Pacific Rim (2013)
Average Rating: 6.7/10
Reviews Counted: 239
Fresh: 171 | Rotten: 68
It may sport more style than substance, but Pacific Rim is a solid modern creature feature bolstered by fantastical imagery and an irresistible sense of fun.
Average Rating: 6.6/10
Critic Reviews: 43
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 15
It may sport more style than substance, but Pacific Rim is a solid modern creature feature bolstered by fantastical imagery and an irresistible sense of fun.
liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 119,591
Movie Info
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces
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Cast
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Charlie Hunnam
Raleigh Becket -
Diego Klattenhoff
Yancy Becket -
Idris Elba
Stacker Pentecost -
Rinko Kikuchi
Mako Mori -
Charlie Day
Dr. Newton Geiszler -
Burn Gorman
Gottlieb -
Max Martini
Herc Hansen -
Rob Kazinsky
Chuck Hansen -
Clifton Collins Jr.
Ops Tendo Choi -
Ron Perlman
Hannibal Chau -
Brad William Henke
Construction Foreman -
Larry Joe Campbell
Construction Worker -
Mana Ashida
Young Mako -
Santiago Segura
Wizened Man -
Joe Pingue
Captain Merrit -
Milton Barnes
McTighe -
Brian Frank
1st Officer -
Ellen McLain
Gipsy Danger AI -
David Fox
Old Man on Beach -
Jake Goodman
Child -
Robin Thomas
American UN Represen... -
Julian Barnes
British UN Represent... -
David Richmond-Peck
Canadian UN Represen... -
Charles Luu
Wei Tang Triplet -
Lance Luu
Wei Tang Triplet -
Mark Luu
Wei Tang Triplet -
Robert Maillet
Lt. S. Kaidanovsky -
Heather Doerksen
Lt. A. Kaidanovsky -
Joshua Peace
Officer -
Sebastian Pigott
Engineer -
Victoria Marie
Chinese Girl in Anti... -
Roger Wong
Man in Anti-Kaiju Re... -
J. C. Kenny
TV Reporter -
Jane Watson
Raleigh and Yancy's ... -
Robert Morse
Raleigh and Yancy's ... -
Paul Wyers
Young Raleigh -
Tyler Stevenson
Young Yancy -
Mike Chute
Saltchuck Crew -
Duncan McLeod
Saltchuck Crew -
Louis Paquette
Saltchuck Crew -
Matthew G. Taylor
Saltchuck Crew -
Terry Belleville
UN Representative -
Frank T. Nakashima
UN Representative -
Farzad Sadrian
UN Representative -
Mishu Vellani
UN Representative -
Clive Walton
UN Representative -
Peter Kosaka
Young Mako's Father -
Yiren Stark
Young Mako's Mother -
Hubert Tran
Asian Boy -
Trek Buccino
Young Newt -
Drew Adkins
Young Gottlieb -
Kelvin Lum
Hannibal Chau Thug -
Soo David Chum Ling
Hannibal Chau Thug -
Randy Lee
Hannibal Chau Thug -
Jung Yul Kim
Hannibal Chau Thug -
Kaelyn Wong
Hannibal Chau Thug -
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Pacific Rim Trailer & Photos
All Critics (241) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (171) | Rotten (68)
It is possible to applaud Pacific Rim for the efficacy of its business model while deploring the tale that has been engendered -- long, loud, dark, and very wet. You might as well watch the birth of an elephant.
A ridiculously entertaining (and often just plain ridiculous) monster-robot movie that plays like that "Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots" game from the 1960s.
Its visual achievements notwithstanding, Pacific Rim's greatest breakthrough may be that it's the first Hollywood blockbuster to sport a title less descriptive of its plot than of its intended market.
It's as if Del Toro neuro-linked with a robot and then couldn't figure out how to work the controls -- and so watched impotently as the machine made the major creative decisions.
There are long sequences in this movie that merit that most overused of terms: "Awesome."
Del Toro is reveling in blockbuster clichés at the same time he's pounding them into the pavement, and somehow that self-consciousness lets us all in on the joke.
If it sounds kinda fun, please know it is, with those aforementioned scientists (TV faces Charlie Day and Burn Gorman) creating some laughs with their goofy nature of oneupsmanship.
...a punishing ordeal that just might mark the nadir of the modern big-budget blockbuster...
Impossível deixarmos a sala de projeção sem uma sensação clara de caloroso retorno à infância.
Fueled by an ambition that channels enthusiasm for characters and narrative details above the high-octane action, and driven by visual effects that are a compliment to those traits rather than a distraction.
the attention to social detail, as well as the film's visual punch, makes Pacific Rim more than a monsters-on-the-rampage movie--although it is certainly that, as well.
It's del Toro's squarest, least interesting film. It's as if the sense of fun and wonder collapsed beneath the gargantuism of the budget, in an esthetic equivalent of the square-cube law that makes the story's monsters impossible in real life.
It's stupid but I liked it.
Monster action with minor smarts...the fatigue factor sets in early, especially without much humor and only corny asides available to balance the onslaught.
It's the movie Transformers should have been, treating the lizard-brain appeal of a fight between humongous critters with the respect it deserves.
A movie that both distills and perfects the tradition from which it's drawn.
Giant robots and ugly sea monsters stave off disaster for Del Toro's latest
My inner 10-year old thought "Pacific Rim" was totally cool, engaging and entertaining. My current, outer 45-year old thinks it best not to think too hard about the plot.
