Pacific Rim: The Best, Dumbest Movie - Movies with Mikey 

I was in Tokyo when Pacific Rim was released and I can not describe the joy of walking down a street in Shibuya and suddenly hearing parts of the score blared over loudspeakers to promote the movie.

Pacific Rim is dumb as bricks one second and absolutely sincere the next. It's anime.

As someone who has been SCREAMING about how important the kaiju genre is for the last 20 years, THANK YOU FOR THIS.

Ain't nothing dumb about Pacific Rim. Just genuine, unapologetic, sincere love for the genre!

I LOVE this movie, and have since I saw it in theatres, but always assumed I was loving it "in spite" of it being a "dumb, robot-punching-monsters" movie. I'd introduce it to people with the caveat of "so it's a dumb movie where giant monsters punch giant robots BUT IT IS GREAT" and everyone I showed it to just had such a laugh with the whole thing. Also, that theme song? *chef's kiss* Del Toro is so unbelievably wholesome and his love for Kaiju and monster movies is so infectious and delightful. Thank you so much for all the hard work again, the history of Kaiju was awesome to learn in this video!

I have a pet theory about why the "weight" of the Jaegers in this makes them feel more real despite them being wholly unrealistic: Gravity. "Walking" is, ultimately, deliberately unbalancing yourself, allowing gravity to pull you forward and down, then catching yourself with your foot so you can do it all over again. It's a cycle of motion that is governed by the pull of gravity, which governs how quickly you will be pulled once unbalanced, and the the length of your leg, which determines how far you can let yourself fall before you have to complete the step. When you take the human form and scale it up to a couple hundred feet tall, one of those things changes and the other does not. A giant mecha can have a hundred-foot-long leg, but the force of gravity remains 32 feet per second per second. I have a hunch that the human brain is able to recognize this. Perhaps not the math and the geometry, but it realizes on a fundamental level that the taller something is, the longer it will take for gravity to pull it down. When it sees something that is intended to be huge being affected by gravity more like something much smaller would be, it rejects the apparent scale and insists that what it's seeing isn't actually that big. TL;DR: our brains can estimate how big something is by how fast it falls, so having "big" things fall too fast makes them look smaller.

I was so glad you mentioned the purposeful camera work of the first film that was completely ignored by the second.

I love what you said about expecting Drift Compatibility to result in D R A M A (TM) but what's beautiful is that there's a certain peace about taking a look at another person's entire life experience and going "Hey, you're human, like me. I get you. Now let's go punch this monster in the face together."

I LOVE Pacific Rim so much, shame it NEEEEEEEVER got a sequel right? No sequel at all? Doesn't exist? Nothin' sequel shaped around these parts thats for sure. Nope. Nah.

Great video, Mikey. And an excellent re-enactment of a kaiju-jaeger fight. A+ and two thumbs up.

Del Toro: "No pop culture" Uprising: "How bout I do, anyway?"

Still want to hear you talk about Constantine. For some reason. Don't know. Just want to hear your opinion.

Pacific Rim is the only time in history when America got giant monsters right.

Mikey! Mikey Mikey Mikey, Pacific Rim is my Favorite Movie of all time and a little part of me winces inside when people say it's dumb, I want to jump up in a table and holler IT'S NOT DUMB, IT'S SINCERE so when I herd you were making this video I was 90% thrilled because I love you and 10% worried because of the title. Now, having watched it, I am overJoyed by this video, I'm so glad someone with els in this world appreciates this movie as much as I do. My heart is all emotion swelly, I'm sorry I doubted you. Keep up the amazing work!

I love Pacific Rim, but I really don't think you got into it much at all, to explain anything about why the Drift Compatibility stuff works emotionally, or what the film actually takes seriously. I feel like there's a second half missing to this video.

I've always described Pacific Rim as "Perfectly ridiculous", and this video sums that up.

I feel really embarrassed that I didn't realise the Kaiju in this movie are a metaphor for rising sea levels. A wall isn't enough, eh?

Pacific Rim is connected to Attack on Titan in my mind as two stories that showed me that sometimes, understanding the massive humanity-threatening monsters is not interesting. Both series did such an incredible job of showing humans up against truly existential threat and somehow making the conflict feel personal.

My favorite video essayist talking about one of my favorite movies ever? What a day! Seriously though, this is one of those movies that has a strong sentimental resonance with me. It hit me at the right time and even now speaks to me on a level that few films do. Imo it’s destined to be a classic.

