated by Kaiju invasions - we never see humans trapped and suffering for emotional effect. There is a lot of destruction, naturally, but the goal of the Jaegers is to keep the invaders at bay of major cities, trying to deter them in the middle of the ocean. A struggle in central Hong Kong is a remarkable feat of effect, but rather than be appalled by the senselessness of the destruction, it is a part of the world we are immersed within, and an established context that results in nations across the globe simultaneously fearing and expecting the assaults.
While humanity is under threat during the entirety – a swift montage at the beginning reveals that many cities have been decimated by Kaiju invasions - we never see humans trapped and suffering for emotional effect. There is a lot of destruction, naturally, but the goal of the Jaegers is to keep the invaders at bay of major cities, trying to deter them in the middle of the ocean. A struggle in central Hong Kong is a remarkable feat of effect, but rather than be appalled by the senselessness of the destruction, it is a part of the world we are immersed within, and an established context that results in nations across the globe simultaneously fearing and expecting the assaults.
Some Kaiju carcasses are too big to be removed, with cities being
rebuilt within their remains. What a fascinating consideration. A sub-plot
exploring a black marketing syndicate - the collection and fortuitous sale of
Kaiju organs - further explores the mythology and brings the story to the Bone
Slums in central Hong Kong, placing one of our human heroes directly in danger.
The gigantic scope of the battles in Pacific
Rim is jaw dropping on every sensory level, and after experiencing the film
on the similarly colossal IMAX screen; it is certainly worth the extra
investment. Ramin Djawadi’s score effectively accompanies the shifts in tone,
evolving a familiar track suitably. It offers a thumping base energy to the thrilling
altercations, which are about as visually impressive I imagine is possible with
the best of current technology. Despite being set at night, and often in the
rain, the fights are clearly decipherable, inventively choreographed and never
feel repetitive. The stakes also evolve, and we can see the size and menace of
the Kaiju increase with each new wave, which forces the Jaeger teams to adapt. The
finale, an underwater skirmish, had me clutching the armrests with intensity.
What I loved about this film was the importance of the human characters
in forming the heart of the story. To operate the Jaegers the dual pilots’ consciousness
has to be united – surrendering their memories and suppressed pain. They have
to trust one another completely, and in the case of Becket and Mori, who are
both damaged by personal tragedies, the bond strengthens them. While the giant
machines are humanity’s weapons, they are useless without the dedication and
courage of the pilots. I don’t know how Del Toro achieved it, to be honest, but
I genuinely cared about and feared for these characters.
The performances are inconsistent, but the pleasantly surprising international
team – we have some Brits, Australians and a Japanese woman – give this supportable
global resistance (not a U.S resistance, mind you) a lift. Faring best are the screen-commanding
Elba, the repeatedly-impressive Kikuchi, whose wrestle between adhering to the
Marshall’s requests out of respect, and fighting for her earned chance has
weight, and the skilled comic Day, an eccentric motor-mouth whose ‘out there’
fan-boy admiration and obsession ensures he gives his scenes plenty of energy.
Ron Perlman’s brief appearance as Hannibal Chow, a black market trader who
resides in a lavish Hong Kong club and wears sharp suits, is an absolute riot
and though more screen time wasn’t warranted, it would have been welcomed.
Yes, there is some cheesy dialogue along the way and a pair of
abominable Australian accents that disappointingly distract, but really there
is little else to complain about with this film. I was on Del Toro’s wavelength
here and wholeheartedly enjoyed every thrilling minute.
Pacific
Rim is jaw dropping
sensory excess by a filmmaker who keeps it all under wraps while branding a
collaboration of familiar ingredients with his own vision. There is an
edge-of-your-seat intensity to the battles, genuine emotion drawn from the
character’s heroics and plenty of unapologetic oddball humour. Easily my
favourite of this year's Blockbuster crop.
My Rating: ★★★★
For those in Sydney check out Pacific Rim in IMAX at Darling Harbour
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