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| Look at this cast. Look at it. |
I saw Pacific Rim a few days ago, and I have to say I'm proud to have this film the current mainstream blockbuster climate. Actually it was 4 days ago, and I'm still on a cinematic high. In short I think Pacific Rim is what action films have needed to be for a while. It's a fun, feel good flick, and doesn't take itself too seriously. Honestly, this movie is very self-aware, so save criticisms of the Jaeger design because I've heard them all already. Telling me flaws of the piloting system or lack of realistic plot is about as useful to me as explaining your problems with the animated Transformers film. I mean this is my wallpaper for christ's sake...
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| Its rare that my level of fandom reaches this level |
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| If this x10000 doesn't appeal to you just don't bother |
You can skip this, but this is just how I feel about action movies right now.
Now here's the thing. I love this stuff. But outside of my annual G Gundam rewatch, I don't get to see this kind of thing anymore. Most Hollywood action films aren't that great. Some are so offensive it makes you want to protect your childhood memories at all cost.
Ok so the top 5 highest grossing action films: Avatar, Avengers, The Dark Knight, Star Wars: Episode One, Star Wars: A New Hope. They have a pattern. Majority of the characters are white males for one. Most of these films do not pass the Bechdel test. It's not that they're bad movies at all except
And then there's Pacific Rim.
At first, looking at Raleigh (Charlie Hunnam) you may think, "What is she talking about? Main character of this movie is a completely hetero white dude!" . But here's the catch. Raleigh is the maverick typical hero, but he does not receive top priority in this film. His story is most developed in the beginning, where you see the death of his brother [who we knew was going to die since he was the basic version of Raleigh who appears on no promotions or trailers]. Only later in the end does he take up the most screentime again. In the beginning you could say the film is told through his perspective, but it's not fully true. This film revolves around an entire very well rounded cast.
"The other sort of big summer movies often feel to me like it’s about one race, one credo and one country saving the world, and I wanted to make it about the world saving the world, no matter what skin color you have, what race you have, what belief you have – everybody in the movie saves the world, and we created a very equal structure where Charlie Day’s scientist has the same weight that Charlie Hunnam’s character has or Idris Elba’s or Rinko Kinkuchi, you know?" - Guillermo Del Toro [link]
You have no idea how refreshing it is to hear a filmmaker say these things. This film is based on an international cast. The whole story definitely never glorifies one country or one person as the savior. Filmmakers of Pacific Rim probably sensed the whole 'MURICA! type of action films, and it does get annoying after a while.
So another thing that impressed me is that this film very actively subverts the cliche of the male gaze in film. (see here if you're confused.) In fact, PLEASE watch this video.
In short, there is a lot of objectification of women in film. Most of the time it's in a voyeurism sort of way. Unlike male objectification, women are positioned a bit more submissively, and lot of the time they unknowingly are being watched.
Pacific Rim on the other hand goes to lengths to establish this is not happening. In fact, when we first see Raleigh it's very much rooted in fanservice.
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| Just got rejected from another school that requires shirts |
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| you go mako objectify the shit out of that white boy |
Mako however, is never objectified. She is beautiful, strong
and exists solely as her own character. Her actions aren't influenced by anything other than her own goals or dreams, and then her friendship with Raleigh benefits them both later.
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| she had a great costume too, notice there is no boob window |
"One of the other things I decided was that I wanted a female lead […] who has the equal force as the male leads. She’s not going to be a sex kitten, she’s not going to come out in cutoff shorts and a tank top, and it’s going to be a real earnestly drawn character. One of the decisions we made as we went along in the process of the movie was, let’s not have a love story. Let’s have a story about two people.
When you say normally, “and there is a young Japanese girl pilot,” you imagine a sexy, skimpily clad girl that has her T-shirt wet every five minutes… I wanted very much to have a character that ended the movie on equal terms with Raleigh and that they didn’t have to have a love story, they could have a colleague love story with respect for each other. And have the capacity to have a moving backstory. Rinko is an extraordinary actor and she’s incredibly intuitive and very brave… I didn’t want her to be the girl that turns into a sex object or a guy. Which is the normal thing in an action moive"
Even though that never stopped the typical fanboys from creating their own vision of her.In a great break down on the importance of Mako Mori (Oscar nominated Rinko Kikuchi), I'm just going to quote tumblr user hellotailor. Just read their analysis actually, its better than mine.
