[dc]L[/dc]ast week, Guillermo del Toro‘s Pacific Rim stomped its way into theaters—and I enjoyed every dang frame. To sum up, Pacific Rim focuses on pilots using giant robots (Jaegers) to fight giant monsters (Kaiju). Simple.

Pacific Rim Action Figures

Just like this, but moving. And smashing buildings. Image via ThinkGeek.


Pacific Rim is a fine example of a summer blockbuster: full of spectacle, action, and fun. Yes, fun. Pacific Rim successfully straddled the line between taking itself too seriously and being too campy. One more step in either direction, and the film would be a mess.

In addition to the fun, Pacific Rim brings The Crazy. Just when you think the film can’t get any crazier, it does. Over and over again. It makes Pacific Rim well worth seeing in the theater—in fact, I’m considering seeing it a second time, and in 3D (and I hate 3D).

The art direction is top-notch (as it is for every del Toro film, especially Pan’s Labyrinth). I love the beat up, run down, dented look of all the technology and sets. It feels more ‘real’ to see the rust and grime on something so advanced as a Jaeger (the giant robot piloted by a pair of humans).

On the other side of things, folks will either love or hate, Pacific Rim. I don’t see there being much middle ground.

It isn’t the most smartly written, but it also isn’t trying for such a feat either. Sure, there are plot points you see coming a mile away, but Pacific Rim really isn’t about the plot. It’s about a pilot screaming “Elbow rocket!” or a Jaeger smacking a Kaiju (the giant monsters) across the face with an ocean liner.

The soundtrack is well done too. The title track by Ramin Djawadi fits the action nicely, and makes me want to punch a giant monster in the face.

Bonus Fries: The film inspired a new single by MC Chris called Pacific Rim.

Pacific Rim is an homage to the Japanese kaiju films of the past, like Godzilla vs. [Fill in the Blank], and like those films, the plot is secondary. The fights between the giant robots and monsters are the film. If that sorta thing gets your geek engine going, then see Pacific Rim in the theater while you can.

And say it with me now: “ELBOW ROCKET!”

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