Could have been so much better in terms of dialogue, plot holes, and cheesy cliche elements, but it delivers in the department that put our butts in the seat: robots vs. godzillas. Very cool and entertaining movie, but far from a masterwork.
I usually have nothing but disdain for these types of blockbusters but much to my surprise I have to admit I was thoroughly entertained by this film.
Let's face it, you're watching a movie about big robots bashing giant sea monsters and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Think Transformers and Godzilla combined - both truly dreadful watches in every possible sense yet Pacific Rim was fun, without the more annoying elements of the former flicks.
I hate picking holes in these absurd types of movies and god knows there are plenty in this one but one thing I still can't quite get my head around regarding the "plot" which didn't even make the slightest bit of sense by the film's own set of "rules & logic" -
The robots are having worsening results lately versus monsters so we'll stop making them altogether! instead we'll build a wall... yes, a wall! that should stop these things which can run through skyscrapers and demolish a city within minutes!
Give your brain the night off and watch the only ever entertaining episode of Power Rangers ever made.
My favourite part of the movie is the intro, fantastic intro for a movie.
Lots of action, the fights are really great, the director did a fantastic job.
3.75/5
The fight scene in Hong Kong was pretty satisfying, but I still can't get past how stupid this movie was in pretty much every aspect--plot, dialogue, characters.
"Oh hey, I totally forgot we had these super-sweet mega-swords! Why have we been fighting these things with handfuls of freaking shipping containers?!" And then, in the next fight, the swords become their go-to weapon? And there's always a conveniently placed coolant vent or exhaust port for when you're screwed, sure. These robots could've been a lot cooler if the pilots even remotely seemed like they knew what they were doing. Also agree with the other poster about Evangelion.
Nobody's said it yet so I'll say it: Evangelion. If the Americans were gonna make a live-action Evangelion it would probably look like this failure. Sure, the robots looked cool, but they really failed with the story and characters. And, like someone else mentionned below, why do they always fist-fight the monsters!?
I heard a lot of bad things about it. I still watched it because, Giant Robots vs Alien Godzillas, let's be honest, it HAS to be awesome.
Never have I been so disappointed by a movie. It's like they tried as hard as possible to make the worse of a good blockbuster idea. The only good thing is the special effects, but they are completely drowned in the abyssmal mediocrity of every other aspect of the movie.
I think it was a great mecha anime adaptation. All the cheesy moments were made in a way that they actually fit the anime-like nature of the movie. Del Toro finally hit the bullseye!
Great attention to the production design and the battle sequences are done with great care and imagination but the script and characters make it unsuitable for anyone above the tender age of 15. It feels like a waste of talent, alas.
For an action film, that portrays giant robotic alien killing machines, it had a nice amount of emotion. Always a fan of Hunnam, and Elba. Also love Charlie Day!
Giant monsters and giant robots, Pacific Rim creates a believable and detailed world where those two things exist, a world with consequences, lots of little details, and despite the jeopardy, a certain sense of humor about itself. It certainly schools Man of Steel in how to make destruction porn WORK, and it does so with dropping a single 4-letter word despite the military context. Oh it's a simple story, but well told, with enough twists of fate, beautiful visuals, decipherable choreography and badass moments to entertain all the way through. The weak link is Charlie Hunnam in the main role, the kind of jocky square-jawed hero that's almost a non-character (to go with his non-accent), and a dull narrator to boot. The film makes up for it with casting that makes it seem like the director is watching all the same shows I am, giving us memorable characters played by Idris Alba, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, Max Martini, Rinko Kikuchi and Ron Perlman. Ultimately, does it deliver on kaiju vs. mechs in a solid plot with engaging characters? Yes it does.
Pacific Rim becomes watchable when the characters stop talking. The Robot VS Alien fights are the only good part of this film, with amazing visual effects, and even those fights are not that interesting because of how terrible everything else is. The rest of the time, I'm honestly puzzled as to what they were trying to accomplish. Is this serious? Is it a parody? It is both too silly and not silly enough; neither one or the other. The direction and shot composition for the actors plays out like it's trying to be a serious film, yet they are behaving like rediculously overplayed character tropes, straight out of Saturday morning cartoon.
If you've had the misfortune to view scenes in Bollywood or other asian films where they needed a "white guy" for a quick scene, you've seen the result of them pulling the first English-speaking caucasian they found in a local gym and putting him in front of a camera: Baby's first acting lesson. Well, that is how everyone in this film acts all the time!! Is that what they were going for, assuming foriegn markets are used to it? Mixed in with this is rediculously cliched writing, with painfully unfunny comic relief moments.
The whole film plays out like it was made by someone who doesn't understand the films that they are ripping off; why they were good, why they're remembered fondly, or even what works in basic storytelling. This feels like a half-finished movie.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 63
Flops
Could have been so much better in terms of dialogue, plot holes, and cheesy cliche elements, but it delivers in the department that put our butts in the seat: robots vs. godzillas. Very cool and entertaining movie, but far from a masterwork.MrDoog
I usually have nothing but disdain for these types of blockbusters but much to my surprise I have to admit I was thoroughly entertained by this film.Let's face it, you're watching a movie about big robots bashing giant sea monsters and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Think Transformers and Godzilla combined - both truly dreadful watches in every possible sense yet Pacific Rim was fun, without the more annoying elements of the former flicks.