"Raleigh Becket and Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) both follow character arcs that we see time and time again in the action/adventure genre: the damaged yet cocky maverick hero, and the gruff mentor/authority figure. Raleigh is actually a combination of two tropes: a hero who suffers loss thanks to his own cockiness (the death of his brother), and a maverick who must overcome his troubled past to save the day. Stacker Pentecost, like most mentor/father figures, dies an inevitable but heroic death so the younger hero (Mako) can find her own path
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And Mako? She gets the primary Hero’s Journey.
While the movie is mostly told from Raleigh’s POV, Mako arguably gets more backstory, and has more to overcome during her Hero’s Journey. She’s a rookie pilot (hello, action movie trope!) who needs to prove herself to her mentor figure (yes!) and work together with another hero (yes!!) in order to save the world.
The only reason why some viewers can’t seem to grasp this is because 99% of the time, “young rookie hero" characters look like Luke Skywalker. Aside from the fact that Mako is a woman, her storyline is so simple and cliched (in a good way!) that anyone with a basic familiarity with Hollywood blockbusters or Saturday morning cartoons should be able to follow it with the sound off." Just read their analysis ,seriously, its better than mine.
They also go on to talk about how even when Mako descends into her own memories, she isn't alone in her sorrow. Raleigh actually ran away, and while he arguably is the one to save the day (which in itself is iffy, Raleigh having to eject Mako from the Jaeger was because he screwed up) their whole relationship is a matter of equals. Not to mention when she fell into her memories, Raleigh wasn't even strong enough to bring her back. They're portrayed that equally. Connection. Not competition.
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| except he always manages to fuck up one Jaeger arm |
This is also contrasted by the interesting dynamic of Mako
and Raleigh’s relationship. Now I’m not saying I never want romance in action
movies, but by having their relationship platonic it shows more of their
characters in this film. It also goes to show Mako is not there solely to be Raleigh’s love
interest. I cannot stress the importance of this.
This plays into another thing about Pacific Rim. This film
is pretty ‘clean’. As in there is no raunchy humor, no panning shots of female
bodies, no nudity, and at most just some minor profanity. Again, this doesn’t
make it automatically better, and I have no problem with nudity or profanity,
but it’s interesting to see a film that doesn’t need or rely these things.
This film doesn’t have any huge names either, as in these
actors are well known, but they aren’t the typical known action stars. (see Mark
Walhberg, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Tom Cruise, and thank god not Shia Lebouf) I worried
this might impact the box office, but in the end the casting is perfect to me, regardless if this film makes back its budget or not.
And then we have the awesome Idris Elba as Stacker Pentecost. He towers over everyone, and seeing him get suited up and giving his speech is one of the best parts of the movie. The Obi Wan to Mako's Luke Skywalker in terms of his sacrifice and mentor ship. He acts as sensei to Mako, but also learns about her to the extent of learning her language and culture. In this film he also tells Raleigh to shut up and listen, which he has to do. Even in the moments of defiance, there is a line not to be crossed, indicating the respect shown. He has the most commanding presence of the film, and the strongest aura of leadership in the cast.
"I wanted to have Idris not be the blonde, square-jawed, anglo, super hip marine that knows [everything]. I wanted somebody that could bring a lot of authority, but that you could feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. When I watched Luther, that’s the essence of the character… Luther is carrying literally the evils of the world on his shoulders. He’s doing penance for all humanity… Idris is one of those actors that is capable of embodying humanity, in almost like a Rodin sculpture-type, larger than life, almost like a Russian realism statue, you know, big hands, all the turmoil of humanity in his eyes. I wanted somebody that you could have doubts internally, and very few guys can do that."
- Guillermo del Toro
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| Never fucking touch him again |
And besides that, we have the scientists, Dr. Newton Geiszler (Charlie Day) and Gottlieb (Burn Gorman). They are comic relief and very much necessary to the conclusion of the plot. Both are hilarious caricatures of the goofy but genius scientist. Guillermo del Toro regular Ron Perlman has a fun role. As for the other pilots, they do kind of die fast.
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| they had a good look tho |
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| That three arm thing didn't quite work out |
The father - son duo of Chuck and Herc Hansen were well done side characters. Their complex was a common plot of action films, but they managed to not waste time on it. One comeback from Stacker sums up Chuck's daddy issues, as opposed to having a bunch of flashbacks involving the disapproving father figure spawning the asshole son who redeems himself.
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| spoiler: the dad loves their dog more than the son |
So anyway, Pacific Rim is a progressive, well made film that is original and fun. It's not perfect, but hey I enjoyed the hell out of it. And I can't remember the last time I said this, but I want a damn sequel. Its great to see a director aware of issues and knowledgeably helps make movies that go against them. Guillermo del Toro adds magic. Go see it.
Note: for further reading and analysis here some more links!
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