Pacific rim people. Get some excitement going :)

[GodzillaGuy92]

Not to mention, do you remember the last time giant robots fought giant monsters?

Yes, quite clearly. And it was spectacular.

That said, my adoption of the aforementioned Yahtzee Chart means that even a return to this sort of film - helmed by Guillermo del Toro the Magnificent himself, no less - can only excite me so much, despite my very great desire for it to be good. Whether Pacific Rim lives up to its potential depends on what extreme they end up taking it. On one side, they could focus their efforts on weaving a legitimately engaging, meaningful story throughout all the bombastic action sequences (don't laugh, The Dark Knight did it fantastically - or, for want of a giant monster movie example, there's films like Godzilla vs. Biollante or the Gamera trilogy); on the other side, they could throw off the shackles of storytelling obligations altogether and delve as deeply as they can into the over-the-top indulgence offered by the subject matter to the point that you can't help but love it (which is the more likely option of the two, going by the trailers). It's the area in between, where the film takes a bit of time fleshing out its characters but not enough to make it worthwhile, and the would-be-awesome action scenes feel fleeting and tacked-on for the sake of a story you don't care about, that puts this movie, like virtually all other movies of its type, in danger.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I've been waiting for this movie since it was first announced as Del Toro is one of my favorite directors and I just totally love this genre. I've seen plenty of interviews and behind the scenes and he's approaching this with much reverence to the whole mecha genre. It does suck to see the general "its going to suck" kind of attitude towards it, even though I've only really just noticed that here. Most movie forums I've been on show excitement for the film. I guess some people are just worn out from the whole Transformers thing? I mean at least this movie isn't another remake or reboot and looks like it genuinely wants to entertain you. Also I grew up watching Godzilla movies every Saturday afternoon when they aired on the local NY t.v. channel so I'm excited for all kinds of reasons.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

Pan's Labyrinth is one of my all-time favourite movies, so I'm keen to see anything from Del Toro. Shit, he was the only reason I tracked down the Hellboy movies recently (first one was a little "meh," but the second was surprisingly really good).
I'm figuring Pacific Rim will feel a bit like a not immature and annoying version of Transformers; hopefully with human characters that are either compelling or don't overwhelm the movie.
I think this film will have a fairly luke-warm reception in its first couple of weeks of release, but good reviews (hopefully) and positive word of mouth (also hopefully) will keep viewers coming in at a steady rate, and it'll end up being one of those movies that just hovers around the middle part of the weekly Box office top 10 for a great amount of time.

 

[Sonicron]

I'm not exactly hyped about the movie, but I see no reason to badmouth it either. I have no real expectations for it except for 90 minutes of perfectly serviceable dumb fun to entertain me and my mates; as long as it fulfills this basic function I won't feel cheated out of ticket money.

 

[Leg End]

"Go into Pacific Rim prepared to be transmogrified into a 12 year old. And then to pee your pants with joy. I love it so much."

The above quote was from someone who was part of the test screenings of this movie. Take it for what you will.

I take that as worth all my money and a weekend of being twelve again.

...wait, is that Hong Kong? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5guMumPFBag#t=1m43s]

Oh my god, that's fucking Hong Kong.

Okay, I'm getting my wallet.

Make that two weekends.

 

[rcs619]

Not to mention, do you remember the last time giant robots fought giant monsters?

I'm not trying to convince you not to watch it, I'm just throwing out the honest reason why I think nobodies really talking about this movie.

Some of the best giant-monster/practical effects movies around got made?

I get it if you aren't a fan of the genre, but the Japanese giant-monster (kaiju) genre is something that a lot of people enjoy. Godzilla, Gamera, Ultraman and others have a lot of fans. Yes, some of them could be groaners at times, but the effects really were ingenious as hell, and considering what the actors had to work with (the often hellish conditions involved in wearing the suits), some of the fight-choreography is just great.