I was definitely in the same boat. I saw trailers for this before other movies I saw in theaters at the time and at first went "Oh shit, is this a live action Evangelion movie?!" Then when it wasn't I got all pouty and decided it wasn't worth my time. I saw it for the first time a couple years ago and loved it and regretted not seeing it in theaters. I misses out because of what it wasn't trying to be. On another point, I don't know how you talk about this movie without mentioning Ramin Djawadi's amazing score. It's one of my favorite soundtracks.

I've been waiting for Mikey to talk about the kaiju genre. But just when I thought he was cancelin' it like how Gipsy Danger canceled the apocalypse, we get this incredible video. Thank you for doing this. As a lifelong Godzilla fan, it's nice to see such a beloved yet misunderstood genre receive critical insight and respect.

The heart in this movie has always been what put it at the top of my favorites list. Every single detail and aspect of this film is filled with heart and it's a world that feels real and lived in.

The one man I trust to make Godzilla movies who’s not Japanese

Your Scooter is showing in this video Mikey, and I love it.

This is one of my favorite movies by far. It doesn’t have the best story, it doesn’t have the best acting, it doesn’t have the best visuals, but what it has in SPADES is craftsmanship and heart. You can absolutely tell that everybody working on this film loved what they were doing and went the extra mile to give it that little something more. Everything is so well thought out and realized into a living, breathing world that despite its ridiculousness felt real. I’ve never been much of a kaiju fan, but I’ve always adored mecha, and this is by far the best representation of giant robots I have ever seen. The way the Jaegers and Kaiju move gives such a sense of scale and power it really makes you feel tiny in comparison. They don’t look like human sized things moving slowly to try and appear larger, they look like enormous things moving at the right speed for their scale. It’s a feat that the second film failed to accomplish, and all the creatures and robots ended up looking like men in plastic armor.

10:16 "Tone Salad" Damn, Mikey, I laughed so hard at this

Am I the only one always hyped for Boussh to show up and do the "well, actually" bit?

Pacific Rim is my favorite movie of all time, and you demonstrate the exact reasons why in this video, I feel heard, thank you so much Mikey. 💕

Del Toro also got Tom Cruise to start in At the Moutain of Madness, Universal still said no

12:56 -- Excellent point for why Pacific Rim is incredible versus Pacific Rim 2 took three pained attempts to make it through. Well, aside from the sequel's story just not feeling like the writers cared to anywhere remotely the same degree.

From now on, I will use this video to explain why I love Pacific Rim. Thank you. Also, my cats are called Cherno and Alpha :)

"What Drives Our Drift Compatibility? Love, TARS, Love."

I think I like your videos and Guillermo Del Toro's films for the same reason: a ridiculous and admirable earnestness. Thanks for making heartful stuff. I appreciate it.

I just love Pacific Rim. It's the joy of getting to relive smashing your action figures together as a child, with the visuals provided by an amazing director and all the sincerity of child's play ❤

Honestly, one thing that really embodies Pacific Rim's attitude towards its concept is the main theme, heard most notably in the scene where we meet Gipsy Danger for the first time. The theme is bold and most importantly unapologetic. It knows exactly what it is, and didn't compromise to make it more approachable to non-fans.

I really really enjoyed this. This is a severely underrated channel. Pacific Rim is a live action anime. If you take it for what it is, it is fantastic. Speaking of live action anime's, please do a video for the original Man With The Iron Fist.

i vividly remember seeing Pacrim for the first time in an almost empty theatre and seeing the robot fights being able to yell and jump up in excitement and get so into it. It truly is the best dumb movie and I love it so very much

I've loved Pacific Rim since I first saw it. It's an incredibly-crafted passion project. I still can't believe they made the most magnificent super-hero armor ever captured on film for characters who presumably could have been fine wearing standard flight suits within the protective confines of a giant robot command center.

FilmJoy AND Pacific Rim? Together at last. This has made my day. Thank you, as always, for your work Mikey.

I consider myself kinda new to the Kaiju genre but I will say it's one of the most fun, Goofy, childish movies you will ever see. But also some of the most Ernest, passionate, and even thought provoking movies you will ever see.

I remember watching this in the theatre. I've never seen a movie that just PUMPED ME UP so much. I wanted to cheer during the fights. I couldn't believe how absolutely breathtaking and fun that movie was. And then to have a female and male lead that were just deep friends? Man I love this movie.

I saw this movie when it came out while on a trip visiting my internet friend of (at the time, 13) years in Texas. I love when media can instantly connect you to an event or memory, because now I'm just thinking about how much fun that was.