Beyond the brink but an entertainment just the same. If you have the same reaction I did about the time issue, you may start thinking you'll never get home. But, once you do, you'll have a lot to talk about.
Guillermo del Toro delivers on the special effects but the plot is a little weak.
In many ways this is the best giant monster film ever made. And in many ways it should have been better.
The project is too simple-minded to take very seriously.
The film's visuals are so intoxicating that just living in the movie's world is entirely worthwhile, even if it's not the most dramatically compelling place to be.
What makes Pacific Rim work -- and work far better than it probably has any right to -- is the way del Toro embraces the movie's deliberately corny tone.
"This does lack a little soul, but it hardly matters, as the full-throttle, über-monstrous fun more than makes up for it."
Audience Reviews for Pacific Rim
This is a tremendously fun homage to Japanese culture, primarily giant monster movies and anime, but there's homages to other monsters and genre luminaries as well.
Set in the near future, Earth is being devastated by giant monsters called Kaiju who emerge from an interdimensional portal located deep in the Pacific Ocean. After conventional warfare proves ineffective, the various nations of Earth unite to create giant robots called Jaegers to combat the beastly threat. The Jaegers are controlled simultaneously by two (or more) pilots who are connected by a neural bridge that forces them to share one another's thoughts and fears, forcing them to work together.
After a prologue that sets all this up, the film jumps ahead a few years near the end of the ongoing war. Things are taking a turn for the worse for the human forces, with the Kaiju attacks happening more frequently, and by stronger and stronger monsters each time. A washed up pilot is called out of retirement and is paired up with a strong but untested rookie to dust off a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger in a last ditch effort to win the war for good.
While there is some depth and substance going on here, namely with the idea of the neural link (referred to in the film as "drifting"), this film is, above all, supposed to be a fun, epic, popcorn sci-fi action romp in the truest sense of the word.
And it doesn't disappoint. The film is a wonderful homage to things past, and, while it does traffic in cliches and stock characters, there's just enough of a creative spin to keep things fresh and interesting, and help set this film up as both a tribute and it's own entry into the cannon of similar films.
Unlike many recent summer blockbuster films, this is not a pretentious, dour, work of art that probably takes itself a little too seriously. It's bright, colorful, creative, and a lot of fun. Sure, there are serious moments, and it kinda gets dark at times, but it's never heavy handed, nor is it too self aware either.
While watching this, I found myself either with a big dumb grin on my face, or had my jaw on the floor in awe of how awesome this spectacle was. It is a lot of fun, and the action and ideas are all executed marvelously. As I said, the film does traffic in cliches, but only a couple of times did I roll my eyes at them in a way which could be considered negative (mostly with the dopey science guys trying to be hip). Also, the subplot with the science geeks at first seemed to be unnecessary, but it eventually worked itself out and made it's point (and potential for sequels) known. So, I'll dock it a little bit for my initial reaction, but not too much sense it does come full circle. Also, I think they could have focused on/dealt with the "drifting" concept even more. I mean, they do deal with it, but I think they could have played around with it further, and really gave it more bearing on the actions of the pilots and whatnot.
I think that had there really not been any subplot or diversions the film may have been better, but at least the filmmakers had the good sense to keep this kind of thing under control, unlike Mr. Bay and HIS brand of giant robots.
While there is some depth, ideas, and mini character arcs and development, the main driving force is the action spectacle, and that's where this film truly shines. The action scenes are appropriately epic, generally coherent and easy to follow (for the most part), and really get the blood pumping with excitement and suspense.
The effects here are awesome, and I liked how a lot of this was a mix of CG and practical effects. Sometimes its hard to tell when what type of technique was being used, and that made me happy. The designs of the Kaiju and Jaegers are pretty neat, and I loved (in general) the bright and colorful art direction, set design, and visual scheme. This might be a fun film to watch while high.
The acting is slightly better than average for this type of film, and the roles were well cast. I liked Charlie Hunnam as the has-been seeking redemption, and he has pretty good chemistry with Rinko Kikuchi's rookie pilot. Idris Elba is fine as the gruff commander, and it made me happy to see Clifton Collins Jr. as a tech guy, as well as Charlie Day as one of the science nerds. Ron Perlman also shows up, and, while his character's inclusion isn't the most necessary, it's still fun to see him chew the scenery.
Moving at a brisk pace, and knowing exactly what type of movie it is and is trying to be, Pacific Rim is a bad ass thrill ride that I strongly recommend.
Super Reviewer
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- Raleigh Becket: Empty the clip! Empty the clip!
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- Raleigh Becket: Let's go fishing.
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- Stacker Pentecost: Mako! You can finish this! I'll always be there for you! You can always find me in the drift!
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- Stacker Pentecost: Mako, vengenance is like an open wound.
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- Mako Mori: For my family.
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- Stacker Pentecost: Today, we'll cancel the Apocalypse!
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Guess the tomatometer! | 17 days ago | 559 |
| Mash-up, Rip-off, lame lame lame | 4 days ago | 295 |
| It must be true that the incompetent, poor lesser beings think this film will be impressive | 4 days ago | 278 |
| Overrated Movies | 2 days ago | 209 |
| I watched Oldboy, guys | 2 months ago | 202 |
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Latest News on Pacific Rim
September 25, 2013:
Pacific Rim Is the Top-Grossing Original Live-Action Film of 2013So far, anyway -- and it's only in 10th place overall.
August 28, 2013:
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Top Critic
It makes Transformers look like The Godfather!
And I HATE Transformers.