I think you might have the wrong impression when it comes to Pacific Rim. It isn't trying to be transformers (a cynical cash-grab of a known property) or Battleship (a cynical cash-grab of another cynical cash-grab using another known property), it seems like it's trying to be Godzilla by way of H.P. Lovecraft. From what I've seen, it seems to be a love-letter to that whole genre (they actually call the monsters "kaiju") and while I would have preferred for them to use practical, physical effects, as long as they can nail down the spirit of the kaiju-movies, I think it's going to be fun as hell to watch.

It could turn out bad, any movie can. But I'm rooting for this one. It's a risky new IP, using a genre that no one has actually used properly in decades. These are the kinds of movies that should be made more often.

The trailer looked good, the monsters looked interesting and it was a different take on the disaster film...
Until the robots showed up. Really? Iron Man/Transformers styled money-grab? I don't like those films and I don't like the fact that some childish 'super-robot' is being used to fight the monsters. It just seems like a fighting film, when it could have been interesting and had depth.

But it isn't a 'disaster film'. It isn't trying to be a different take on a stale, overused genre. It is meant to be the modern-day revival of a genre barely anyone has used properly in well over a decade now.

It's a modern-day, American-made kaiju film. That's what happens in kaiju films. Humans build giant robots, or transform into giants to fight giant, otherwise unstoppable monsters. It's meant to be maximum fun, and usually just a bit silly. That's part of the point. And considering how much "deep", character-driven monster-movies have sucked lately (I'm looking at you Cloverfield and Monsters), it's about damned time someone set out to make a proper kaiju film. Just enjoy the ride and go back to a time when you were 12, sitting down in front of the TV as you pop in a VHS of a Godzilla movie. Sometimes movies just need to be fun, and as long as Pacific Rim is, I'm totally fine with that.

A 300 foot tall robot picks up an oil tanker to use as a club against an even bigger, armored monster from beneath the sea. If THAT doesn't do anything for you, then I don't know what to tell ya.

 

[Laughing Man]

there's a bit too much CGI

This statement has appeared in several responses so far, now let's check the core movie plot.

Giant mechas piloted by 2 people fighting even more giant monsters from beneath the sea! Just exactly how much freaking CGI did you think the movie was going to have?

I am not looking at this film and thinking hwo this is going to be an interesting tale of how two potentially incompatible people may have to over come their differences so as to share their mind and conscious in the pursuit of saving the Earth. The interesting interplay between teo very different people who would otherwise not like each other suddenly having to work together for a common greater good...

...no I am seeing this trailer and think fuck me that's a big ass robot beating the crap out of an even bigger monster with a god damn freaking tanker.

 

[bobajelly]

there's a bit too much CGI

This statement has appeared in several responses so far, now let's check the core movie plot.

Giant mechas piloted by 2 people fighting even more giant monsters from beneath the sea! Just exactly how much freaking CGI did you think the movie was going to have?

I am not looking at this film and thinking hwo this is going to be an interesting tale of how two potentially incompatible people may have to over come their differences so as to share their mind and conscious in the pursuit of saving the Earth. The interesting interplay between teo very different people who would otherwise not like each other suddenly having to work together for a common greater good...

...I am seeing this trailer and think fuck me that's a big ass robot beating the crap out of an even bigger monster with a god damn freaking tanker.

Pretty much my reaction. Trailers translate awesome for the most part (which I feel it has done successfully). Let the movie show you its depth.
....i realise now that i basically made this thread as a plug for the movie

Excited as hell.

O btw Australia has most advanced robot Thank you gina for your tax dollars...o wait...

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

there's a bit too much CGI

This statement has appeared in several responses so far, now let's check the core movie plot.

Giant mechas piloted by 2 people fighting even more giant monsters from beneath the sea! Just exactly how much freaking CGI did you think the movie was going to have?

I am not looking at this film and thinking hwo this is going to be an interesting tale of how two potentially incompatible people may have to over come their differences so as to share their mind and conscious in the pursuit of saving the Earth. The interesting interplay between teo very different people who would otherwise not like each other suddenly having to work together for a common greater good...

...no I am seeing this trailer and think fuck me that's a big ass robot beating the crap out of an even bigger monster with a god damn freaking tanker.

Not to mention it's Del Toro, so there's gonna be a hefty amount of practical effects as well.

I mean, just look at this video:

 

[frizzlebyte]

]I see a lot of snobbery in this thread.

