Pacific Rim

[heliopausa]

I saw Pacific Rim yesterday.  It was the first contemporary big-action, humans-versus-aliens I've seen, and I found it enormously interesting, but it also left me with much to think about.

I really loved its look, which seemed to me in places to owe a lot to Blade Runner, by the way.  But then again, I was told by my learned companion that the film

Comments

[runesnspoons]

PR is really pretty visually incredible, I thought. Quibble: Mako wasn't just standing while *SPOILS*Raleigh beat Chuck into the ground *SPOILS*. She had her fists up at one point, but it wasn't a very good shot, the camera kinda glosses over it, and I missed it the first time I watched the movie. And isn't young Mako brilliant?! Her emotional rage--she was gripping to watch!

The Wei triplets are like my big "You were so great, why not more of you, we were in HONG KONG." I'd argue that Stacker doesn't fit the Magical Negro trope (hadn't heard of that one before!), but PR isn't really that great about race in several spots. (Name of the main characters' Jaeger, anyone?)

Okay, I'm just going to link-spam now. Some of it's just for laughs and some of it's analysis. I spend lots of time on tumblr, okay?

http://likethewaterfilter.tumblr.com/post/55839060431/errorofyourways-his-welding-goggles-dirt
http://gingerhaze.tumblr.com/post/55522636994
http://soyonscruels.tumblr.com/post/57000194513/witchpriest-ok-the-pacific-rim-class-post-we

[heliopausa]

Thanks for these! I have raced through them

I liked the welding goggles tip-off! And it's part of the whole attention to detail that ends up as the visual strength of the film (by and large, i.e. there's bits where it falters, I think).

And the part about the empty mind and the drift - yes... I can see that, and good point, though I still think it leaves him as the magic saviour, like... he could have spent a bit of time sharing this technique, not being the only person who does it. But no, because he's special and magic, and, not coincidentally, the only black person in the whole film with a speaking part (or a name).

Which brings us to the link about the racial biases, and yes, emphatically agreed. (Though I snickered at the bit saying "with major heroic characters hailing from the USA? Western Europe? and freakin’ Australia?" as if that last was just too outrageously out of place. They weren't Australians anyway, they were just grabbed by a lazy scriptwriter from the nearest stereotype bucket.) It was one of the huger

[runesnspoons]

I think I'm just desperate for it not to be bad, re: Mako in the fight, and am thusly grasping at all things. You're right that an unclear shot makes the movie's interest in her participation obvious

[heliopausa]

One other visual thing: I really liked the muted-tones cardigan with leaves on, as worn by Mako. Not as something I'd like to own or wear, but as a visual element in the film, looking good on her, and as a tiny glimpse, at two removes, of the ordinary natural world which was otherwise totally blocked throughout the movie. Nice!

[runesnspoons]

Also, apparently the scene where Stacker is all "One, don't you ever touch me again" was UNSCRIPTED. BEAUTEOUS ACTING THINGS.

[heliopausa]

Terrific! agreed, highly beauteous. :)