It’s predictable as daylight. But if you like Anime-ish big robot action, Pacific Rim: Uprising likely wouldn’t disappoint.
Pacific Rim: Uprising Synopsis
Ten years after the events of the first movie, the Yeager programme is under threat of being replaced by the remotely controlled drone programme of the Shao Corporation. Meanwhile, former Yeager pilot Jake Pentecost, son of Stacker Pentecost, is cornered into returning to Pan-Pacific Defense Corps as an instructor. On the day the PPDC is to decide on whether to implement Shao’s drone system, the city is attacked by a rogue Yeager, one powerful enough to battle Jake’s Yeager to a standstill. As the PPDC races to trace the origins of the rogue Yeager, a bigger truth emerges. One that might completely devastate the defense corps.
Snappy Review
Everybody knows it. Mecha Anime remains incredibly popular in Japan, and I’m not just talking about Gundam.
Every year, there are several new series and movies, be it updates of popular franchises or entirely new stories. In my opinion, the more successful ones almost always include the following:
- A rebel character. Talented, anti-establishment, frequently tormented by some sort of family history. Impossibly dependable in times of crisis too. (IMPOSSIBLY!)
- A stick-in-the-mud character as a contrast to the above.
- A child prodigy. Or a younger team b. As comic relief or emotional support.
- Big otherworldly conspiracy. Often with, ahem, alien possession.
- Extended battle scenes with plenty of ups and downs.
- Some ridiculous world-ending threat.
- Bright palette. So that you know who’s fighting what at where and when. (And so that you know which merchandise to grab later)
It’s a checklist. One that depends a lot on actual execution, but nonetheless, still a reliable start.
In the case of Pacific Rim: Uprising, it’s a clear 7 out of 7 for all, with the outcome occasionally uneven but overall still enjoyable. (I personally enjoyed it very much) Now, the criticism involving this formula is, of course, predictability and lack of originality. You literally start forgetting names the moment you exit the cinema.
Is that necessarily a bad thing? I don’t know for other viewers but it wasn’t so for me. I watch such movies for over-the-top predictable fun. In that area, I’d say Pacific Rim: Uprising adequately delivers.
PS: One thing that is missing from the movie, other than Charlie Hunnam, is a secret Yeager end-game weapon. You know, something like, “Ready to form V**TRON!” The way it looks to me, this might happen in part 3.
Click here to view the trailer.
Check out my other snappy movie reviews.
Update
A movie like this naturally has all sorts of collectibles for you to splurge on.
