Pacific Rim (2D) [Blu-Ray]

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Cast: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Ron Perlman, Charlie Day, Clifton Collins Jr.

Release Date: Available on Blu-Ray Combo Pack, DVD & HD Digital Download October 15

A Review By: Kevin Lovell

Film Rating: 10/10

Disc Rating: 10/10

Plot Summary:

As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.

*Please note that this review is based on the 2D Blu-Ray combo pack. (The BD artwork displayed above is for this version)

‘Pacific Rim’ is a film I have been anxiously anticipating for some time, though unfortunately I was not able to catch it at the theater. The Blu-Ray release was my first viewing of the film and I was absolutely blown away. I had significantly high expectations for ‘Pacific Rim’ and I can easily say that it surpassed every single one of those expectations. I will even go a step further and say that this is without question my favorite film of the year (at least to date) and one that I will be viewing many more times ahead. While I have yet to view it more than once, I am already more than certain that this is one of those movies that I will enjoy more every time I watch it and that will more than hold up in repeat viewings.

Guillermo Del Toro has outdone himself this time, and while I cannot say I have seen all of his films, I have seen a large number of them, and I can easily say that based on what I’ve seen of his work (which has all been outstanding for the most part) that this is by far one of his best films yet. It has everything you could possibly hope for in this type of film. It has absolutely breathtaking effects and imagery. Even the simpler scenes that occur in a room or lab are gorgeous and always seem to be oozing with warm colors. Not only is it visually amazing, but the story is well constructed as well. It has heart, humor, incredibly detailed and mesmerizing action and to put it simply, pretty much everything you could possibly hope for.

The performances are great all around the board. Charlie Hunnam does a tremendous job in the lead role, Idris Elba is fantastic as always, and Ron Perlman shines once again in a role that could not possibly be pulled off better by anyone else. One of my personal favorite actors Clifton Collins Jr. is not a lead role, but still does a great job. Clifton Collins Jr. is one of those actors that can transform himself into any role to the point of being nearly unrecognizable. I feel he is one of the best actors out there today, and I am always thrilled to see him show up.

 

‘Pacific Rim’ is amazing in every way. It has a sharp and compelling story, fantastic directing and a more than competent cast who all give impressive performances. At this point I can say it is without question my favorite film of the year, and it will be a hard one to beat. For those who enjoyed it as much as I did (and even for those looking forward to it, but who like me weren’t able to catch it at the theater) I would highly recommend picking up a copy of the Blu-Ray. It’s a truly fantastic release of a fantastic film and definitely one you will want to add to your collection.

 

VIDEO:

The Blu-Ray release of ‘Pacific Rim’ features a full 1080p High Definition presentation utilizing the film’s original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio. The video presentation on this release looks nothing short of stunning. The strong vibrant colors so frequently on display in this film look smooth, sharp and detailed. Every aspect of the monsters and the machines are on brilliant display here and look stunning. Everyone should be more than satisfied with this beautiful High Definition presentation.

AUDIO:

The Blu-Ray release features both a lossless 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack as well as a 7.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Being that I personally have the 7.1 channel sound setup I of course viewed the Blu-Ray with the 7.1 channel audio track. Please note that the 5.1 DTS-HD track is the default, so if you want to view the film in 7.1 DTS-HD you will need to go to the menu and select it, or simply change the audio to track 2. That being said, this soundtrack blew me away. The large scale action and destruction constantly on display here is amplified greatly by this astounding lossless 7.1 channel audio track. It is a rare occurrence throughout the 131 minute runtime to not have constant activity throughout the speakers and this is certainly a perfect example of the type of film that really does greatly benefit from those two extra channels. It really excites me greatly to see Warner starting to give some of these films the full 7.1 channel lossless audio treatment. Audiophiles like me should be in heaven with this lossless 7.1 soundtrack.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Blu-Ray release of ‘Pacific Rim’ features a second BD disc solely dedicated to extras, so as you can imagine this release is pretty well stocked with all kinds of great and informative extras. The first disc contains an audio commentary track with director/co-writer Guillermo Del Toro which you can view the film with. The second disc which is solely dedicated to extras includes 14 in-depth featurettes that will take you deeper into the creative process of ‘Pacific Rim’ than you could ever imagine. Also included is ‘The Directors Notebook’ ‘The digital artistry of Pacific Rim’ and more. Multiple hour’s worth of content to keep the most dedicated fans occupied for a good while following their viewing of the film.

Film Rating: 10/10

Disc Rating: 10/10

Own “Pacific Rim” on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and HD Digital Download 10/15 from Warner Bros.