7. Idris Elba Is Way Cooler Than A Two-Hundred Foot Tall Mech (And The Rest Of The Cast Is Pretty Good, Too)
I'm not saying "Today, we are canceling the apocalypse!" is a bad line - but it takes one hell of an actor to make it work. And Idris Elba is one hell of an actor. And are there any standardized measurements to gauge if an apocalypse has truly been canceled? Any requirements that need to be met - like a specific survivors to fire and brimstone ratio? I admire what Elba and del Toro have created with Stacker Pentacost. With all the angst-ridden and wise-ass heroes we've had of late, it's refreshing to see a character with a quiet, determined strength and clear sense of purpose. Despite being the stern father-figure, we know Pentacost cares about his people and the greater good. Some of that is in the dialog, but it mostly comes from Elba's presence and investment in the character. The rest of the cast is surprisingly good, as well. Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi don't have much to do other than be stock heroes, but they acquit themselves just fine. Charlie Day and Burn Gorman know what they're doing as the film's comic relief, even if they could run rings around the jokes given to them. Which leads me to Ron Perlman, who deserves a bullet point to himself and illustrates my biggest issue with Pacific Rim.