Pacific Rim

wushuliu · « **on:** 13 Jul 2013, 12:08 am »

Well that was cool. I had high expectation because it's Guillermo and for the most part it was fulfilled - certainly compared to disappointments like Man of Steel. PR is the kind of film I would have gone nuts over as a kid. It's a love letter to japanese monster movies. The creatures are amazing and the JAEGERs put Transformers in their place. This is what a Michael Bay movie would look like if he wasn't Michael Bay. The acting is solid. Hunnam is a good actor and he plays lead well as some of us know from SOA. Idris Elba is, well, Idris Elba. I The weakest part of the film is the geeky research duo, but I have a soft spot for Charlie Day because of It's Always Sunny so I didn't mind - but his and the other guy's part were too hyperkinetic and over the top. But a teenager or younger would probably think they were funny. Definitely rips off some other movies but in a good way: there's some Top Gun in it for sure - but the rest is so original in design and look that it doesn't matter.

This is Godzillas vs. Voltron. The monster fights are AWESOME. The effects are incredible. I am always in awe of Guillermo's ability to make creatures that are both fantastical but still look and behave photorealistic. You end up being swept up in his films. PR is easily a film that a franchise can be built on, even a TV show - that's how fleshed out the world is.

Of course Ron Perlman always comes through (hint hint). Great ending.

The 3-D was good, but it was not shot in 3-D so save some bucks. You won't be missing anything if you see it in 2-D.

Highly recommended.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Jul 2013, 03:06 am »

I considered going to see it tonite but I hate crowds. Since I'm off Monday I'll go see it then!

wushuliu · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Jul 2013, 05:46 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock on 13 Jul 2013, 03:06 am

I considered going to see it tonite but I hate crowds. Since I'm off Monday I'll go see it then!

See it on the biggest screen you possibly can. It's that kind of movie.

North Star · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Jul 2013, 07:28 am »

Can't wait for the 3D Blu-ray release. ...I've heard great things about that one, and your review just confirms it, thx!

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Jul 2013, 06:26 am »

Just got back from seeing Pacific Rim and...wow! Just WOW!

Simply unbelievable on so many levels. The Jaegers (Mechs) in the film have real weight to them, and the physics seem real. Better still the movie is about people deep down, and about love and trust. Gotta run now but this one is one of the better films I've seen in the last couple years!

North Star · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Jul 2013, 11:58 pm »

Great! ...Another positive review!

joeling39 · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Jul 2013, 03:39 am »

It's a good movie. Watched it with my 11 year old. He enjoyed it too. There some glaring holes in the logic of the plot but no need to nick pick.

Thumbs up.

Regards,
Joe Ling

wushuliu · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Jul 2013, 03:45 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock on 15 Jul 2013, 06:26 am

Just got back from seeing Pacific Rim and...wow! Just WOW! Simply unbelievable on so many levels. The Jaegers (Mechs) in the film have real weight to them, and the physics seem real. Better still the movie is about people deep down, and about love and trust. Gotta run now but this one is one of the better films I've seen in the last couple years!

I lost it when they went Voltron (sword). I grew up on Toho monster movies and Voltron cartoons. So PR made my day. Now I know how comic book fans feel when a movie gets their favorite material right!

The same production company is making the Godzilla remake but unless they do something *really* creative I don't see the point. Pacific Rim beats all comers. I think I'm gonna see it again.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 Jul 2013, 06:40 am »

BTW, I just got back from seeing it again tonite!

My brother & his oldest son hadn't seen it yet and both are big geeks/sci fi fans. They were nearly as impressed as I was!

mcgsxr · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 Jul 2013, 11:38 am »

I will watch it for sure, but in truth no nothing of the back story. I assume the effects will be stupendous.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Jul 2013, 11:49 am »

Terrible acting by no-name actors. Really bad. The robots were cool, but the darkness of the movie and the heavy motion made it hard to focus on all the complexity in each action scene. My low expectations were met but it was a very interesting film (subject).

Folsom · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Jul 2013, 06:16 pm »

Physics?

Maybe they were fair until they went into the water. But technically I don't think a mech powered by diesel would of been able to move much at all. There really wasn't any explanation of how they could even operate. That type of speed they had comes at a cost. The monsters were grown, and hence much more resources went into them.

I'd really like to know what kind of a digital core was in the Mark 5, and why a digitally operated machine with a nuclear reactor is somehow "analog".

I'm glad it wasn't a full blown love plot. It had some cheese in it for sure though.

Scott F. · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Jul 2013, 06:55 pm »

We talked about going to see Red 2 this weekend but after watching the trailer, I think we'll go see this one instead. Looks pretty awesome

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Jul 2013, 07:39 pm »

Okay, I don't mean the physics of the movie was right!

Just physics in the sense of the the feeling that the mechs had mass. Obviously the whole premise is kind of silly but I still loved it.

North Star · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Jul 2013, 10:52 pm »

Is it based on a true story?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Jul 2013, 07:24 am »

Quote from: North Star on 17 Jul 2013, 10:52 pm

Is it based on a true story?

I assume so! Duh!

North Star · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Jul 2013, 03:46 am »

True 'Comic' story; from the animated book.

ajzepp · « **Reply #17 on:** 27 Jul 2013, 01:29 am »

Saw it at local IMAX on thurs afternoon...loved every minute. I've never seen CGI this good, and the way they used the low end audio capabilities of the IMAX sound system to augment the realism/effects was truly spectacular. This is easily the best theater experience I've ever had.

I agree the acting was sub-par, but hopefully most of us aren't going to this type of movie for great acting

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 Jul 2013, 03:00 am »

I'm actually pretty stoked for the Blu-Ray to come out! I had the feeling all throughout the movie that there was probably a lot of bass in the soundtrack that the Century Theater sound system wasn't exploiting fully. My pair of Hsu TN-1220's should do a bit better.

ajzepp · « **Reply #19 on:** 27 Jul 2013, 09:11 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock on 27 Jul 2013, 03:00 am

I'm actually pretty stoked for the Blu-Ray to come out! I had the feeling all throughout the movie that there was probably a lot of bass in the soundtrack that the Century Theater sound system wasn't exploiting fully. My pair of Hsu TN-1220's should do a bit better.

Oh, there's no doubt it will be an amazing HT experience. I'm really going to be missing my monster SVS sub when this hits bluray...

For me, the standard in terms of the best HT experience I've ever had is Cloverfield. Certainly not a great film in and of itself, but if you have a solid HT rig that has legit bass capabilities, the movie will throw you right into the mix as if you're downtown NYC like everyone else, running for your life from some giant monster that just came crawling out of the water. I have zero doubt that if I still had that HT rig and room, Pacific Rim would edge it out in terms of pure visceral impact. This was the best use of low end effects I've ever heard. It added to the scope of the Kaiju in a very impressive manner.

The sad thing is that so many more people in this country are flocking to see a crapfest like Grown Ups 2 when there is such a fun and engaging film like Pacific Rim likely showing 100 ft away on the next screen over. Thankfully the worldwide success of this film has driven it into the black, and I think Guillermo is already on record saying he's got a story for a sequel already envisioned.