I saw the trailer for Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim again in front of Bullet to the Head on Thursday night and I must say, there is nothing about the film that looks appealing to me. It looks like Godzilla meets Transformers and Real Steel with all the noise and subtlety of Sucker Punch. I reserve the right to be blown away when the film hits theaters on July 12, but I'm not holding my breath.
That said, there was a test screening of the film just last night and buzz on the Twitters and IMDb is positive (why wouldn't it be?) including a tweet from Looper writer/director Rian Johnson that goes as follows:
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.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) February 2, 2013
See, it's that prepare to be a 12-year-old thing that always gets me. I guess I just tend to have a hard time getting into that mindset. Obviously, my problem and no one else, as those that were in attendance and talking about it online liked it. We'll know soon enough.
Here are a few new pictures that just arrived (via USA Today), click on the thumbnails to scroll through the gallery.
From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' epic sci-fi action adventure Pacific Rim.
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes-a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)-who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
Oscar nominee Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) is directing Pacific Rim from a script by Travis Beacham (Clash of the Titans). Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Mary Parent are producing, with Callum Greene serving as executive producer.
The film stars Charlie Hunnam (TV's Sons of Anarchy), Idris Elba (Thor), Rinko Kikuchi (The Brothers Bloom), Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses), and Ron Perlman (the Hellboy films). The ensemble cast also includes Max Martini, Robert Kazinsky, Clifton Collins, Jr., Burn Gorman, Larry Joe Campbell, Diego Klattenhoff, and Brad William Henke.
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It's not the positive feedback, but that fact that it has screened so early which has got to be a good sign right?
It doesn't interest me, but it probably is much better than the films used to pitch it to the public. And I have a feeling audiences will stay away.
Gheez Brad, why can't you just pee your pants? Does having the brain of a 12 year old with soiled jeans not sound like a good time?
Some critics will never get it.
#ClassicangryBrad Not wanting to be a pants-peeing 12 year old loving things.
#ClassicAngryBrad not liking certain things that you do, because after all, film isn't subjective at all.
Hamza was actually making a joke.
Oops. Shit.
@Hamza Zain: Sorry about that.... I suck.
No worries at all. Kind of hard to interpret my tone through text.
Good god Brad, where is the other old guy that sits with you looking down on the other muppets talking about them?!
There's enough info here to do a honest trailer.
"From director Guillmero Del Toro, the producer of 'The Hobbit', and Travis Beachman, the writer of 'The Clash of Titans', comes a CGI filled action-flick that is just really ripping of two crappy films 'Transformers' and 'Godzilla'. Get ready to watch Monsters and Robots fight in the rain, in the dark, in the snow, in the ocean, and in a city. Get ready for this wanna-be film starring two Charlies, wanna-be film actors, and a guy that normal has horns (Ron Perlman). Gosh how did this film ever get made."
Yeah, I spent time to write this.
The only reason id see this is because Charlie Day is in it.
Not sure about Pacific Rim. Because of the premise there is a high crapola potential here but seeing that Del Toro is directing not just producing w/ his name attached, I have faith it will be competently made. Unlike the Transformers movies it's being compared to.
Let's hate on a film from a great director just because it involves giant robots. Geez.
Thems the facts
Why is Del Torro a great director?
I've never heard of people questioning DelToro's brilliance until I came to this site. I suppose people can argue against the Hellboy films on the basis of how silly and juvenile they are. I think they're fantastic, but I can see where people could be put off by the intensity of the geekiness.
However, there is absolutely no way anyone can legitimately have anything bad to say about Chronos, The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth. Those three are some of the most lyrically beautiful, thematically rich, gorgeously designed films ever crafted. They are pure Del Toro and could only have come from him. He is a gregarious, lovely man. A true humanist who deeply loves film and has a great sense of humor about everything including himself.
The combination of making such marvelous films, being such a great dude and such a singular voice is why I think he's a great director.
I would add Blade 2 to his list of good films and I think Mimic has some great stuff in it and one hell of a great story behind the making of it.
Definitely. Blade 2 is magnificent. Mimic has some impressive atmosphere, but that tacked on CGI nightmare of an ending always ruins it for me. I miss Charles S. Dutton.
"However, there is absolutely no way anyone can legitimately have anything bad to say about Chronos, The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth."
Well that seems a slightly close-minded approach to film discussion.