Escape to the Movies: Pacific Rim
- Thread starter MovieBob
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I'm getting him sick of bringing The Amazing Spider-Man down in every single video he makes on this site too, and then thinking The Avengers is the height of film-making somehow.jFr[e said:
Anyway...probably won't be seeing this, cos cinema is expensive, I wasted £6 seeing a disppointing World War Z, I want to save up and see The World's End, and also Bob compared it to The Avengers.
I've found out films that Bob gushes about, I generally dislike (The Avengers, Raimi Spiderman films ), but ones he is unfairly critical of (The Amazing Spider Man, Man of Steel, The Dark Knight trilogy) end up being my favourites.
This Is The End had the most crowded cinema of any film I've been in for a looong time.Jegsimmons said:
That's not it, though. He rips on spiderman and batman and whateverman because their existence and success has this unfortunate ability to give the "everything is gritty and realistic" traction which, frankly, movies have enough of right now. Why do you go to see a superhero movie for "complicated (please, ahahaha)" characters with "real" issues? This isn't to say the BEHTMEHN MOVIES are bad, but since they are good everything starts seeing this weird need of "let's also be gritty like batman!" despite the grit having a substantial point to play with the plot of the movie and the character in question.endtherapture said:
Man of Steel, prime suspect. What? Superman movie? Pf. Keep the cape, but drop the outerunderpants. Capes are srsbsns. Also, drop everything into a color-sucking filter. Ain't nobody got time for that.
Well, he rips on the new Spiderman because he legitimately didn't like it, but that's not a can of worms I'm touching right now.
Also, the idea was to make a stark contrast, I imagine, not so much hate. Where the Dark Knight is gritty and dark, Pacific Rim is goofy and fun. It's not so much a rag on gritty and dark inasmuch as it's a comment on needing some variety.
Well the most recent Spider-Man was definitely not gritty and realistic. It had all of the cool comic book poses, lots of comedy, fun fight scenes etc.Ferisar said:
TDK trilogy was supposed to be dark and gritty. That's an artistic decision and in the name of consistency. Imagine if TDK Rises was a goofy, fun, comic book film. It would have been an outrage and a terrible way to end the trilogy.
The Man of Steel was also not ashamed of it's comic book roots. The first half an hour was an sci-fi film for crying out loud, and the artistic direction was great, it definitely wasn't ashamed to be a comic book film, it just took a different appraoch to it.
In my opinion there is a place for goofy, fun, comic book films, so that's Marvel's Avengers franchise. then there's also the DC films which take a more serious, introspective route. That's fine too. Variety is good!!
Just Bob doesn't need to say it every single episode. It's old, he doesn't like Spider-Man. We get it. But stop it because it's getting old and he looks like a whining, annoying, petty fanboy now.
I actually prefer that Bob continually reminds everyone what he considers to be good or bad, from his point of view, as a way to give perspective to the points he raises. Making the point that the relatively grit and angst free approach to story that Pacific Rim takes makes it a good film is inferring that things that use a superfluous amount of grit or angst in their plot as a primary character motivation device are, based on that criteria, bad. He specifically calls out examples of it instead of trying to avoid bringing those up just in case they offend the sensibilities of a few of his viewers.
Has he been making those comparisons more of late? Yes. Due to the fact that comparing one summer blockbuster to another just makes sense. It actually smacks of integrity, not petty fanboyism, that he is making points that people disagree with and then sticking with them without constantly feeling the need to continually justify those points.
Has he been making those comparisons more of late? Yes. Due to the fact that comparing one summer blockbuster to another just makes sense. It actually smacks of integrity, not petty fanboyism, that he is making points that people disagree with and then sticking with them without constantly feeling the need to continually justify those points.
