Read Mixed User Reviews for Pacific Rim: Uprising

5

BrianMcCriticJul 5, 2018

A film that lacks the vision the first one does even when it has its moments of fun. There is definitely some fun to be had here, but the meandering script left me uninspired in the end. Overall I can't quite give it a pass a high 5. C+

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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6

DyliebarAug 3, 2018

The action sequences alone are worth the price of admission, the scenes in between not so much.

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4

ArkonBladeJun 12, 2018

Really liked the first Pacific Rim. This one how ever is not even near as good as the first. No Del Torro directing pretty much killed this. The plot is dumb, the characters are bland and boring, and this feels like a bad episode of the powerReally liked the first Pacific Rim. This one how ever is not even near as good as the first. No Del Torro directing pretty much killed this. The plot is dumb, the characters are bland and boring, and this feels like a bad episode of the power rangers. The Jager pilots look like they are all 13 to 15 years old. No Rolly in this one or Herc. The only reason I am even giving this a 4 and not a zero is the action is ok. Not near as good as the first one though. When Jager fights were not happening in this movie I was zoning out due to Bordem.

Really disappointed in this one. It was one of my more anticipated movies for 2018. I would say don't waste your time on it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

ComandanteCobraApr 26, 2018

I'll add my review to the mixed score train. It isn't terrible but it is also far from great and worse than the first one. It seem like targeted to young audience. It has a simple plot, very young protagonists, a cute robot, basic morals, ifI'll add my review to the mixed score train. It isn't terrible but it is also far from great and worse than the first one. It seem like targeted to young audience. It has a simple plot, very young protagonists, a cute robot, basic morals, if you have some age on your shoulders you'll forsee every dialogue and situation of this flick. Battles are more flashy than the first film but are soulless, hollow, linear. It is sad to see enormous robots armed with nonsense weapons jumping all around like ninja (causing more colleateral damage than the monsters)....unlike the first one where you can feel the weights of monsters and mechs. Kaiju are veeeery scarce in this movie and have generic look and silly motivation. It is missing the love letter for vintage kaiju films or anime robot of the first installation. If you'll go to the teatre with childer they will have a good time but otherwise you can skip it… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

roastbirdApr 29, 2018

When the director said we need to make jaegers "faster and lighter" I know what I can possibly get...

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

DubeauMay 17, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Uprising was a very average movie. I did appreciate the acting in general. But the story barely involve the actual Kaaju and aliens. Yes you get some hints on the why of the first movie, but it takes way too much time establishing the new characters and too much language translations. The visuals were pretty good and easily the fun aspect of the movie. The lack of an established movie star, was maybe a bad decision. And turning a previous fun/comedic character into the main villain isn't a good move at all. So yes, the mechanics works but the essence doesn't make that thing run very far. I give it a 55% because this movie seems to setup a follow up. Will we see it is another question...… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

Popcorn55Jun 24, 2018

Ohhhh my god. Why did I waste $1.67 at Redbox on this? I knew better. I knew it would be bad. And it was... you really have to watch it as comedy I guess.

If you accept the hilarious premise of this franchise, namely that giant JapaneseOhhhh my god. Why did I waste $1.67 at Redbox on this? I knew better. I knew it would be bad. And it was... you really have to watch it as comedy I guess.

If you accept the hilarious premise of this franchise, namely that giant Japanese monsters from another dimension are periodically climbing up out of the seafloor to smash all buildings that they can find, then you have to also accept the fact that you are watching something designed for 8-year olds, basically, and from that uncritical point of view, it's sort of entertaining for a while. But then all the usual giant-robot combat ensues, and it wears thin rather quickly... why is that pre-teen girl able to build giant robots all by herself? I never understood that... or any of dozens of other examples of far-fetched silliness that's taken for granted here.

Really the best part of this eye-roller is the names of the giant Jaeger robots... "November Ajax" etc. Definitely good stuff for 8-year olds to get into and then buy the plastic model kits...… Expand

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4

AMFcriticNov 15, 2018

It seems more a bad copy of the first than a sequel, taking everything great and overexploiting it so much that it is no longer great. 4.9 / 10

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

ROYFINKApr 12, 2018

for what its worth its not a bad movie the monster fights are awesome the humans are cardboard and nothing really interesting there just wait for it to come to dvd and skip the first hour

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

JaqwaanMay 11, 2018

Pacific Rim: Uprising goes full Hollywood with this poorly executed sequel. If you are hoping this film is better than the first, you'll be disappointed as the only real appeal to this film is the unrealistic physics of Yager Combat.

