Pacific Rim Review

Monsters, Aliens, Predators and like infinite third parties have assaulted Earth and many a time has our world been pushed to the brink of extinction, and then we fight back with our best. So this time it's the turn of Kajju monsters to attack, and mankind comes up with a massive technological "Jaeger" program to combat them. Guillermo Del Toro is one of the finest scripters of Sci-Fi and fantasy leagued movies only this time brings mammoth creatures and Transformer Prime sized robots to fight out. A movie with rich CGI and motion capture special effects, does not deceive you with just the big brawly fights and metal clanking, but flanked by a storyline that does justice.
 
Kajju vs Jaeger :

The stage is set in 2020, when Earth is invaded by gargantuan Sea monsters named Kajju, and they come all over. To combat and survive, the world racks up the best brains together and come up with an all innovative neural program "Jaeger" which couples the brains of two individuals and transforms their actions in Giant Mechanical Robots. Raleigh Becket played by Charlie Hunnam is one of the pilots who get a second chance to avenge his brother's death by fighting it out with Kajjus. He is sanctioned by Marshall Stacker (Idris Elba), at Hong Kong as the last whiff of self-defense near the breach which acts as a portal for Kajjus.

If you wonder if the movie is all about loud metal bashing and the usual Godzilla kind of movie where it's all wrecking and demolishing, then take a second thought as Toro brings about a movie with some airy sentiments in a technological extravaganza. He induces the concept of drifting; meaning two brains from two individuals are coupled together and infused into the Giant mechanical robots - Jaeger, so that they are in sync to fight it out with the monsters. The thought process and how it evolves makes us gape in awe, and why not for a visionary like Toro.

Becket drifts with another Pilot Mako (Rinko Kikuchi) to fight it out with the Kajjus, and elsewhere two scientists dig out the Kajju's  actual intentions by a sling of experiments and eventually the team led by Marshall comes out with a strategy comes up with an idea to erase the monsters once and for all. And yet again after a zillion times, we see the Marshall giving out a speech to the commandos, an inspiring one, a day before the world comes to an end and yes YET AGAIN.

The fight before climax is a spectacular one with boats flying around, and in one scene in particular where Gipsy the Jaeger drags a ship to thump the Kajju is the sort of Tamil Masala movies, can imagine our Tamil heroes taking up an Iron rod to club the baddies. The 3D experience is felt to the best at these scenes, a wholesome experience indeed.

Industrial Light & Magic was chosen to create the visual effects for Pacific Rim. Del Toro hired Oscar winners John Knoll and Hal T. Hickel, both known for their work on the Star Warsprequel trilogy and the Pirates of the Caribbean films.The film's water dynamics was a revelation, and projected the Jaegers like a Demi God ready to go Kajju hunting, which was actually the case.

Well eventually a good movie without the overdose, however it gets a feel of recursiveness and falls in line with so many of Hollywood's "Save the world" kind. Its hugely reminiscence of Godzilla, even though the creatures vary in size, their modus operandi remains intact. The climax battle happens way below the ocean and hence the lighting is somewhat dim, which etches very poorly. One has to strain themselves to strain and find out, given the 3D glasses, it makes uncomfy to an extent.

A commendable job by Guillermo the director and Guillermo the Cinematographer, for bringing about a movie with stunning VFX and picturisation.

Verdict : You should adore this movie if you love watching "Save the world" type flicks

Star : 3/5