Search the Cinema Head Cheese Archives!

March 1, 2024

A Binge too Far #39 - The King Size Kaiju and Robot Agony of the Pacific Rim duo (2013 – 2018)

Promotional poster from Pacific Rim (2013).


Pacific Rim (2013) poster

Pacific Rim
(2013)

 

It appears that the war between kaiju and humanity has been stabilized with the latter’s invention of gigantic combat robots that are operated by two pilots each (that have become the modern rock stars), but things change when the monsters evolve and all hell breaks loose.

 

Bombastic and loud, director Guillermo del Toro’s (who also wrote the screenplay, with Travis Beacham) $200 million homage to kaiju and anime films is what you’d expect it to be and more, with breathtaking action and astonishing special effects, as well as an engaging story. It is a winner in all respects and a great example of how massive blockbuster entertainment should be tackled. The performances are good too, and the cast includes Idris Elba and Ron Perlman. It grossed $411 million and a sequel ensued.

 

Pacific Rim Uprising (2018)

Pacific Rim Uprising
(2018)

 

Stacker Pentecost, who did his best to save the world in the previous film may now be long gone, but his son Jake (John Boyega) is living an easy life – hustling and partying, and always remembering that he is nothing like his father – as the war seems to be done with. However, when a new kaiju threat appears, he will work with his father’s friend Mako Mori (returning Rinko Kikuchi) in order to become a hero.

 

Directed by Steven D. DeKnight (who also penned the screenplay, with Emily Carmichael, Kira Snyder, and T.S. Nowlin) this is much more humorous than the original film, but is equally bombastic when it comes to action and special effects (predictably so, as it was budgeted on a massive $176 million). It grossed a disappointing – for a film of this size - $290.9 million, dooming any hope for potential continuation of the short-lived franchise.


Get books, comics, graphic novels and more at bunny17media.com. Use the code CHC at checkout for 15% off your purchase!

Follow Cinema Head Cheese:
Website: cinemaheadcheese.com
Facebook: /cinemaheadcheese
Twitter: @CinHeadCheese
Email: cinemaheadcheese@yahoo.com
Instagram: abnormalpodcast 
Pinterest: /abnormalpodcast/cinema-head-cheese/
RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/CinemaHeadCheese
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cinema-head-cheese-movie-reviews-news-a-podcast-and-more/id393261942?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=18843&refid=stpr

You can support Cinema Head Cheese and Abnormal Entertainment on our Support Us page.