ThePacific Rim: Uprising goes full Hollywood with this poorly executed sequel. If you are hoping this film is better than the first, you'll be disappointed as the only real appeal to this film is the unrealistic physics of Yager Combat.

The story leads a linear path and diverges into multiple complex situations that, if any of the characters were smart enough, could fix quite easily. The climax, although different in a way, gets to a point where the movie seems to keep falling from that point on and has no real return. So many plots are unrealistic and so many decisions the writers chose made this film a little bit more unbearable each minute.

The only real positives are John Boyega's strong acting, Yager Design and, of course, the Kaiju, who are somehow back, and explained very briefly.

If there are plans for another movie, let's hope anyone who writes it has a chance to develop a good story, with stronger acting and making the Yager combat as realistic as possible.… Expand

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5

AugustKellerJun 4, 2018

Equipped with an interesting setting and likable lead characters, Pacific Rim: Uprising is the epitome of wasted potential. Copping out at every turn and displaying a complete lack of trust in its audience, the script to this sequelEquipped with an interesting setting and likable lead characters, Pacific Rim: Uprising is the epitome of wasted potential. Copping out at every turn and displaying a complete lack of trust in its audience, the script to this sequel immediately devolves into spelling out everything that its viewers need to know (either through blunt voiceovers or on-the-nose dialogue). This sets the tone for the entire movie as we’re exposed to every cliché in the book (an exhausted plot line and flat supporting characters) as well as inattentive techniques (negligent pacing, transitions and effects). There may be some thrilling fights and the cool monsters but the entire ride rings hollow all the way through.

While the design and potential of Pacific Rim: Uprising may have many wanting to give it a shot, its void of substance limits the film to only the shallowest of successes. In the vain of Transformers or the Fast & Furious franchise, this film has oodles of popcorn appeal and a major absence of craft or distinction. Pacific Rim: Uprising is fun at times but, just like its over-indulgent action sequences, the film is wholly unoriginal and bordering on insulting.

Writing: 4/10
Direction: 4/10
Cinematography: 4/10
Acting: 4/10
Editing: 4/10
Sound: 6/10
Score/Soundtrack: 5/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 6/10
Effects: 7/10

Overall Score: 5.1/10

Original Articles: https://thefilmguys.blog/reviews/augusts-reviews/pacific-rim-uprising-2018/… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

BorgorosApr 2, 2018

The start of this movie is really slow and weak. The effects, characters and story is dull at best. But after Newt gets crazier and takes over its picking up!! Suddenly the effects gets better, more battles like the first movie and it getsThe start of this movie is really slow and weak. The effects, characters and story is dull at best. But after Newt gets crazier and takes over its picking up!! Suddenly the effects gets better, more battles like the first movie and it gets moe entertaining all over. The stupid misplaced humor is there through the whole movie though....… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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5

joeyabukiMar 23, 2018

Not a good movie. This film is not directed by Guillermo del Toro, unlike the first instalment, doesn't have his soul or his touch. A bunch of action scenes & clichés. Flat Performances. Random simplistic plot. Although it has some good scenarios.

9 of 11 users found this helpful92

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4

JPKMar 24, 2018

What Happened!?
Pacific Rim: Uprising Feels Like A Very Cheesy Power Rangers Episode Mixed With The Better Moments Of Transformers Movies (Those Movies Mostly Suck), The First Pacific Rim Had A lot Of Creative Ideas And Terrific VisualWhat Happened!?
Pacific Rim: Uprising Feels Like A Very Cheesy Power Rangers Episode Mixed With The Better Moments Of Transformers Movies (Those Movies Mostly Suck), The First Pacific Rim Had A lot Of Creative Ideas And Terrific Visual Effects. But Here It's Very Bland And Messy With That Cheesy Power Rangers Feel To it.… Expand

9 of 11 users found this helpful92

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4

SunykameyMar 25, 2018

This movie was disappointing. They took away everything that made Pacific Rim great and added nothing of value. This movie desperately needed a better script. Flashier and "bigger" isn't always better. It just had no soul.

