Escape to the Movies: Pacific Rim
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My initial concern was that Hollywood would try to clone this movie and end up burning more money than the rest of the world combined could ever hope to see, but, then I realized that if there were a sequel (and yeah, there will be. I mean c'mon) it would only serve to show just how badly out of ideas Hollywood is. I do not envy the likely forthcoming "Voltron" movie when it will be compared to this.
sounds good and i sure are interested, but for some odd reason my cinema, who usually plays 2D and 3D version of the same movie,only has it in 3D.
not really fond of 3D and it costs too much. looks like i have to wait till its out on dvd so i can watch it in normal 2D version.
not really fond of 3D and it costs too much. looks like i have to wait till its out on dvd so i can watch it in normal 2D version.
See it in IMAX 3D.
No really. The 3D is astoundingly well-done, and the bass in IMAX theaters is so loud and deep that every time a Kaiju takes a step, you'll feel like it just thumped down next to you. Holy crap does the IMAX experience rock for this.
I saw this twice already. (Prescreening and yesterday after release in Boston.) I predict a lot of people will complain that even though it's already a 2.25-hour movie, it doesn't have enough slowed-down character moments and there wasn't enough focus on the Drifting between the two main characters and that two of the Jaegers died the first time they were sent out and thus we didn't get to see them fight more, just the main two that were needed for the Big Final Mission.
The problem is, if you added anything to this movie, it would turn into a Lord of the Rings-length monstrosity. Del Toro couldn't have fit anything else in here, or it would have padded out the movie. The point isn't for this to be a big dramatic character movie; the point is to show people characters that they already understand, in an interesting way, so that they can get straight into the world as it is and follow along as we see this incredibly small snapshot of what's going on. The movie represents the last dregs of the Kaiju war, not the whole shebang. It needs a very quick and brusque setup just to get off the ground, and we can't waste time faffing about with the main characters' issues. We know they have them; we can assume they're putting them aside because IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO. If you can't manage to deal with your psychology in the face of THE END OF THE WORLD, you have no business piloting a giant robot in the fight to keep said end of the world from happening. Presumably this is why the character development goes so quickly -- you don't have *time* in this setting to go through a huge character arc. It's one shot, one try, no retries. You screw up, and the world is over. How many times have you yelled at characters for not sucking it up in the face of epic consequences? Probably a lot. And finally when they do so, you don't really get to complain, because it just makes sense.
I liked that. It made things simple but not stupid, as Bob said. Giant monster, punch it in the face. There's no time to freak out when you're about to get ripped apart.
The main problem I see with the movie, which isn't big at all to me, is that the worldbuilding was a little weird, in that the entire human race got hit by Stupid Rays at the beginning and every government has decided that the Jaeger program is lame and let's just build a giant wall instead. Chuck "Egotistical Jerk with Daddy Issues" was right -- shitty pilots were probably what was dooming the program, because when decent pilots went out there against bigger-than-usual kaiju, they mostly still won. But this is really the worst part of the movie, and I can live with a bit of inconsistency just to see the rest of the awesome.
No really. The 3D is astoundingly well-done, and the bass in IMAX theaters is so loud and deep that every time a Kaiju takes a step, you'll feel like it just thumped down next to you. Holy crap does the IMAX experience rock for this.
I saw this twice already. (Prescreening and yesterday after release in Boston.) I predict a lot of people will complain that even though it's already a 2.25-hour movie, it doesn't have enough slowed-down character moments and there wasn't enough focus on the Drifting between the two main characters and that two of the Jaegers died the first time they were sent out and thus we didn't get to see them fight more, just the main two that were needed for the Big Final Mission.
The problem is, if you added anything to this movie, it would turn into a Lord of the Rings-length monstrosity. Del Toro couldn't have fit anything else in here, or it would have padded out the movie. The point isn't for this to be a big dramatic character movie; the point is to show people characters that they already understand, in an interesting way, so that they can get straight into the world as it is and follow along as we see this incredibly small snapshot of what's going on. The movie represents the last dregs of the Kaiju war, not the whole shebang. It needs a very quick and brusque setup just to get off the ground, and we can't waste time faffing about with the main characters' issues. We know they have them; we can assume they're putting them aside because IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO. If you can't manage to deal with your psychology in the face of THE END OF THE WORLD, you have no business piloting a giant robot in the fight to keep said end of the world from happening. Presumably this is why the character development goes so quickly -- you don't have *time* in this setting to go through a huge character arc. It's one shot, one try, no retries. You screw up, and the world is over. How many times have you yelled at characters for not sucking it up in the face of epic consequences? Probably a lot. And finally when they do so, you don't really get to complain, because it just makes sense.
I liked that. It made things simple but not stupid, as Bob said. Giant monster, punch it in the face. There's no time to freak out when you're about to get ripped apart.
The main problem I see with the movie, which isn't big at all to me, is that the worldbuilding was a little weird, in that the entire human race got hit by Stupid Rays at the beginning and every government has decided that the Jaeger program is lame and let's just build a giant wall instead. Chuck "Egotistical Jerk with Daddy Issues" was right -- shitty pilots were probably what was dooming the program, because when decent pilots went out there against bigger-than-usual kaiju, they mostly still won. But this is really the worst part of the movie, and I can live with a bit of inconsistency just to see the rest of the awesome.
