1. "A" For Originality
"What's Pacific Rim based off of?" "What do you mean?" "Like was it a comic book or something?" "No, I don't think so... I think it's original." It's sad how often this question is asked and it's sadder how often I have to answer that it's based on a book, TV show, play, comic book, another movie of the same title, or toy/board game. All major summer blockbusters of the past five years have been dominated by sequels, prequels, adaptations, and remakes. So far this year, nine of out ten top grossing films have been a sequel, adaptation, or remake. The one original? The Croods. At least the kids are getting fresh stuff. This is where Pacific Rim was a pleasant surprise. It was conceived by screenwriter, Travis Beacham as he was walking along a beach. He imagined a giant monster and robot fighting each other, he thought about how the robot would be controlled by two pilots, and how the story would be about loss and dealing with loss. This may be a minor detail to many, but the fact that this idea wasn't conceived in a Hollywood laboratory to make an easy buck, and how spontaneously this idea came about reminds me of how movies should be made. Combined with a great director like Guillermo del Toro, Beacham's original idea has revived hope in me for the future of film. Take it from del Toro himself:
"I didn't want to be postmodern, or referential, or just belong to a genre. I really wanted to create something new, something madly in love with those things . I tried to bring epic beauty to it, and drama and operatic grandeur." Epic beauty, drama, and operatic grandeur indeed. Pacific Rim did what all other blockbusters this year have failed which is entertain, engage, and satisfy. While we wait for the next summer filled with more remakes, sequels, and adaptations, the irony is that many fans, myself included, want what Hollywood is so good at providing: the much anticipated sequel. But if del Toro and Beacham are on board, I'm sure we'll have no problem with it.