8 of 10 users found this helpful82

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6

Compi24Apr 3, 2018

Like a lot of other recent sequels, "Pacific Rim: Uprising" juggles too many new elements, world-builds to a fault, and squanders the core facets of what made the original so enticing. The characters, the action, and the stakes are allLike a lot of other recent sequels, "Pacific Rim: Uprising" juggles too many new elements, world-builds to a fault, and squanders the core facets of what made the original so enticing. The characters, the action, and the stakes are all downgraded considerably in this. Plus, there's one really unfortunate narrative risk taken here that pans out so horribly, it almost breaks the movie. Almost. Thankfully, the effects, the performances, and the world that was so brilliantly staged by Guillermo Del Toro back in 2013 ultimately make the movie watchable. And I can't say I really regret the watch.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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5

CineAutoctonoMar 25, 2018

"Pacific Rim: Uprising" was a film that did not respect the essence of the original film, they presented us a new story with new characters, new jaegers and new kaijus, and that was a very strong point in the film, but new and also many"Pacific Rim: Uprising" was a film that did not respect the essence of the original film, they presented us a new story with new characters, new jaegers and new kaijus, and that was a very strong point in the film, but new and also many problematics. The story is overloaded, there are very excessive action sequences, the story became aggressive and very pretentious, and its turn is very fast. They discontrolled the whole movie and destroyed all the essence that the great Guillermo Del Toro transmitted to us in the first film, the visual effects are lighty good but the performances are so bad. And even with all those severe problems, the movie is very entertaining. But it will not be worthwhile to continue knowing more about the story as it was destroyed, by the unbridled pace of the film.… Expand

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

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6

JamesIrish68Mar 26, 2018

Very corporate production aimed at teens and and the future sale of merchandise . John Boyega isn't really leading man material, his co stars are generic and the script is basically every cliche and trope you can think of.
Negatives aside itVery corporate production aimed at teens and and the future sale of merchandise . John Boyega isn't really leading man material, his co stars are generic and the script is basically every cliche and trope you can think of.
Negatives aside it is visually wonderful on the big screen and very entertaining. Can’t be faulted for the excellent CGI, Animatronics, Costume etc. It is full scale razamatazz in the same vein as “Transformers”.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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5

whoischarlotteApr 2, 2018

A fun movie to watch, robots fighting and surprisingly good special effects. Lacked a proper plot and character development in places.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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4

StonebeastMar 25, 2018

Not nearly as good as the first. The story spent way to much time on the ew characters and it feels like the entire movie was targeting 15 years olds. Also the storyline and the villan were just bad and lazy. Would rate this about half whatNot nearly as good as the first. The story spent way to much time on the ew characters and it feels like the entire movie was targeting 15 years olds. Also the storyline and the villan were just bad and lazy. Would rate this about half what the first movie was… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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6

MachosViktorMar 25, 2018

Be a simple! If you love and miss visual effects, of course you should crab you ass from home and straight go to the cinema. However I can tell ya one thing, The script of the movie is certainly limping. In addition, not all the actors gaveBe a simple! If you love and miss visual effects, of course you should crab you ass from home and straight go to the cinema. However I can tell ya one thing, The script of the movie is certainly limping. In addition, not all the actors gave their best.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

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4

yerubandiMar 23, 2018

3 points for CGI, after that there is nothing in the movie. no plot, no good acting, no humor. nothing.

11 of 16 users found this helpful115

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5

JNOTRMar 23, 2018

Pacific Rim 2 is far from being as good as its predecessor. The script is very, very loose, it's a mix of Power Rangers, Transformers, Independence Day 2 and a bit of the first Pacific Rim. It is a very generic movie. None of the jokes work,Pacific Rim 2 is far from being as good as its predecessor. The script is very, very loose, it's a mix of Power Rangers, Transformers, Independence Day 2 and a bit of the first Pacific Rim. It is a very generic movie. None of the jokes work, none of the characters empathize, there are many plot holes and nonsense.
Even so, the film entertains a lot in its last 30 minutes, these are the ones that save this movie from having a 1. The final fight is very well made and it is quite a spectacle for the spectator. The special effects are very good, although at times they can be very artificial due to the lighting and camera movements.
To see it in 3D and in a movie theater.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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4

akenaton1984Mar 25, 2018

Mal guión, ese es su principal problema; pero también se nota la diferencia del cambio de dirección. Hubo momentos en que incluso me pregunté si lo que estaba mirando era una película o un spot publicitario del ejército gringo. Lo demás pasaMal guión, ese es su principal problema; pero también se nota la diferencia del cambio de dirección. Hubo momentos en que incluso me pregunté si lo que estaba mirando era una película o un spot publicitario del ejército gringo. Lo demás pasa desapercibido y no aporta nada nuevo. Incluso algunos efectos especiales se ven muy malos, sobre todo aquellos de los monstruos.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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4

