[Review] Pacific Rim: Uprising (5/10)

I have many problems with Pacific Rim: Uprising, so I guess I'll just list them down because they are basically the reasons that I did not enjoy the movie.

First, Rinko Kikuchi. I despised the fact that she was brought back for this sequel. But at least now I understood why and I am very happy with how the character ended up. So at least there's that.

Second, Charlie Day's character was supposed to be the levity of the movie, and he's charming that way. So I did not agree with how his character was used in the second half; but this was minor.

Third, the chemistry between John Boyega and Kikuchi, a stark reminiscent of the chemistry, or there lack of, between her and everyone else in the first movie. All their interactions were not believable.

Fourth, that location where Kikuchi's character sent to Boyega, what was that for??? That whole location could have been removed and we would have still ended up with the same movie.

Fifth, the opening of the movie was way too similar for comfort with Transformers: The Last Knight. The way we were introduced to the girl who has her own cute little Jaeger and the fact that she was also a great mechanic, it's the same as the girl in The Last Knight who has her own cute little Transformer robot and she herself was a great mechanic. And I have a nasty suspicion that it was because writer-director Steven S. DeKnight was in that same writers-room for Michael Bay for that movie.

Sixth, and I will insert a SPOILER WARNING here, that twist in the middle when we got a hybrid between a Jaeger and a Kaiju; that's when I said, forget it to the whole movie.

Seventh, as if that wasn't enough of ridiculousness, the Kaiju joined to form a bigger Kaiju. Had it not been the awesome spectacle in the last 20 minutes, I might have walked out then and there.

But yes, the redeeming factor was indeed the action sequences. The fights between the Kaiju and Jaegers, or Jaeger versus Jaeger, were great to watch. With the upgrades in their technology and weapons, this time around things were moving more fluidly with awesome sequences.

However, I do miss the modest, more clunky robotic movements which made everything more realistic. This sequel was like spitting on the vision of Guillermo del Toro, but then again, I do believe del Toro signed off on the script for this one.

Also, the Jaegers in the first movie were more memorable than this one because we got to spend more time with them. I could not tell you the names of the other Jaegers even just after watching it last night.