I'm excited for it. I like Guillermo del Toro. I like mecha anime. I think it looks awesome. I can't say that's it gonna have a shitty plot or a great plot only judging by the trailers. The whole "melding minds" thing seems like it could be interesting. Nonetheless, I just hope it's gonna be great popcorn fun.

I agree. The first time I saw it, I was thinking, "man, I gotta see this." Guillermo Del Toro knows how to make a poetic film, and the fact that he's trying to bring something like that into a Kaiju film, I'd say it's worth the price of admission just to see if he can pull it off.

My only concern is the mind-melding thing. I'm afraid that he is going to give what should be a throw-away plot device too much philosophical weight, or he's going to throw away a plot device that has real potential.

And yes, there does seem to be a lot of cynics in the crowd tonight.

 

[Dryk]

New featurette about the cockpit sets, I want to play a game with one of them

 

[VoidWanderer]

Guillermo del Toro knows what he is doing. This movie is going to be awesome. It won't be another Michael Bay Transformers fuck up.

Actually I'm waiting for someone to make that comparison to Michael Bay's "movies". I mean, huge humanoid robots fighting equally sized monsters kinda rings that way, huh?

*Skips off merrily*

 

[redmoretrout]

It looks like a throw-away summer action film like Real Steel or some shit, it's made by Guillermo Del Toro so I'll probably give it a chance but I am not expecting anything great. At most I think it could be a mild entertaining, if forgettable movie.

 

[K_Dub]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm excited. I can't wait to check this movie out. But I've learned over the years to never get too excited. I've been disappointed by a lot of movies that I'd gotten my hopes up for, so I'm just looking to take it easy til we get closer to release day.

 

[PortalThinker113]

Wow, I'm actually kind of shocked by the negativity in this thread. I thought everyone was over-the-moon excited for Pacific Rim (I sure am). Maybe I've been spending too much time over at Badass Digest- over there everyone is drooling all over themselves at every glimpse of this film.

It's an incredibly fun-sounding concept set in a completely original world with tons of lore. It's being made by one of the most visionary filmmakers of the modern age. The shots look absolutely gorgeous, the creature design looks incredible. And as yet another reminder- a giant robot uses a huge oil tanker as a BASEBALL BAT to smack a huge kaiju across the face. I started giggling like a 12-year-old schoolgirl at the last trailer. Yeah, I'm a little excited.

Although others have made this point quite well before me, it's worth repeating- Transformers did not invent the "giant robots" school of filmmaking. The Transformers movies weren't entirely bad in concept- they were mostly huge failures of execution. However, giant robot movies are not inherently bad just because one high-profile series failed horribly, and I, for one, am willing to trust Guillermo del Toro a hell of a lot more than I'm willing to trust Michael Bay. Optimism ahoy!

EDIT: And to complaints about "too much CGI"- del Toro went and built a FOUR-STORY-TALL practical effects-based set for each of the robots' heads. How's that for dedication to practical effects?

 

[floppylobster]

I'll watch it but I don't get excited about any movie. I've been let down many times before (and occasionally pleasantly surprised). But getting excited never helps me get more excited if it turns out to be actually good, it always sets up a potential disappointment. I'll save my excitement for when I'm watching the movie and only if I'm actually enjoying it. I'll go in with zero expectation.

 

[Almack]

alot of what im reading is EVA, EVA, EVA, Micheal Bay transformers like seriously I know most people here havent watched godzilla to the psychotic extent that I(every movie MINIMUM of 4 times) and other daikaiju genre fans or have, if ever even
and that eva and transformers are the majority of there experience with anything that even brushes up against the daikaiju, this is very true to what godzilla and gamera where like. Also it appears that they have only shown maybe 2 fight scenes in the trailer so there is plenty of room for story even still if the story isnt worth a damn WHO CARES GIANT ROBOT PUNCHES GIANT MONSTER there I have summed up why you should see pacific rim in 7 words. this isn't the metaphorical and literal wank fest that eva was and it's not the shameless cash grab that transformers was. Go see it have FUN you know FUN that thing that you used to have until you grew up.