BooyahMediaMar 25, 2018

Not terrible but not great either, pretty predictable and lack class and better story development.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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5

lahar104Mar 25, 2018

the much potential for a 4 year movie was not really that great nor bad.The comedy was not that enjoyable but near the end it was FUN.the story was okay not bad,i expected a better version.Near the end they said they might announce a 3rdthe much potential for a 4 year movie was not really that great nor bad.The comedy was not that enjoyable but near the end it was FUN.the story was okay not bad,i expected a better version.Near the end they said they might announce a 3rd movie,i hope its better than this if realsed.its jUst an okay movie… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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4

MrNikitaTVMar 23, 2018

Тихоокеанский Рубеж 2- безмозглое, но увлекательное кино. Сюжета простой, который нужен для драк роботов с монстрами. Графика отличная, но в некоторых моментах видна зеленка. Все стало мультяшным и пластиковым. Люди плохо прописаны, хотяТихоокеанский Рубеж 2- безмозглое, но увлекательное кино. Сюжета простой, который нужен для драк роботов с монстрами. Графика отличная, но в некоторых моментах видна зеленка. Все стало мультяшным и пластиковым. Люди плохо прописаны, хотя видно, что создатели пытались это сделать. Главный герой получился бледным и плохо прописанным. На счет экшена проблем нет. Все таки- это не худшее, что могло произойти с фильмом.… Expand

6 of 12 users found this helpful66

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6

moviemitch96Mar 23, 2018

As if the first film wasn't ridiculous enough already, this sequel takes things up a notch in terms of mind-numbing explosions and destruction. Riddled with silly moments and dialogue, even with five years in between this and the first film,As if the first film wasn't ridiculous enough already, this sequel takes things up a notch in terms of mind-numbing explosions and destruction. Riddled with silly moments and dialogue, even with five years in between this and the first film, the end result here feels rushed and very half-hearted. The only good thing the first film had over this one is that it came first, and therefore automatically felt a bit more fresh and fun, but other than that, this was also a mind-numbing and rather unnecessary sequel if you ask me. Oh and Scott Eastwood (Clint Eastwood's son who no one ever really remembers and who you may or may not remember from one of those Fast and Furious movies and a blink-and-you'll-miss-it role in Suicide Squad) had a major role in this. Sooo... ya.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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5

Naruto78909Mar 27, 2018

Pacific rim uprising is really boring the only good parts are the fights other than that this movie is really boring

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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6

PilskiMar 24, 2018

Not a good movie. This film is not directed by Guillermo del Toro, unlike the first instalment, doesn't have his soul or his touch. A bunch of action scenes & clichés. Flat Performances. Random simplistic plot. Although it has some good scenarios

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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6

dharmaMar 29, 2018

Having an Oscar caliber director on its previous iteration, the first Pacific Rim combines some kick ass action sequences with a lot of heart. Del Toro's 'magic' is severely missing in this competent, yet 'lesser' sequel. Boyega is a betterHaving an Oscar caliber director on its previous iteration, the first Pacific Rim combines some kick ass action sequences with a lot of heart. Del Toro's 'magic' is severely missing in this competent, yet 'lesser' sequel. Boyega is a better lead than Hunham that's for sure, and the final action sequence is gleeful in your 'anime style' kind of way. However, the overall package feels slight and lacking in the vibrancy and spirit of the original. It feels like they are there to sell action figures (and lo and behold, some great 'toys' by top toymaker Bandai).… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

