'Pacific Rim' TV Spot − Is The Monster Lame Or What?
Why am I not excited about Pacific Rim? I'm mostly a fan of Guillermo del Toro's work, particularly the superb Pan's Labyrinth, but the three teaser clips that have been released for the filmmaker's hotly anticipated mechs-vs-monsters summer sci-fi film have all left me cold. Part of the problem is that they're all virtually the same. The new international TV spot, for instance, is a condensed retread of the earlier trailers, and its brevity draws attention to what I think may be the film's biggest weakness: a lame monster.
Yes, the giant human-piloted Jaeger mechs are impressive — even if they defy science and physics — but their enemies, which are called Kaiju, Japanese for "strange beast," don't look the fearsome, formidable part they're supposed to play in the picture. (If you're okay with spoilers, this review of the Pacific Rim script indicates that the Kaiju overwhelm the Jaegers.)
Clearly, del Toro is paying homage to the Japanese Toho Studios kaiju films of the 1950s, '60s and beyond — the Godzilla franchise being the most well known of them. The problem is, the creature in the Pacific Rim looks like it came directly from the set of one of those hokey movies and didn't stop by the visual effects department to get a rad new upgrade. Remember, Gamera, the amusing flying turtle (which was not a Toho creation)? If you took the body of that '60s-era monster and grafted the head of Roland Emmerich's 1998 Godzilla onto it — not a movie that any filmmaker should be referencing — then you'd get a creature similar to the one you see in the photo above and trailer below.
Not-So-Scary Monster
Perhaps del Toro is keeping more fearsome creatures under wraps. The Kaiju apparently hail from another universe — a kind of interstellar Monster Island — so conceptually there could be more than one species. I hope so. If the creature in the teasers is all we get, then Pacific Rim could suffer from a real tension deficit.
One other thing: It's time to give Idris Elba's "Today, we are canceling the apocalypse!" speech a rest. It was rousing the first 10 times I heard it — in January. Three months later, it's ripe to be satirized, and the movie isn't out until July 12.
What do you think?
More on Pacific Rim:
'Pacific Rim' Vs. Real World Physics: Giant Robots, Galileo, And The Square Cube Law
WATCH: Do The Jaeger Meisters In New 'Pacific Rim' Trailer Defy Logic?
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Comments
I'm still marvelling at the incredible skill it must take, to have none other than Stringer Bell deliver the "Independence Day" speech, and have it sound even more laughable naff than it did under the guidance of Roland Emmerich.
Hoo-boy!
Whoever wrote this is a fucking idiot. There is many Kaijus in the film, and you can barely see this one to have an opinion from this early teaser. Do some research about the movie before you decide to write about something you know nothing about. Fucking idiot.
Nice job living up to your name, Rager. I've seen enough of the Kaiju depicted in the trailers to know that it's lame.
How can you get so angry at someone who is simply expressing his opinion about a film based on the trailers? If that's what gets you angry I suggest you stay away from anything directed by Michael Moore. Jesus, get a life!
As soon as i read 'Yes, the giant human-piloted Jaeger mechs are impressive — even if they defy science and physics —' I thought. Shut the fuck up - That was a douchebag comment...I only like movies that strongly adhere to the laws of science and physics. Seriously...who says shit like that?
I do, Just James. And you're not going to get me to shut the fuck up.
i agree with rager, well we know who wrote the article, Frank FUCKWIT DiGiacomo, the monster might look lame to you but you clearly have the imagination of a 100 year old with dementia, if everything had to adhere to the laws of physics sci fi and fantasy wouldn't exist as a genre, i wonder though what you would consider a cool monster- 1998 godzilla maybe. Nah i won't following you on twitter you fucking nob.
Learn to punctuate, moron.
Max: An imagination like yours, you mean?
Wow. Lotsa anger here. Still, can't say I agree with this article at all. I think the monster design was pretty impressive. This is easily my most anticipated movie of the summer.
hey frank, why do you think the monster is lame. what would you consider an awesome monster?
Your "from the hip" comments about this movie, based on the trailer, are absurd. Almost as if porn was up in another tab while you "Watched" the trailer and you, being the douche that you are, were more interested in the fetish shit than the trailer that you are using as your core reference. Bash all you want it's not a big deal but be educated about it you fucking twat.
As a Sci-fi fan I don't care how stupid or lame a monster is OR if anything adheres to the laws of sciience and physics,in the end....as long as I'm "entertained ".
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