The latest offering by director Guillermo Del Toro is action-packed blockbuster “Pacific Rim.” Audiences have been wowed by this movie after its hotly anticipated July release. Visually stunning thanks to a heavy helping of CGI, “Pacific Rim” is filled with spectacular fight scenes and tremendous backdrops. Although some viewers may find the CGI to be a little too intense, this is a vital element for transporting the audience from their cinema seats into the apocalyptic world. It’s also available to watch in 3D, which really gives it an extra dimension. Del Toro has created a movie which truly comes to life. It is a form of escapism from humdrum everyday occurrences, even if only for little over two hours.
The cast are in no way overshadowed by the use of special effects and does a fantastic job of making the audience feel a part of the action. Charlie Hunnam (“Green Street,” “Children of Men”) is convincing in his role as Raleigh Becket, a retired pilot called back into action to help control a Jaeger. Idris Elba (“Prometheus,” “Thor”) brings a believable air of authority to the role of Becket’s commanding officer, Stacker Pentecost. Becket’s co-pilot, Mako Mori, is played by Rinko Kikuchi (“Babel,” “The Sky Crawlers”) who delivers a feisty, tough attitude and is, refreshingly, seen as an equal to the male characters. All in all the cast does a great job of convincing the audience that they really have been pulled from the cinema into the frantic world of “Pacific Rim.”
The movie itself is more geared towards the big special effects and action scenes, but it still manages to deliver a satisfactory plot, which is centered on the battle to save the world. It isn’t too hard to follow and will appeal to both teenagers and adults alike. Set in the not-too-distant future, humongous aliens called Kaiju rise through a portal in the ocean and begin to destroy the world. Humans fight back by building equally huge robotic monsters, known as Jaegers. A solo human is unable to handle the mental strain of this, so the Jaegers must be controlled by two pilots. These pilots are required to develop a neural bridge between their minds for the Jaegers to replicate, as they defend themselves against the Kaiju. Pentecost summons Becket out of retirement to take the helm of Gipsy Danger, the Jaeger he once piloted with his now-deceased brother. The only suitable candidate to co-pilot the Gipsy Danger is Mori, who just so happens to be Pentecost’s adoptive daughter. The movie follows their battle to save mankind from extinction.
At times, the plot does seem to dwindle, and the movie appears to become one big shoot-em-up between the monsters and aliens, but the intense action scenes, which are made even more heart-stopping through the use of the visual effects, more than make up for this. Del Toro has also ensured that the movie isn’t simply set in one location, as the action happens in a variety of countries all over the world. This gives the movie a more authentic feeling and reels in the audience even further.
Given that the plotline is essentially monsters versus aliens, viewers probably won’t be expecting the movie to convey any meaningful message. However, there is more to this blockbuster than first meets the eye. Scratch a little under the surface, and it becomes apparent that there are several underlying themes. First and foremost is the idea that science and technology has evolved far enough to become a tool that can be used for the good of mankind. “Pacific Rim” also celebrates human individuality but at the same time shows that humans rely on each other to progress through life. Finally, it shows the strength of human courage and just how strong people are in the face of adversity.