MH280Mar 28, 2018

Ok, I'm going to be clear on this one, I adore Pacific Rim. The combination of giant robots and giant monsters makes PR an awesome movie. Add a great cast of characters and you have a very enjoyable movie. And this makes me even moreOk, I'm going to be clear on this one, I adore Pacific Rim. The combination of giant robots and giant monsters makes PR an awesome movie. Add a great cast of characters and you have a very enjoyable movie. And this makes me even more disappointed with Pacific Rim Uprising.
PR Uprising (henceforth referred to as Uprising) tries its best to captivate audiences like its previous movie. Unfortunately it falls flat.
Characters and Jeagers
John Boyega played as the main character Jake Pentecost in Uprising, and did a really good job at it. I'm not too familiar with the other actors but they were also pretty good, not amazing, but good enough that it wasn't terrible. The characters themselves however were pretty forgettable, and the director should have stuck with Jake and Lambert's story and relationship as they piloted Gypsy Avenger (similar to the development we see in the previous movie).
The Jeagers on the other hand, I have some issues with. In the first movie they were big and bulky, every movement they made gave the impression and highlighted the fact that these were 80 metre tall machines that weighed thousands of tonnes. Each one had a unique detail that made them memorable; Gypsy Danger had had the chest reactor, Striker Erika had the air missiles, Cherno Alpha had the huge, hydraulic fists and Crimson Typhoon had the three arms and three pilots (Something that was said to be very difficult, I'll get back to this later). In this movie however some either feel like re-skins of previous Jeagers or had no unique feature; Gypsy Avenger was basically an updated Gypsy Danger with nothing really special to add, Sabre Athena used swords and was pretty manoeuvrable, but this makes no difference because EVERY OTHER JEAGER HAD BLADED WEAPONS, except for Guardian Bravo. Speaking of which, Guardian Bravo had an electro-whip, something he uses once and utterly fails at it. Bracer Phoenix has to be my favourite, due to its design keeping to the classic, big and bulky stile of the original with some pretty cool chest cannons, however it's let down by the nonsensical morning star and the three pilot link, which wasn't original and made no sense in context. Overall, the Jeagers feel like a step back from the previous movie.
The Story
The story made no sense. It was convoluted and did not tie in to the original, despite how hard it tried. Also, the villain was the worst, period. Without spoiling, they tried to pull off an epic twist that just fell flat.
The Action
The action was pretty forgettable, instead of having distinct locations with distinct scenes, the action felt unoriginal and forgettable. In PR each fight scene had something unique, from the ship in the Hong Kong battle, to the death of Yancy Becket in the beginning. In the new movie, aside from the battle in Sydney and the Battle in the Arctic, nothing felt either fun or captivating like in the original. And, funnily enough, the previously mentioned fights were against Jeager Obsidian Fury and not the Kaiju, in a movie about killing Kaiju.
The Humour
The humour was bland and outdated. I only found myself laughing or giggling in excitement during the fight scenes, but it was never at any of the jokes. Also, using the Trol song is just outdated, it was an epic killer of an otherwise pretty tense scene.
Animation
Animation? Isn't this live action? It is, but a lot of animation is required for the movement of the Jeagers. In the first movie, every movement by the Jeager reflected its giant mass and size, from punching, running and even jumping, the camera would shake a little, reminding the viewer that these machines were huge and powerful. Uprising does not do this, the Jeagers, whilst visually stunning (design wise not so much) felt too human and too light. I know this movie is set 10 years after the original, but even so there are no visual cues or anything that maintain the viewers suspension of disbelief and, dare I say, immersion.
Conclusion and TL;DR
Overall, I didn't hate Uprising, but I did leave the cinema feeling disappointed. Uprising certainly didn't live up to the original either through bad dialogue or poorly designed Jeagers, and for the sequel I hope Guillermo del Toro jumps back on as director, as it seems Steven S DeKnight has botched this one up very badly.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

KirillvhMay 2, 2018

Not bad but somehow lacklustre, somehow it cant live up to the original. Perhaps there is insufficient comedy, or insufficient chemistry, somehow its just meh but still ok to watch.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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4

JLuis_001Mar 28, 2018

A completely unnecessary sequel with nothing original or even innovative. A flat story that shows the lack of argument and conflict and obviously of characters and the truth is that in the end even though they fought against a Kaiju the filmA completely unnecessary sequel with nothing original or even innovative. A flat story that shows the lack of argument and conflict and obviously of characters and the truth is that in the end even though they fought against a Kaiju the film has a similarity with Transformers that it's too excessive for its own good and the truth is that to watch two hours of explosions and machines colliding with each other has never been my thing .
Disappointing.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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5

