Perhaps my previous review of "Pacific Rim" (2013) was more of a letter of admiration for Guillermo del Toro's vision, but this time I will be very critical, because talking about its sequel is, unfortunately, very difficult for a fan. Going against the original vision is one thing, but this is a disaster that many did not forgive.
The first installment directed by Guillermo del Toro was overloaded with epic passion. Five years later, "Pacific Rim: Uprising" (2018), directed by Steven S. DeKnight, stripped that epic premise of all its weight.
This movie stumbles catastrophically: what was a genuine homage to the mecha genre, this film is a continuation that completely forgot the essence of its predecessor, turning into something very different.
In the original movie, we were immersed in a world on the brink of extinction; the Jaegers were part of the resistance and battled to buy humanity more time. In contrast, this sequel presents a plot that feels like a generic TV series.
After closing the interdimensional breach, humanity's story jumps ten years into the future and revolves around corporate conspiracies and the mass production of giant robots.
The script loses direction trying to steer a story that had already successfully concluded. This narrative void is reflected in the treatment of the characters.
John Boyega as the protagonist does what he can playing Jake Pentecost, the son of Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba), who was never mentioned in the first film. However, the film's mistake lies in its secondary cast, a group of teenage cadets.
Their inclusion transforms the narrative into a teenage drama that clashes completely with the tone established by Guillermo del Toro. Additionally, the way Mako Mori's character is handled is an insult to her previous development.
Comparing the styles of both directors: Guillermo del Toro understood that for the Jaegers to be truly impressive heroic figures, they had to be willing to sacrifice everything. Their battles were decisive and looked stunning in the darkness of night or underwater.
Steven S. DeKnight, on the other hand, has the Jaeger battles take place in broad daylight to show off the CGI, and for some reason, the huge robots move as if it were no big deal (as if they weighed nothing); it's like watching a Transformers movie.
In my opinion, "Pacific Rim: Uprising" is the perfect example that a good story does not need a sequel: the same happened with Joaquin Phoenix's Joker and other films.
It is an unnecessary sequel that contrasts greatly with its predecessor by being deficient and trying to expand the narrative. For me, the franchise's story ended when Gipsy Danger detonated its nuclear reactor to close the portal to the other dimension and cancel the apocalypse.
Rating: 30/100
This review is also available on Scrobble.life
