MOVIE MUSINGS - Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim is exactly the movie that it claims to be. It is a movie that is full of action, drama, bright colors, loud explosions, giant monsters, and giant robots. Giant monsters and giant robots standing toe to toe and beating the living piss out of each other. This is not a chick flick. This is not a feel good movie. This is a summer time grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the next two hours type of movie. Imagine Power Rangers with a gigantic budget that is directed by Guillermo del Toro. Pure eye candy.
The cast is well put together. Idris Elba is very good as the boss man of the Jaegers (giant robots). Ron Perlman plays a character named Hannibal Chau, a dealer of body parts taken from dead Kaiju (giant monsters). Perlman is an amazing actor that seems to steal every scene he appears in. Charlie Day from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia also stands out with an excellent performance as a wacky scientist with an affinity for the Kaiju.
There is obviously a heavy Japanese influence in this movie, and that is totally the right thing. For those of us that have spent many hours in our lives watching old Godzilla movies. and consider War of the Gargantuas an all time classic, Pacific Rim will hit the spot.
There are also nods to other movies sprinkled throughout. Elba, as the commander that hasn't piloted a Jaeger in years, but has to step up and do so once again, but first makes a profound speech to rally the troops, is a clear homage to Bill Pullman in Independence /Day. Near the end of the movie there is another scene that is a clear wink to Independence Day, and a scene with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.
Obviously this movie isn't going to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, but maybe it should. For a change, a movie that actually lives up to what it claims to be. Fun! Captain Creepy says check it out.