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Reviews Film / Pacific Rim

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Valiona Since: Mar, 2011
04/24/2018 20:15:00 •••

The Most Awesome Dumb Movie Ever Made

When it comes to action movies, some are unapologetically dumb, while others aspire to be something more artistic or intellectual. Both approaches can work well or fall flat, but while Pacific Rim isn't especially original or intellectual, it's well-made.

The plot is fairly simple and not especially original- humanity, under siege by giant Kaiju must fight them off with Humongous Mecha called Jaegers. It's a standard and almost cliché setting, but there's a surprising amount of thought put into it, from the mechanisms needed to control the Jaegers to people getting the idea to harvest Kaiju parts, which helps make the setting feel a bit more real.

The characters are an interesting lot, who quickly establish their fairly memorable personalities but also have considerable Hidden Depths. Mako is one of the first female action heroes with her own narrative arc, and while she has important relationships with Raleigh and Pentecost, she isn't defined by them. It's fairly telling that while Chuck could have been little more than the "jerk" character, he has some valid (if harshly expressed) points, showing that the filmmakers are willing to flesh out their characters rather than resort to stereotypes. As such, you can easily connect with and empathize with the characters, thus giving the movie a strong human element.

The action is where the film truly shines. The Jaegers come with a variety of abilities and fighting styles, making for some entertaining battles. It might have been nice to see more of the other Jaegers, but this isn't too much of a point against the film.

All in all, the film isn't particularly deep, but it's well-crafted and highly enjoyable to watch, which is ultimately what matters most.


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