I hate picking holes in these absurd types of movies and god knows there are plenty in this one but one thing I still can't quite get my head around regarding the "plot" which didn't even make the slightest bit of sense by the film's own set of "rules & logic" -
Give your brain the night off and watch the only ever entertaining episode of Power Rangers ever made.
Joker of Gotham
My favourite part of the movie is the intro, fantastic intro for a movie.Lots of action, the fights are really great, the director did a fantastic job.
3.75/5
swiz
The fight scene in Hong Kong was pretty satisfying, but I still can't get past how stupid this movie was in pretty much every aspect--plot, dialogue, characters."Oh hey, I totally forgot we had these super-sweet mega-swords! Why have we been fighting these things with handfuls of freaking shipping containers?!" And then, in the next fight, the swords become their go-to weapon? And there's always a conveniently placed coolant vent or exhaust port for when you're screwed, sure. These robots could've been a lot cooler if the pilots even remotely seemed like they knew what they were doing. Also agree with the other poster about Evangelion.
Rasheru
Nobody's said it yet so I'll say it: Evangelion. If the Americans were gonna make a live-action Evangelion it would probably look like this failure. Sure, the robots looked cool, but they really failed with the story and characters. And, like someone else mentionned below, why do they always fist-fight the monsters!?Kaiso
I heard a lot of bad things about it. I still watched it because, Giant Robots vs Alien Godzillas, let's be honest, it HAS to be awesome.Never have I been so disappointed by a movie. It's like they tried as hard as possible to make the worse of a good blockbuster idea. The only good thing is the special effects, but they are completely drowned in the abyssmal mediocrity of every other aspect of the movie.
CoffinDancr
Pacific Rim replaces Twister as the movie with the best use of a Category 5 climax.turhank
I think it was a great mecha anime adaptation. All the cheesy moments were made in a way that they actually fit the anime-like nature of the movie. Del Toro finally hit the bullseye!mpouk
Great attention to the production design and the battle sequences are done with great care and imagination but the script and characters make it unsuitable for anyone above the tender age of 15. It feels like a waste of talent, alas.Theatrechick321
For an action film, that portrays giant robotic alien killing machines, it had a nice amount of emotion. Always a fan of Hunnam, and Elba. Also love Charlie Day!Ceejzor
The movie was big & beautiful.. with great actor's to suck you in as well, love Charlie Hunnam, and Del Toro.Worth a watch.
Siskoid
Giant monsters and giant robots, Pacific Rim creates a believable and detailed world where those two things exist, a world with consequences, lots of little details, and despite the jeopardy, a certain sense of humor about itself. It certainly schools Man of Steel in how to make destruction porn WORK, and it does so with dropping a single 4-letter word despite the military context. Oh it's a simple story, but well told, with enough twists of fate, beautiful visuals, decipherable choreography and badass moments to entertain all the way through. The weak link is Charlie Hunnam in the main role, the kind of jocky square-jawed hero that's almost a non-character (to go with his non-accent), and a dull narrator to boot. The film makes up for it with casting that makes it seem like the director is watching all the same shows I am, giving us memorable characters played by Idris Alba, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, Max Martini, Rinko Kikuchi and Ron Perlman. Ultimately, does it deliver on kaiju vs. mechs in a solid plot with engaging characters? Yes it does.KuroSawWhat
Pacific Rim becomes watchable when the characters stop talking. The Robot VS Alien fights are the only good part of this film, with amazing visual effects, and even those fights are not that interesting because of how terrible everything else is. The rest of the time, I'm honestly puzzled as to what they were trying to accomplish. Is this serious? Is it a parody? It is both too silly and not silly enough; neither one or the other. The direction and shot composition for the actors plays out like it's trying to be a serious film, yet they are behaving like rediculously overplayed character tropes, straight out of Saturday morning cartoon.If you've had the misfortune to view scenes in Bollywood or other asian films where they needed a "white guy" for a quick scene, you've seen the result of them pulling the first English-speaking caucasian they found in a local gym and putting him in front of a camera: Baby's first acting lesson. Well, that is how everyone in this film acts all the time!! Is that what they were going for, assuming foriegn markets are used to it? Mixed in with this is rediculously cliched writing, with painfully unfunny comic relief moments.
The whole film plays out like it was made by someone who doesn't understand the films that they are ripping off; why they were good, why they're remembered fondly, or even what works in basic storytelling. This feels like a half-finished movie.
nothere413
Cheesy and silly, but tons of fun. There were a few parts that made me cringe a bit, but overall I enjoyed myself.IamAtee
big ass robots fighting giant ass Godzillas in the middle of Hongkong city , what to dislike :DShowing items 1 – 15 of 63