Pacific Rim

Release Date: Jul 12, 2013
Runtime: 2 hr. 11 min. 
Director: Guillermo del Toro 
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, Rinko Kikuchi, Ron Perlman.

From visionary mastermind Gullermo del Toro, comes the ultimate summer blockbuster in retro glory. Channeling classic 'robot anime,' commonly referred to as 'mecha,' "Pacific Rim" is a reverent homage to never growing up. In a future where Kaijus (Japanese: monster) are rampant in number, Jaegers (German: hunter) are built to fight brawn for brawn. Operated by pilots via what's called a 'neural bridge,' man and machine must become one as the last line of defense. The sheer breadth of these battles are simply astounding, pitting robot versus beast in the depths of the Pacific. Darkly stylized in perpetual rain, del Toro spares no expense in embracing the ambiance. With such focus on appearance, character back-stories are sidelined, offering glimpses of memories as collateral substitution. While this makes the film shallow in terms of development, it's generally what's expected for this type of genre. Charlie Hunnam leads the cast of mismatched characters, from the ever-serious Idris Elba to comic relief Charlie Day. Though representing the last stance of the stricken human race, they're no more than tiny figurines in this colossal-sized picture. Charged by an electrifying score by Ramin Djawadi, "Pacific Rim" is front and foremost about Jaegers and Kaijus. Action-packed and visually stimulating, they're a manifestation of any kid's (or adult's) fantasy that's larger than life. Granted, this isn't del Toro's greatest masterpiece, it ranks high in this summer's go-see movies.

Rating: 4 stars