benskylerhillApr 9, 2018

It's a loud, stupid movie. But, hey, what did you expect? Pacific Rim: Uprising, the sequel nobody asked for, provides nothing new that the original did not provide. The plot provides little to no coherence and seems to follow no rules:It's a loud, stupid movie. But, hey, what did you expect? Pacific Rim: Uprising, the sequel nobody asked for, provides nothing new that the original did not provide. The plot provides little to no coherence and seems to follow no rules: anything can happen so long as the end result is giant robots and giant monsters punching each other in the face. The robotic acting and forced and the insincere script leaves the viewer not caring at all about the characters or what happens to them. That being said, the movie knows what is it and is entertaining enough for a visual/audio experience alone. The colors pop across the screen and the sound breathes life into the action sequences. But unfortunately, unlike its predecessor, Pacific Rim: Uprising takes itself a little too seriously and left a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth as a result.
Story: 4
Acting: 3
Script: 2
Visuals/Sound: 8
Entertainment Value: 6

MY RATING: 4.6/10… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

GrantD243Apr 25, 2018

Pacific Rim: Uprising is directed by Steven S. DeKnight and stars John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, and Cailee Spaeny. And while I still found this film to be a fun watch, it's definitely not on the same level as the first one. It really justPacific Rim: Uprising is directed by Steven S. DeKnight and stars John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, and Cailee Spaeny. And while I still found this film to be a fun watch, it's definitely not on the same level as the first one. It really just feels like an unnecessary sequel. The story seemed like a bit of a stretch and I really wasn't that impressed with it for most of the movie, and then the first twist happened and I was starting to climb aboard, but then the second twist happened and I jumped back off. I'm just not a big fan of the direction they decided to take it, and it's inferior to the first Pacific Rim in every way possible. Fight scenes? They're still enjoyable, but the first one was better. Characters? Alright, the first one didn't have amazing characters, but Uprising's characters (besides Boyega) are even less interesting than the first one's. I wasn't as impressed with the ending, either. The script? Cheesier than the first one. The direction? Not as good as Guillermo del Toro. But, even with all of that, I still enjoyed watching this film purely because of the fact that it has robots fighting other robots/aliens. To put all of this into perspective: I think that the first Pacific Rim is a solid film, while I think that Pacific Rim: Uprising is a solid guilty pleasure film. Good if you just want to turn off your brain and watch robots and aliens destroy a ton of stuff, not so good if you're looking for a film that's, well, a good film… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

dogboyMar 26, 2018

I liked the movie. Wasn't nearly as cheesy as the first one but also had some weird plot twists. I felt like they could have done a lot more with it if they had a better script. They also ruined Charlies character who was so much fun in theI liked the movie. Wasn't nearly as cheesy as the first one but also had some weird plot twists. I felt like they could have done a lot more with it if they had a better script. They also ruined Charlies character who was so much fun in the first film. Still entertaining and not many slow bits. Just could have been a lot more.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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6

HaloFeverMar 28, 2018

Pacific Rim: Uprising is on the high side of mediocre. Granted, the first movie fell into the same category. The changes from the original are a mixed bag. Robots now fight in the day light instead of at night in a rain storm. The pilots alsoPacific Rim: Uprising is on the high side of mediocre. Granted, the first movie fell into the same category. The changes from the original are a mixed bag. Robots now fight in the day light instead of at night in a rain storm. The pilots also bring out their best weapons from the start instead of the last 3rd of the movie. On the downside, there almost no reason to care about these characters. Our main hero is wishy-washy about whether he wants to fight giant monsters and his kid sidekick is only given a few minutes of screen time. You might think kids would fall in love with this movie but today's kids are just as cynical as we are. At one point a giant robot is tossed by a giant monster through several buildings and onto the street. Its giant fist slightly nudges a compact car, setting off the car alarm to humorous effect. My son says, "That always happens in movies." The movie also misses an opportunity for a Karate Kid, Last Star Fighter vibe. You have a Hogwarts of teen characters and the movie could care less about them. I couldn't tell you any of their names. There was a time when all the CGI buildings falling and giant robot punching would have been enough to make this movie the top box office draw. Remember Independence Day? The movie was terrible but it was the first movie to show us what CGI could do on a mass scale. Now we see this kind of voyeuristic destruction on TV shows. For a movie like this to raise above the rest, it need a story that matters and characters we can root for. If the Pacific Rim folks make a 3rd movie, I hope they do better.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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4

TheQuietGamerAug 4, 2018

The question in the back of everyone's mind when this sequel was announced was whether or not it had any chance of working without Guillermo del Toro in the cockpit. I mean we're talking about a movie where giant robots fought giant monstersThe question in the back of everyone's mind when this sequel was announced was whether or not it had any chance of working without Guillermo del Toro in the cockpit. I mean we're talking about a movie where giant robots fought giant monsters and absurd plot devices were floating all over the place. The only reason it succeeded was because of del Toro's passion for the project. With Uprising he serves only as a producer and his lack of presence is most certainly felt. This is a huge step back in quality and one of the most baffling films I've ever seen.