Why do people like this movie so much? I thought it was horrible. The story was bland as shit and incredibility predictable, lots of things are left undeveloped and the action scenes were boring. No offense but I had more pleasure watching Transformers and that wasn't even that good. The reason being was that i could at least tell what was going on there and in the combat the people weren't being complete morons. By this I mean the Jaegers have alot of weapons that are effective against the Kaiju but rarely use them. In fact their first form of attack is to wrestle the monsters.... Ok this is unrealistic, not in the science way that would be retarded, but in the human way. The Jaegers could have easily killed alot more and kept more people alive if they had used their weapons. Hell two Jaegers insisted on not using any weapons other than their giant metal fists and were destroyed. That kind of thing just kills the point of the movie, there's no strategy or thought going into the fighting and it's unconvincing that these people know any fighting techniques at all much less complete masters at martial arts. Maybe that was the point, every time they find a weapon it appears to just be a convient plot device so that the Jaeger could win, the biggest case is the sword. It's able to slice right through each Kaiju and the main character doesn't use it until they're in the atmosphere, had they deployed it earlier they could've easily killed their enemy. So it seems like the people are intentionally made retarded for the sole purpose of making the Kaiju more threatening while keeping the Jaeger formidable. Hell the first time they do the Neural Handshake with generic white guy and Mako WAS IN A LIVE ARMED SUIT! They've had this program for 20 years by then surely they would've known to have some outside test module. That would be like if Nasa didn't have their test launch training with the thing that hurles their pilots thousands of miles per hour in a circle and just had their pilots actually launch the rocket into space over and over again as training. I understand the movie has to do things like that which if you thought about it made the people look retarded, the Dark Knight is like that, and that's fine since you shouldn't be putting that much thought into the movie. That works up to a point, if the whole organization consists of retards as the Jaeger division seemed to be then that starts getting in the way of the story because they create half of their challenges.OlasDAlmighty said:
The end finale was the worst part as the characters didn't seem to know what they were doing nor did the audience. When they were approaching the rim a Kaiju was circling them and they were told of this but they didn't do anything because "it was moving too fast". I'm not sure if that thing even came in at all. But there is one thing I'm sure of, the Category 5 Kaiju was given this massive entrance which dwarfed the Jaeger right? What happened after that? Nothing, it disappeared it seems. The big bad boss simply stopped existing I think, or the director forgot about him? Was he fighting the Black colonel or something? Because I was sure a smaller Kaiju was attacking them. After he exploded himself did it die? The earlier fight scenes were bad enough as they were so boring. They could've been better if they zoomed out to show the scale better, or if the combat wasn't so confusing.
As for the story, well let's start with the black guy. The black guy in particular is a really inconsistent character mostly because of the attitude he had when re approaching the main character (see how boring this was? I don't remember their names outside of Mako and Newton), he says "you either die here or die fighting" which convinces the guy to go back. But then everything after that he seems to contradict himself, he shoots down Newtons idea because "Humans can't handle a Kaiju brain" and he tells his Australian team to stand down because he needed them for later or something. That doesn't sound like it's the same person. The main character was instantly forgettable. Now Mako and Newton I thought were pretty good, mostly Newton because he's Charlie Day. I only know Charlie Day from his awesome casting in Always Sunny in Philly and I laughed when he got on and he still had the same voice (ok c'mon, Hugh Laurie transitioned from Comedian with a thick Irish accent to a serious American actor with a hoarse American accent just fine) but I was surprised how well he pulled off being in a serious movie, although he didn't seem like an idiot just weird. Ron Pearlmans character seemed useless for the most part and seems to just be for the sequel. Mako did just fine being the stereotypical shy Japanese girl. Everyone else though were just boring characters. Which is a fitting description for this movie; Boring.
Although that's all my opinion, sorry i just needed to vent my impression somewhere. The people I watched the movie with thought that same as I did and so I was surprised to see Movie Bob say "just see it it's good".
Funny you should mention that..4Aces said:
http://what-if.xkcd.com/53/
The doorway wasn't constantly open. And the Oceans are a lot larger than you think..
@Warforger: You think too much
Honestly the only thing that bugged me was Mako practically vanished after her plot thread was resolved. For the rest of the movie she's was just a background character. I honestly expected her to start helping him fight the Australian kid after the incident in a show of how well they were linked, but she just sat back and gaped..
Oh hey, the Box Office numbers are in. Good! So how'd Pacific Rim do?
Third? Well I suppose that's not too bad. Who beat it out?
Despicable Me 2 in first? OK fine, that's understandable. The first was great, it's a good family movie, more kids would be taken to it... makes sense. What came in second?
Wait... this... this can't be right...
GROWN UPS 2?!?!
Pacific Rim got beat out by GROWN UPS 2?!
WHAT THE GODDANG HELL AMERICA?!?!