What my smile the most was the very last part of the credits and no, that's not damming with praise:
In Memory of Ray Harryhausen and Ishirō Honda.
Great acknowledgment and good stuff overall.
In Memory of Ray Harryhausen and Ishirō Honda.
Great acknowledgment and good stuff overall.
Sounds interesting, may go and see it if I get the chance. Also another week, another rip on the Amazing Spiderman, seriously Bob, it's been a year already, let it go
Hmmm. Ok, the thing is - I know Bob too well now. I know how much he loves giant monster movies. I've seen him gush about crazy Godzilla sequels and King Kong remakes. So while I'm pleased they made a giant monster movie that appeals to him, I don't know how much this says about how much I'll enjoy it. Giant robots punching monsters in the face sounds fun but... well, only up to a point. I mean - if his reference point is Independence Day then that's a big warning to me because I fucking hated that movie.
On the other hand, so far there's scarcely a movie I haven't been basically in agreement with him about, so despite my reservations I think the sheer exuberant joy in his voice is enough to get me over my skepticism. I'll probably give it a go. But it sounds... pretty dumb to me.
On the other hand, so far there's scarcely a movie I haven't been basically in agreement with him about, so despite my reservations I think the sheer exuberant joy in his voice is enough to get me over my skepticism. I'll probably give it a go. But it sounds... pretty dumb to me.
I saw PR mere hours ago and I gotta say best use of cgi ever. Unlike bob though i think I would have liked a little more depth or uniqueness to the characters but ah I guess that's more a nitpick than a negative. For what the movie intended to be it sure freaking pulls it off and then some. Right down to the "boss battle" you know is coming at the end lol.
Saw this movie tonight, I liked it, was a bit shocked that my cinema (in aus) had it 3 times a day in 2d, but had lone ranger 8 times.
After recently watching man of steel (man of shakycam amiright?), I was amazed how I didn't spot any product placement, not even a mobile phone, unless it was all for a japanese audience or something?
There was one thing that got to me in the movie though...
Why don't you just shoot it? Seriously, why always start every fight with a punch then pull out the plasma cannon or even sword once you start to lose?
After recently watching man of steel (man of shakycam amiright?), I was amazed how I didn't spot any product placement, not even a mobile phone, unless it was all for a japanese audience or something?
There was one thing that got to me in the movie though...
Why don't you just shoot it? Seriously, why always start every fight with a punch then pull out the plasma cannon or even sword once you start to lose?
I saw it at a preview screening yesterday, and I very much enjoyed it. Huge battle scenes, not too much bloat between bloat between them, and finaly a movie that decided it could end with out a massive sequel hook in it. A refreshingly self contained movie. GO SEE IT
GIANT ROBOTS AND MONSTERS AND BOOMS AND KER-PUNCHES AND YAY!!!MovieBob said:
OT: However I am now a little worried. This looks like another film that MovieBob is going to make me hate with constant references and comparisons. I really did like the Avengers Bob. That is until you praised it into the ground for me. Please don't do that to this one. I want to keep enjoying this over-the-top nonsense.
I saw it last night. It really was a great movie, but I don't think the various flaws should go completely forgotten...
With no spoilers, it is quite a predictable movie and not quite on the same intellectual level as Mass Effect, but it does really recall a sense of child-like wonder without the "thinky-talkiness" or more grown-up sci-fi and the cynicism of most other action movies.
The other two Jaeger teams were like the definition of extreme red shirts. They're introduced, their Jaegers look pretty cool, you hope they will have cool characterization beyond "these guys are Russians/Chinese" and they kill them off almost immediately. The way the romance starts and really the whole first act after the prologue is sort of ran through in a way that makes you wonder why they even bothered with half of it.
With no spoilers, it is quite a predictable movie and not quite on the same intellectual level as Mass Effect, but it does really recall a sense of child-like wonder without the "thinky-talkiness" or more grown-up sci-fi and the cynicism of most other action movies.
Gotta love a movie where every so often you ask "Did they just...?" And the response is "Yes, and it's awesome. 
Why aren't I going to see it right now? Because I'm poor.
Also, someone needs to gif-erise that 'punch it in the face' bit of the review.
Also, someone needs to gif-erise that 'punch it in the face' bit of the review.
Seeing it tonight! Seeing it tonight!! SEEING IT TONIGHT!!!Daystar Clarion said:Gush more Bob
I saw it this morning.
It's alright, not great by any means, and I'm easy to impress.
I don't know, I think I was just expecting it to be more like this in terms of fun.
What is awesome, is that the voice of GLaDOS says 'Rocket Punch engaged'
I repeat
[HEADING=1]the voice of GLaDOS says 'Rocket Punch engaged'[/HEADING]
Now I wait for Platinum games to make a movie...
Hey, it could happen
Also, im glad im not the only one freaking out over Wonder101.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
This movie. The one movie this summer I have been genuinely looking forward to. From a director I genuinely respect and admire. The one movie I've been counting down the days to since May.
And it's not being shown within a 40 mile radius of where I'm living right now.
Thank you Warner Bros and Odeon Cinemas for screwing up my weekend. Good f--king job all round, people.
This movie. The one movie this summer I have been genuinely looking forward to. From a director I genuinely respect and admire. The one movie I've been counting down the days to since May.
And it's not being shown within a 40 mile radius of where I'm living right now.
Thank you Warner Bros and Odeon Cinemas for screwing up my weekend. Good f--king job all round, people.