RIP all of Guillermo del toro's film projects that never made it to screen. He is the one director whose films I always look forward to because he clearly loves what he does. When I saw Lindsay Ellis' video about the Hobbit, he seemed truly heartbroken that the studios did not let him finish and scrapped his pre-production.

Side note, I think the theme music from Pacific Rim should be up there in the pantheon of great music moments in films. If you don't get jazzed up whenever it plays and you see giant robots going in to fight you're a little dead inside.

I like the message that we should stop forgetting the things we learned from World War 2, as a historically educated dude, this brings me alot of joy in just seeing I amn't the only one thinking this right now :)

Thank you so much for this, this encapsulates everything I love about Pacific Rim. After seeing the second movie, I was left legit shocked that it was SO bad, so thank you for reminding us of the good.

Wooooooooo! Mikey's back in style! And great shoutout to Patrick there Also ooof that 3:52 little blurb there is too real

I wasnt planning to see this film in the cinema. My friends was very excited and when he cancelled on me that fateful day I decided to go and check it out for myself. I went into this movie with utterly no expectations other than it would be DUMB FUN. By the time the credits rolled around I was in tears. Never until that point and only a couple of times since have I been completely overcome with the sense of joy and love that this gave me. I was pretty sure it was going to become my favourite movie but was slightly abashed about it because I was starting to be known as the 'film guy'. Then I bought the blu ray as soon as it came out and instantly watched it again. Once the tears had been shed once more, I dived into the special features. This was when my mind was made up. Near enough 4 hours of the people who made the film utterly gushing about it. Del Toro would spent hour upon hour each day on Skype with his team touching up the designs. Smoothing out edges, elongating the Chinese calligraphy just so. But all the while with a huge smile on his face. His pure joy just radiates from every frame. My go-to soundbite for why I love the film is this: This is a film which has absolutely no right to be as good as it is. It shouldn't work but it does. It is the perfect maelstrom of creative endeavour, directorial genius and genuine love. Thank you Mikey for helping me appreciate this even more, i will love you always for this

"Art connects us even when the world sucks" truly deserves to be plastered on motivational posters and memes. That's good shit right there.

Darn, you last sentence made my cry: "Ya but it is the BEST dumb movie"

I NEED Mikey to talk about Neon Genesis Evangelion now

My heart leapt out of my chest when I saw you made this. Pacific Rim is my favorite movie of all time and, you're right, it's possible to talk for hours about this movie, but I'm glad you got to the heart of the matter: this movie is a work of love.

Thanks so much Mikey!!!!!! thank you so much for respecting the beauty of draft compatibility (there's so much more to it and the 'more' has everything to do with GDT's joy and the way he looks at people). Thank you for showing my movie dad Guillermo as the wonderful genius he is (I'm sure you already know this but Ashida Mana, the child actress playing chibi Mako would call GDT 'Totoro-san' on set because - well, look at him. And you showed that clip of him petting her head like an actual Totoro and my heart exploded). Pacific Rim meant so much to me when I watched it and means so much to me still (that and all of my great movie father's oeuvre means so much to me) and I'm so glad that you share that love. So much so, I actually cried watching your movie because I was just happy to know you understood what a joyful and beautiful movie this is. I don't like cosplay in general (but respect those who do it) - but the only time i've ever cosplayed was as Cherno Alpha. That is how much i love this movie.

I put off watching this until now because of the title... and so I'm particularly emotional over how you talk about it in the end, haha, and feeling a bit silly for waiting so long. I've grown up on kaiju films and when Pacific Rim came out, it immediately hit me that this was now my favourite film - but it took me longer to figure out why I connected to viscerally. I wish you'd had time to get further into the film itself, but I'm glad you didn't repeat the same thing so many people say of oh it's *just* a dumb fun movie, and that you provided the kaiju history context so many people are lacking. Thanks for giving it a chance

In all honesty, I wasn't drawn to Pacific Rim the first time I saw it, because I was steadfast against ANY Kaiju movie that was A) CGI-dominant and B) produced anywhere outside of Japan. But along with Godzilla KOTM '19, this video has helped me realize that neither gripe really matters if the actual product is made with throbbing love and admiration for the genre.

Is Clifford the big red dog a kaiju though?

I absolutely love that there is no mentions of Pacific Rim II : Uprising whatsoever in this video. :-D

Before Battle Angel Allita this was by far the most anime ass live action film to date in the best way. It has the plot and story directly from 80s campy direct to video adaptations and it's all amazing. Also, this is the closest version of Evangelion we will ever get when it comes to anything being successful in the states.