Third? Well I suppose that's not too bad. Who beat it out?
Despicable Me 2 in first? OK fine, that's understandable. The first was great, it's a good family movie, more kids would be taken to it... makes sense. What came in second?
Wait... this... this can't be right...
GROWN UPS 2?!?!
Pacific Rim got beat out by GROWN UPS 2?!
WHAT THE GODDANG HELL AMERICA?!?!
I just saw the movie. I enjoyed it, well, because there were giant robots. I agree with many of you, that:
1. The characters seemed to be made of cardboard, largely overacted and still uninteresting. I felt no connection to anyone.
2. The battle techniques seemed dodgy. There was some "Voltroning" going on. Lead with the damned sword!
3. The tactics for stopping the Kaiju seemed dumb. A wall? Along the entire West coast of North America? Good plan.
4. The technology of the world and robots did seem very mismatched. The main power disconnect to the giant nuclear powered robot and the mind link to the pickled kaiju brain fragment are both the same 480Volt 60Amp 3Phase plugs that we use today. (Mind links are apparently very "agricultural" in the future.) Yeah. This is nitpicking.
But all-in-all I got a decent Independence Day vibe from it. Not as good mind you (Independence Day had likable characters), but still worth my $6 to see. And there were some little comedic touches in there from Del Toro which were well received by the audience. The bits that I did like:
1. The battered look of everything when the film starts. The "this has been around a while" feel of the initial mechs and the pilot suits conveyed the "we've done this a bit" feeling just right.
2. The fight scenes did a great job in making the world seem "brittle".
3. The kaiju were reasonably diverse and well designed. Same monsters--different adaptations.
4. When they snuck in at the end and uploaded the computer virus to the mother ship, that little laughing skull was a nice touch. Wait. Wait. I may have a couple movies confused.
1. The characters seemed to be made of cardboard, largely overacted and still uninteresting. I felt no connection to anyone.
2. The battle techniques seemed dodgy. There was some "Voltroning" going on. Lead with the damned sword!
3. The tactics for stopping the Kaiju seemed dumb. A wall? Along the entire West coast of North America? Good plan.
4. The technology of the world and robots did seem very mismatched. The main power disconnect to the giant nuclear powered robot and the mind link to the pickled kaiju brain fragment are both the same 480Volt 60Amp 3Phase plugs that we use today. (Mind links are apparently very "agricultural" in the future.) Yeah. This is nitpicking.
But all-in-all I got a decent Independence Day vibe from it. Not as good mind you (Independence Day had likable characters), but still worth my $6 to see. And there were some little comedic touches in there from Del Toro which were well received by the audience. The bits that I did like:
1. The battered look of everything when the film starts. The "this has been around a while" feel of the initial mechs and the pilot suits conveyed the "we've done this a bit" feeling just right.
2. The fight scenes did a great job in making the world seem "brittle".
3. The kaiju were reasonably diverse and well designed. Same monsters--different adaptations.
4. When they snuck in at the end and uploaded the computer virus to the mother ship, that little laughing skull was a nice touch. Wait. Wait. I may have a couple movies confused.
If you factor in the International Gross then Pacific Rim thrashed Grown Ups 2, I imagine they'll start reducing the NA locations and focus on keeping the thing alive in Europe/Asia. It is doing fantastic business in Ireland, UK, and Malta. As well as supposedly booked out cinemas in Germany.Chessrook44 said:
Haven't heard anything specific from Asia but as we all know, Japan has never favoured films about mecha.
I thought the bit with the giant tidal wave was much better.Clankenbeard said:
the redundant irony in this post is amazing.MorganL4 said:
also, may i point out that Del Toro HIMSELF SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN EVANGELION!!!
I think you are reading it wrong, after the first 3-6 mins the movie makes clear the universe physics and logic makes shit sense, that is the cue for your brain to stop worrying about it following any logic and just sit back and enjoy the ride.NameIsRobertPaulson said:
For me it works because the movie is totally unapologetic about it and focus on big ass robots. If anything I wish the spanish translation was better done, they did a terrible work at acting and the japanese phrases were butchered most of the time, that's what i get for going with my young siblings and letting em pick the language.
definitely a spectacle movie; it's essentially a GOOD version of Transformers or basically any Roland Emmerich film. I actually wish Kikuchi got more to do in the film as Mako feels a bit underdeveloped compared to Raleigh (whose character arc pretty much ends by the time he goes into battle again). Furthermore, it is at the end of the day, just a popcorn flick that there's for pure entertainment. A GOOD popcorn flick, but one of those nonetheless.