The first Pacific Rim had a pretty definitive ending and you can tell the writers really struggled to come up with some way to keep things going. The story is simply a mess. There are some massive plot holes and moments that take suspension of disbelief an entirely new dimension. Sometimes all I could do was look at the screen and say "WHAT?". To top things off it's not all that interesting either. The whole thing comes off as an incredibly boring and convoluted anime filler arc.

Something went wrong with the editing as well. Uprising has some of the most jarring transitions I've ever seen. There's a scene in here where a character is hanging up a coat and then out of nowhere a huge battle is taking place. I ended up rewinding because I thought the DVD skipped. This kind of thing happens several times, making the narrative much less cohesive.

A lot more work should have gone into the characters. The majority of the cast gets almost zero screen time. Even the main love interest is only in like two scenes. So just about everyone goes underdeveloped. John Boyega is the one saving grace of the movie. It really shouldn't have taken him as long as Star Wars to get famous. I swear it's like nobody but me and Nina Gold watched Attack the Block. Nice to see they gave him a better haircut than the one he has as Finn. His costar Scott Eastwood has apparently mastered the "who farted?" face. It's his only expression in the entire film. The amount of representation onscreen is great. So nice to see such a large Asian presence in a big Hollywood release.

For a movie all about grand creature battles the action isn't even that good. It does look nice. The environments have a distinct anime feel and the destruction is reminiscent of a Power Rangers Megazord fight. The Kaiju also look great. Still having that distinctly imaginative del Toro style. There's just nothing all that memorable to the showdowns. There are a few scenes where moves are reused from earlier in the film. Such as the motion Boyega and Eastwood use activate their Jaegers' retractable sword. It's a little too obvious to just be me nitpicking.

I didn't think Uprising would live up to it's predecessor, but I did at least expect to have a decent time with some glorious destruction the way I do with most mindless blockbusters. Never could I have imagined it being this bad. It's so poorly written and shoddily put together that I find it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that it actually saw a wide-release. Much less the fact that it's meant to be the start of a new cinematic universe. This is last year's The Mummy happening all over again, only slightly less terrible. If you really need your Kaiju fix and can't wait for American Godzilla's return next year then allow me to recommend Rampage over this as it is by far the better of this years two giant monster movies.

4.3/10… Expand

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5

Voodoo123Jul 7, 2018

Steven S. DeKnights PR uprising displays what can be described as 'michael bay cinematic envy'... He chose to steer PR away from the 50's monster in a suit mash up and tries here to reinvent the summer blockbuster, fails, and instead dragsSteven S. DeKnights PR uprising displays what can be described as 'michael bay cinematic envy'... He chose to steer PR away from the 50's monster in a suit mash up and tries here to reinvent the summer blockbuster, fails, and instead drags all the bad tropes along with it. Although visually stunning at times, the combination of a poorly chosen cast, laughable dialogue, un-engaging plot, and an irritatingly bad re imagining of the first movies excellent soundtrack, for me, make this a true disappointment.… Expand

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5

LegendaryLassDec 14, 2018

One wonders how a sequel is going to deal with the excruciating amount of pipe laid down by del Toro's original film and the answer seems to be "doubling down on the needless exposition." That said, the film understands that a more diverseOne wonders how a sequel is going to deal with the excruciating amount of pipe laid down by del Toro's original film and the answer seems to be "doubling down on the needless exposition." That said, the film understands that a more diverse cast was needed and a more interesting plot as well; on the first point it's a more successful, on the second it's a wash.… Expand

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6

MaxPayneIsGodMar 25, 2018

Exactly what it says it is, the same as the first one but bigger. You don't go to see a film like this expecting a strong narrative and relatable characters, you see it for huge robots fighting huge aliens, and this is where it delivers. WasExactly what it says it is, the same as the first one but bigger. You don't go to see a film like this expecting a strong narrative and relatable characters, you see it for huge robots fighting huge aliens, and this is where it delivers. Was great in 3D!… Expand