Pacific Rim: Uprising

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Ten years after the events of the first film, Jake Pentecost (played by John Boyega) is tasked with rejoining the Jaeger program to train the program’s cadets. The program is still in tact despite the war seemingly being over in the event of the kaiju returning. My thoughts on this film kind of reflect my thoughts on the first film. Where it truly shines are through its effects and its action scenes. These moments are a ton of fun—sort of like playing with action figures in the best way possible. The characters aren’t the absolute greatest. Many of them don’t really have a lot of development, and feel like stereotypes. Our primary hero is the charming rogue who’s taking his shot purely to avoid his other option (prison). The other main hero is a street-smart orphan with some attitude. Both of these are archetypes you have seen a hundred times before this movie. Jake is even something of a carbon copy of Raleigh Beckett from the first Pacific Rim That said, the strength in these characters comes from the actors portraying them. John Boyega as the lead is a major step up from Charlie Hunnam in terms of sheer screen presence alone. I also fully buy the chemistry he has with everybody he’s onscreen with, especially co-stars Scott Eastwood and Cailee Spaeny. There is a plot twist involving Charlie Day’s character. If I’m being honest, it was something I was just kind of indifferent towards. It personally didn’t affect me one way or the other. Director Steven S. DeKnight does a decent enough job making it feel like this sequel belongs in the same world as Guillermo del Toro’s original film. The humor can be hit and miss. Some of it lands. Sometimes, it just sort of falls flat. Overall, Pacific Rim: Uprising served its purpose as guilty pleasure popcorn flick for me. If you enjoyed the first film, you might enjoy this well enough. If you were not a fan of the original film, then it would be best to avoid this film. 

6 / 10