Fun fact: Mako in the Japanese dub is voiced by Megumi Hayashibara, Rei Ayanami herself.
P.S. Somebody needs to get to work making a GOOD game based off this.
Fun fact: Mako in the Japanese dub is voiced by Megumi Hayashibara, Rei Ayanami herself.
P.S. Somebody needs to get to work making a GOOD game based off this.
This review missed the three most important words in the history of Pacific Rim.
"Voice. Of. GLaDOS."
Seriously, want me to rush out of my house to the cinema and watch this movie over and over again? "Voice. Of. GLaDOS."
Want to emphasise that this is an epic and awesome best movie of the year? "Voice. Of. GLaDOS."
I don't care if she only has like two lines in the entire movie (not seen it, hoping more) but to get me excited to see this film? "Voice. Of. GLaDOS."
Guess why I'm going to see Pacific Rim this weekend?
"Voice. Of. GLaDOS."
Seriously, want me to rush out of my house to the cinema and watch this movie over and over again? "Voice. Of. GLaDOS."
Want to emphasise that this is an epic and awesome best movie of the year? "Voice. Of. GLaDOS."
I don't care if she only has like two lines in the entire movie (not seen it, hoping more) but to get me excited to see this film? "Voice. Of. GLaDOS."
Guess why I'm going to see Pacific Rim this weekend?
Still, if it is Sydney being destroyed it should do well in Melbourne. I will give that scene a rousing cheer when I see it. Was this scene in Godzilla - Final Wars that got the cheers and applause http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MXzJFlzYgYpearcinator said:
Also in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah the big G attacks a nuclear power plant from the ocean while in meltdown. Was not Fukashima though, but close.
Another edit - if it was an Evangelion movie it would be 2 and a half hours of teeangers whining and 1/2 an hour of fighting. Plus they would drag it out for 10 or 15 years with "re-imaginings" and not just END THE SERIES.
Hold on - two pilots mind-merged to pilot a mecha?
Where did I [http://www.amazon.com/Mecha-Corps-Novel-Armor-Wars/dp/0451464311] see that before [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M1Wf8DU2UA]?
I mean, okay, alright, it's Mecha vs. Kaiju - it's not supposed to be original. But still, it irks me that the hollywood blockbuster version once again gets the "brilliant ideas" credit for things that others did a billion times before. It irks me that it gets credit for ideas that Mecha Corps stole in a much more intelligent fashion, and Mecha Corps is not even a great novel!
Where did I [http://www.amazon.com/Mecha-Corps-Novel-Armor-Wars/dp/0451464311] see that before [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M1Wf8DU2UA]?
I mean, okay, alright, it's Mecha vs. Kaiju - it's not supposed to be original. But still, it irks me that the hollywood blockbuster version once again gets the "brilliant ideas" credit for things that others did a billion times before. It irks me that it gets credit for ideas that Mecha Corps stole in a much more intelligent fashion, and Mecha Corps is not even a great novel!
[quote/]If you factor in the International Gross then Pacific Rim thrashed Grown Ups 2, I imagine they'll start reducing the NA locations and focus on keeping the thing alive in Europe/Asia. It is doing fantastic business in Ireland, UK, and Malta. As well as supposedly booked out cinemas in Germany.
Haven't heard anything specific from Asia but as we all know, Japan has never favoured films about mecha.
I thought the bit with the giant tidal wave was much better.[/quote]
I'm glad it's doing well in the UK because when I went to see it on Saturday at 8pm after it opened on the Friday the screen was only about half full! It was a 2D screening so maybe that had an effect but it was still worryingly empty.
Haven't heard anything specific from Asia but as we all know, Japan has never favoured films about mecha.
I thought the bit with the giant tidal wave was much better.[/quote]
I'm glad it's doing well in the UK because when I went to see it on Saturday at 8pm after it opened on the Friday the screen was only about half full! It was a 2D screening so maybe that had an effect but it was still worryingly empty.