Man's labyrinth----Idris Elba as the boss to a man (Charlie Hunnan) who fights monsters in Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim is one of those films that relies far too heavily on the awesome premise at hand. The difference between Pacific Rim and 99% of the other films that are like that is Pacific Rim delivers for the most part. The film is fun and intense even if after the fifth or so monsters vs. robots throw down...you get exhausted. We get it---this is cool stuff---no one has to keep reinforcing it because we know how cool it is already. For people who aren't into robots or monsters...this will be more of a nap for you. For the others who are into one or both of those things...you'll feel like a kid again. I can't say I loved the film but I can say I enjoyed about 70% of it.
The film stars Charlie Hunnan as Raleigh....a man who is working for Stacker (Idris Elba) to help stop the invasion of kaijus. He gets paired up with an unlikely partner named Mako (Rinko Kikuchi) seeing as you need two people to control the robots that fight off the kaijus. If you're wondering what kaijust are...they are giant, lizard like monsters who come from deep below the ocean. Meanwhile, Dr. Newton Geiszler (Charlie Day, in the most inspired casting choice of all time) tries to stop the kaijus himself. He goes so far as to meet up with a black market dealer, Hannibal Chau (Ron Perlman, another inspired casting choice) to buy a kaiju brain.
Hunnan is kind of bland in the lead role and his voiceover at the beginning that allows the wheels to be set in motion has no energy. However, for what he has to do...he gets the job done. Elba is great as the strict boss and Kikuchi does some fine work as an unlikely fighter. Day, however, steals the show. He's so wacky as a scientist that it's funny and yet kind of believable. He provides some much needed comic relief. His stuff with Perlman is great as is all his solo stuff. I salute the casting director for going with such an odd choice.
The robots vs. monsters brawls are pretty incredible albeit exhausting. I saw this in a huge IMAX theater and I can tell you right now that if you don't see it in IMAX...you're simply not getting the full picture. Of course...having seen it in IMAX...I also had to see it in 3D. The 3D isn't Wrath Of The Titans bad but it does become a bit much on the eyes. Like I said...the film does get a bit redundant after the fifth or so throw down but it still manages to mostly work.
I can't say that I loved Pacific Rim. It does have its fair share of problems (a bland lead, odd pacing, ETC.) However, as directed by the master himself Guillermo del Toro...it is shockingly good sometimes and never appallingly bad. I would say try to find a fairly inexpensive IMAX theater to get the full experience and not have to spend that much money on a not great film.
(3 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars...The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief language)
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