Pacific Rim

If you saw the trailers for “Pacific Rim” and dismissed it as mindless action movie schlock, well, you can be forgiven. Initial viewings of its promotional content had me skeptical. After all, how many times have we seen massive creatures and robots hash out their issues on the crowded streets of Mega City X, Y, and/or Z?

Too many times, that’s how many. But this particular film has a few tricks up its sleeve that actually succeed in keeping things interesting and (mostly) original.

A physically and emotionally battle-scarred ex-Jaeger (a.k.a. giant “hunter” robot) pilot is called back into action when the world’s hope has reached its last few strands. It’s up to him and a band of rogue heroes—led by the somewhat imposing, marginally mysterious Marshall Stacker Pentecost—to fend off an escalating global threat embodied in the form of massive Kaiju (a.k.a. “strange beasts”) that emerge from an extra-dimensional portal that mysteriously appeared years ago deep in the ocean.

The non-spoiler twist to the formula is the fact that two individuals are required to pilot the massive Jaegers, and the two pilots must be “drift-compatible” (e.g., they must have a natural flow and connection). This is necessary because “drifting” involves merging the pilots’ brains so that they can combine their brain processing power and run the Jaegers effectively (and without dying). So there’s also the matter of finding Raleigh Becket (our emotionally-scarred ex-Jaeger pilot hero) a suitable co-pilot—all while the attacking Kaiju continue to show up larger and more deadly by the week.

Violence: In regard to deadly alien monsters, the action we see onscreen holds no surprises. No nasty surprises, that is. The fact that nearly all the violence is of the Jaeger v. Kaiju variety is both fun and refreshing. It’s really quite nice to have a movie that doesn’t feature scads of human v. human violence. We do get to see gargantuan robots and aliens get pummeled, smashed, blasted, sliced, and stabbed, which, while enjoyable, can get quite intense at times. We see blueish goop fly when various Kaiju are on the receiving end of particularly powerful punches, or when they are sliced and stabbed and blasted with a plasma cannon, but otherwise the violence is relatively gore-free. There is one instance where two men get into a fight, but it is bloodless and quickly resolved.

Language is the most significant negative issue that audiences are faced with. There isn’t much cussing in the early goings, but, as the action ramps up, the language becomes a little more coarse. God’s name is abused the most frequently, as 13 of the curse words in the movie are abuses of His name in different forms, including a handful of times where Jesus’ name gets bandied about inappropriately, or “d*mn” is added as a suffix. No F-words infiltrate the dialog, but viewers will still encounter just under a dozen other harsh words (e.g., “sh*t,” “b*tch,” and “b*stard”) and a half-dozen “milder” curse words like “a**” or “h*ll.”

Sexual content is very minimal. We see one female character in a tight, low-cut, form-fitting tank top as she spars with Raleigh, and at one point she briefly ogles a shirtless Raleigh through a peephole. There is a crack about how Kaiju bone powder is used by some men as a way to increase their “potency,” and one joke makes light of one man’s (implied) sexual fling with another man’s girlfriend.

Spiritual Issues: What might be most problematic, at least for those looking to take their teenagers (and/or pre-teens), is the movie’s casual dismissal of the idea of God. The only references we get to God are passing remarks that dismiss the idea of His existence and/or mock individuals who still hold on to a belief in a higher power. This isn’t something the movie dwells on, but it is clear that Christianity (and other religions) don’t really have a place in the film’s fictional universe. Being aware of this can help lead to some really positive conversations about God and the Bible and the differences between a Christian worldview and worldviews held by others, but it might take a little initiative to start that conversation, rather than simply trying to ignore it and let it go unchallenged.

The good news is we see some great examples of selfless love and sacrifice throughout the movie. Different characters are presented with heavy circumstances that cause them to doubt their resolve, but, in each case, the individuals choose to sacrifice their own well-being—their very lives, in a few cases—in order to do what is best for their fellow Earthlings. It’s hard to think of a movie that features so many wonderful examples of John 15:13 and Mark 12:31.

“Pacific Rim” may want to dismiss God on some levels, but it does a good job of highlighting some character attributes that are critical for believers to grasp. Concepts like courage in the face of fear, pain, and adversity, hope in the face of despondent circumstances, and selfless sacrifice are all heavily reinforced by the actions of the heroes in the movie, and they make for several inspiring moments that will likely prove to be very encouraging for believers and non-believers alike. One man’s commitment to (and love for) his adopted daughter provides the most tender, intimate connection we see onscreen, and is a beautiful (though humanly flawed) illustration of God’s love and care for each of us.

In many ways, “Pacific Rim” is exactly what you might expect. It is aliens versus robots in multiple epic, cityscape-smashing battle royales (with cheese!) It can feel heavy-handed at times; the script isn’t the best you’ll see this year, and, in moments, a few actors seem to be trying just a wee bit too hard to sound dramatic.

However, the ride is exciting enough to keep you from noticing most of the shortcomings until you have had enough fun to forgive them. It’s likely that any faults won’t be fully recognized until you’ve left the theater and lain yourself in bed, and by that time they don’t seem to matter nearly as much. (Though they still might bug you for a few moments.)

The bottom line is that”Pacific Rim” feels just fresh enough to be worth your while. It would be great with popcorn or with “Sour Patch Kids,” and you won’t feel gross after watching it. (Unless you eat too much popcorn, that is.) The pacing feels good, which is quite a feat when you consider the fact that the movie’s run time breaches the two-hour mark. The action is fun and doesn’t feel tired. The CGI is impressive and fits seamlessly in the context of the movie without making things feel manufactured. On the acting front, Charlie Day keeps things light by making a killer turn as the comic relief, and Idris Elba gives us just enough gravitas to keep us in tune with the high stakes that are at play.

It may not be the best movie you have ever seen—or even the best this the summer. But it’s still a mighty fine ride. Although caution is recommended if considering taking young ones to soak in the intense, monster-mash action, the fairly minimal content issues (overall) make “Pacific Rim” a solid choice for a Saturday afternoon matinée.

Violence: Heavy / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Minor

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Young people