1. Yes, I assumed this movie would be a shallow “monsters versus robots” film. Thanks for the ‘five reasons’. I will definitely make the time to watch Pacific Rim.

  2. notleia says:

    I have 3 reasons, really:
    1) big, fun, dumb boom movie
    2) despite dumb booms, not completely trash at characterization
    3) see how far my Japanese has advanced (which is, not really)

  3. RJ Conte says:

    This is the first time I’ve heard the term “window dressing.” Haha. Love it.
    Good post!

  4. Travis Perry says:

    Well…my reaction to the trailers of this movie was that it was big and dumb. Why would anyone make giant robots to fight giant monsters? It actually makes no sense–why not just build larger numbers of smaller weapons, including lots of penetrating explosive systems (the applied use of explosives can do more than enough damage to take out massive monsters, trust me).

    And if you built giant robots, why make them in the shape of humans? Giant robots shaped like centipedes or with tank tracks would have an easier time moving around.

    So my hard-science-fiction-loving-guy is talking here. I think physics matters and machines should make sense. But I do suspend that sort of disbelief for Star Wars and maybe I can also do so for Pacific Rim. Your five points give me a reason to give it a try at least.

    Though I have to say this is not really an original story. It’s a blend of various Japanese story ideas, including Mobile Suit Gundam and Godzilla. At best, it’s semi-original…but your other four reasons are enough for me to give this movie a try. Thanks.

    • Ah, yes, exactly! Like Star Wars! You truly have to turn off the hard-sci-fi side of your brain if you’re going to enjoy this movie. The whole premise is kind of silly. It’s made for fun, not for science. 😀

      And yes, it is inspired by many Japanese tropes. I think it still qualifies as an original story, though, in the sense that it’s not taken from a book or comic. It’s not based on a preexisting story-world like most popular sci-fi and fantasy movies are (the MCU, the DCEU, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, the new Star Trek movies, etc). 🙂

      Thanks for your thoughts, Travis!

  5. Honestly, if a person can’t see that the idea of giant robots battling giant monsters, for WHATEVER REASON, is awesome then I’m not sure what’s going to sell them on this movie. But it may help to know that the movie at least makes an effort to give you some good reasons for why the giant robots have to battle the giant monsters, and that it is totally self-aware about the ridiculousness of its own premise and rolls with it in the most stylish and entertaining way it can.

    Of course you can pick apart the science, because it isn’t even pretending to be Proper Science Fiction any more than Star Wars or Doctor Who is pretending to be Proper Science Fiction. It’s taking the trappings and tropes of SF and weaving a wild adventure out of them, and I am 100% okay with that as long as that tone is established in the beginning and maintained through to the end… which it is, in the original PR at least. (I haven’t seen the sequel.)

    However, if you’re the sort of viewer who likes to nitpick everything that doesn’t look like Proper Science, and thinks the whole idea of giant robots battling giant monsters is dumb, I’d say it’s fairly certain this movie is not for you.

  6. Steve says:

    One of my family’s all time favorite movies!

    Lots of fun. Lots of heart. Good stuff.

What do you think?