Pacific Rim: Uprising

JasonPratt · March 25, 2018, 03:12:59 PM

To clarify the sequel hook, they set up for a concluding film as a trilogy, but the story is basically done in this film. It's purely a reasonable hook based on story developments (and an unresolved problem which doesn't strictly ever have to be resolved).

I didn't think the film was especially dumb, by film standards. ;) I'm sensitive to aggressively stupid screenplays (SEE MY TOMES ON THE DARK KNIGHT AND GODZILLA2014) and I got through this one fine. Some points of the plot could have been presented better -- which might be an editing problem here. At one point for example there seems to be an implication that all the monsters from part 1 were trying to get to Mount Fuji, but in hindsight that wasn't what the scene meant. But it was edited (or maybe shot) in such a way that it seemed to be saying this. That annoyed me but I worked it out later.

My favorite bit of product placement wasn't necessarily product placement at all, but probably an homage: a few shots during the climactic fight occur just outside "Anaheim Electronics" in Tokyo! -- complete with a statue of the original RX Gundam outside!

mirth · March 25, 2018, 03:29:39 PM

It was dumb. Maybe not by modern sci-fi/fantasy movie standards, but that's a low bar indeed. They throw around science mumbo-jumbo faster and looser than Geordi LaForge in Engineering. I give most of it a pass because it's giant robots battling giant monsters. It's supposed to be dumb.

I noticed the Gundam statue (it's acknowledged in the credits as well) . It was a nice bit of homage.

JudgeDredd · March 25, 2018, 03:35:11 PM

Seriously people. WTF is wrong with you lot.

I've posted on here about various "great" and "good" movies and they get luke warm to poor reviews - and you are banging on about how good Pacific Rim is?

When I first watched Pacific Rim back in 2014 it was shite. As my daughter wanted to go and see the other one (I refused), I said I'd watch the original with her stating "maybe it wasn't as bad as I remember". Hell yes it was. Complete and utter shite.

I'm going to write on this bat

"You are not allowed to go and see any movies EVER anymore" and visit every last one of you

mirth · March 25, 2018, 03:39:41 PM

You have to take it in the context of why/how it was made. It's a throw-back to the cheesy Kaiju movies of old. It captures the spirit of those movies and gives it the treatment of modern VFX and production values. It's dumb fun, that's all.

The second one is more of the same. These are pure popcorn movies made for nine year olds and the inner nine year old of us old nerds who grew up watching Creature Double Feature.

GDS_Starfury · March 25, 2018, 03:44:16 PM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on March 25, 2018, 03:35:11 PM
I'm going to write on this bat "You are not allowed to go and see any movies EVER anymore" and visit every last one of you

mirth · March 25, 2018, 03:45:04 PM

And since JP brought up The Dark Knight Rises (a movie I also thought was incredibly dumb), I re-watched it this weekend with my son.

While I think there are still major dumb parts (the opening sequence still bugs me - no competent crash investigator was going to be fooled by that staged crash), it's grown on me as dumb fun entertainment. The score alone makes it worthwhile.

Gusington · March 25, 2018, 04:48:50 PM

Just watched the first one with my younger daughter. Definitely enjoyable to watch with kids. We both dug it. Even had a little bit of a steampunk vibe in spots.

JasonPratt · March 25, 2018, 04:55:49 PM

Quote from: Gusington on March 25, 2018, 04:48:50 PM
Just watched the first one with my younger daughter. Definitely enjoyable to watch with kids. We both dug it. Even had a little bit of a steampunk vibe in spots.

Hadn't thought about that. Rustpunk?

Quote from: mirth on March 25, 2018, 03:29:39 PM
It was dumb. Maybe not by modern sci-fi/fantasy movie standards, but that's a low bar indeed. They throw around science mumbo-jumbo faster and looser than Geordi LaForge in Engineering. I give most of it a pass because it's giant robots battling giant monsters. It's supposed to be dumb.

Not once did I hear something equivalent to a character equating "analog" with "nuclear". That was in the first film, and it makes my soul die every time I hear it -- it's like explaining a plot point because Tuesday is Cheesburger. Much less that clearly the whole robot is crawling with digital (not "analog") hologram tech. Improvement achieved. :bd:

Gusington · March 25, 2018, 05:55:32 PM

^I can count to potato.

BanzaiCat · March 26, 2018, 06:05:25 PM

Quote from: Gusington on March 25, 2018, 05:55:32 PM
^I can count to potato.

So wrong.

Centurion40 · March 27, 2018, 06:12:00 AM

PAC Rim 2 was fine. The only really unforgivable thing was the enemies objective, which could have been easily attained by a flying Monster in the very first movie's prologue.

JasonPratt · March 27, 2018, 07:57:11 AM

True, albeit jet fighters might have proven a problem. (They did to the first movie's prologue.) But then, the franchise has always struggled with why serious ordinance beyond a few gatlings and some missiles from three jets wouldn't have been used. Keep B52s on a NORAD watch around the clock like in the old days, BUFF those things.

Admittedly, that wouldn't have solved the problem with closing the breach -- still needed giant robots for that. Which reminds me, the main protagonists should have never been able to get out either (no kaiju DNA to scan going out!)

Centurion40 · March 27, 2018, 08:39:10 AM

Quote from: JasonPratt on March 27, 2018, 07:57:11 AM
True, albeit jet fighters might have proven a problem. (They did to the first movie's prologue.) But then, the franchise has always struggled with why serious ordinance beyond a few gatlings and some missiles from three jets wouldn't have been used. Keep B52s on a NORAD watch around the clock like in the old days, BUFF those things.

Admittedly, that wouldn't have solved the problem with closing the breach -- still needed giant robots for that. Which reminds me, the main protagonists should have never been able to get out either (no kaiju DNA to scan going out!)

The first time a Kaiju appeared, it was a surprise. No one was prepared for it. So, if they popped a flying Kaiju on day 1; their ultimate objective would have been achieved by total surprise. Sure, one could argue that the first ones were scouts; but still....

Sir Slash · March 27, 2018, 09:40:34 AM

:nerd: :nerd: :nerd:

JasonPratt · March 28, 2018, 08:31:03 AM

Admittedly, by the time of the first double-event, at the showstopping battle of the first film (...analog = nuclear AAHH AHHHHHH IT BURRRNNNSSS!) the world wasn't using fighter jets anymore anyway, so the flying critter should have been able to do the deed practically unmolested.

For that matter, what the flying kaiju did focus on instead, opens up another plot hole generated by the second film... #:-)