Guillermo del Toro inhabits the realm of deep fears and dark fantasies, of beasts that frighten, technology that enables resistance, and the fragility of humanity in between. Over two decades, his directorial output has continually returned to this dynamic, couched in the quest for eternal life (Cronos, Blade II), the excesses of science (Mimic), the consequences of conflict (The Devil’s Backbone, Pan’s Labyrinth), and the need for protection based not just on might, but ingenuity (Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army).
Within weird, wonderful and winningly-textured worlds, his stories, style and substance varies – but from one film to the next a constant remains. Whether helming obvious creature features, comic action flicks, supernatural societal statements or a hybrid of all three, the writer/director draws inspiration from and shapes his content in the same distinctive mould; time and time again, he makes monster movies.
Pacific Rim, del Toro’s latest, largest and lightest offering, is the culmination of a career spent contemplating monsters, machines and men. It is also the filmmaker’s most blatant attempt, the story not merely casting its characters and their circumstances into the thematic confines of his obsession, but embracing their status.
From under the sea, hulking reptilian aliens – Kaijus – attack ferociously. Twenty-five-storey-high anthropomorphised weapons – Jaegers – respond, fuelled by the mind-meld of paired-up pilots. Humanity stands in the middle, controlling the Jaegers and battling the Kaijus to stave off destruction.
There’s abundant evidence of other monster, mechanical and anime greats in Pacific Rim’s homage-like construction, the core concept effectively reimagining Godzilla for the modern era. With much of the action set in a heavily-fortified Hong Kong, Jaegers fight Kaijus in the last line of defence before the ailing program is decommissioned. Grief-stricken former pilot Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam, TV’s Sons of Anarchy) is recalled to duty by his no-nonsense commander Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba, Prometheus), combining with similarly emotionally-scarred newcomer Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi, The Warped Forest) to save the planet from extinction.
In writing the script with Travis Beacham (Clash of the Titans), affection drips from del Toro’s graceful awareness of genre, infecting not just the ample frays between primal extraterrestrials and punishing robots, but the wealth of lavishness that furnishes a world predicated upon their existence. Cognisant of the successes and mis-steps of its forebears, the film never loses the sense of wonder that ensures its spectacle is more than just a feast of glorious 3D CGI, nor does it allow the thrilling action and intricate aesthetics to overwhelm the human element.
Amidst the enchanting thrashing of towering entities in an inherently lived-in world, it is the tale of people escaping their plight as pawns that immerses in the awe-inspiring but never outlandish antics. Utilising a cast devoid of high-profile names allows the film to form its characters from their strengths, with Hunnam suitably stoic, Elba tragically tough, and Kikuchi quietly captivating. The enjoyable trio of Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Burn Gorman (Red Lights) and Ron Perlman (Drive) provide balance to the seriousness, offering delightful comedy in a playful detour. Nuance may be lacking from the performances, but confidence anchors their efforts in empathetic backstories.
Of course, Pacific Rim’s technical achievements are as plentiful as its narrative is precise, propelled by handsomely-photographed, rousingly-scored set-piece choreography and streamlined, subtly-edited plotting; however, the immense scale is always grounded in an offering that, for all its size and sheen, values the details. Perhaps the one it champions the most is sincerity, the feature’s beasts-versus-machine-brawn clash concerned with the impacts of advancement and the extremes of endeavour as much as the importance of entertaining rather than angling for a franchise. Indeed, in del Toro’s earnestness and sheer pursuit of unashamed enjoyment, Pacific Rim becomes the ultimate blockbuster monster movie.
Rating: 4
Pacific Rim
Director: Guillermo del Toro
USA, 2013, 131 mins
Release date: 11 July
Distributor: Roadshow
Rated: M
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