Everytime I see Pacific Rim I am reminded that Mako Mori should have been The Major in Ghost in the Shell instead of Black (white?) Widow...

Great episode as always! Now I'm really looking forward to the Skyfall episode...i LOVE that movie so much. For so many reasons.

That opening monologue gave me some heavy No Country for Old Men vibes.

thank you for this great video, i had tears in my eyes and have never respect your honesty and art more than now. thanks again, you're doing an amazing job.

Wild Thing by Tone Loc playing at the start of the tone salad segment is empirical proof of Mikey's genius.

Hats off sir. I almost didn’t watch the video because of the title since I love this film so much! Thank you for this.

On the RU-vid channel whose updates I MOST look forward to, this is the best video! I don't know how to emphasize my sincerity enough.

so glad you are back and super glad to see this film joy :D

Oh Mikey, I love your stuff so much. I'd legitimately would buy a collectors Blu-ray with all your Movies with Mikey essays and like behind the scenes stuff and the work process that goes into one of these. Your the best thing to happen to youtube since Every Frame a Painting!

Love your commentary! Also love intense (joyful) analysis of many stories near and dear (whew nostalgia). As a kaiju dork, robot/monsters punching each other (welll shot) is awesome. As a cinema dork, Guillermo del Toro and Idis e

Mikey you mad genius. I was already sold on the video and then you added in the candy quote.

i almost didn't watch this video because of the title but im really glad i clicked on the video and watched til the end to see a beautiful and thoughtful analysis of this film i love so much

Thank you Mikey. Thank you for being you. Your videos have carried me(and continue to carry me) through some pretty dark times in my personal life. Keep doing what you do. You Rock.

You guys manipulate my emotions so well. I mean, it doesn't take much to make me tear up, but those slow motion shots turn everything into meaningful nostalgia, just the way my heart remembers it...and it gets me. Every. Time. Also, I like this movie, but don't love it. And I don't know why. Because I wanted to love it? Maybe.

Fantastic content Mikey. i always get hyped when i see you came out with a new video. thanks for what you do :)

ha, jokes on you, I and many others have been using "dumb" to mean flawed but earnest and endearing for a long time now. :)

New Fan here. LOVE YOU MIKEY! Ive watched almost all of the back catalog.

This video actually got me emotional. This is amazing. Stay awesome, Mikey. Stay awesome.

I love that you included Debussy‘s Clair de Lune. I feel patriotic feelings that Russian guy - Michael Afanasyev - composed this particular version which was used in official trailer of Godzilla: King of Mobsters. And this track was so astonishingly appropriate and beautiful that I bought the most expensive tickets in nearest IMAX on this movie solely to support this Russian guy. For some reason I’m so proud for him although I don’t even know anything about him. I’m so glad that his independent record studio “Imagine Music” works with huge film companies and his work has such huge audience in movie theaters. That’s so cool when Russia is not trying to screw other countries up, but helps provide soundtrack for the real deal - fighting with kaiju in order to save the world.

Movies with Mikey *and* Pacific Rim in one video? What more could we ask for?

I feel like while making drift compatibility, and specifically the point after you've first drifted a point of drama could have been a good thing... I also feel that somewhat ironically, *being* drift compatible with someone actually lessens the likelihood of any drama developing from whatever you see or feel in the drift. You're compatible because you are capable of understanding each other. Being capable of understanding each other means that whatever you learn, whatever you see, you can *understand*. You aren't drift compatible with someone you can't understand. The only way I could see it being an actual source of drama is if everything about the person is a lie, and you in fact cannot understand them at all. Not even when given exact and direct emotional context, literally feeling the way they do.

Brilliant and heartwarming as always. Love a Mikey and love a filmjoy

Why is sincerity, hope and simplicity always seen as dumb?

Oh also the central character conflict of the entire movie is all about Our Hero, Grizzled Old White Boy starting to deal with his survivor's guilt over the death of his brother by sharing that experience with The Actual Hero Noriko and they find common ground by sharing in a deeply personal and unique experience of vulnerability and support and encourage one another to become the best that they can be and then you get to the end of the film and Brodude ejects Noriko and you think "ah dammit Brodude don't be a cliche" but then he doesn't do the cliche "sacrifice myself to save you" thing and that was good well done Ozzy Boy good job finding motivation to go on living.

Mikey, your videos never fail to delight. Your brand of retro goofiness is as singular as it is endearing.

God your video's are good. The style, the music, the editing, your insights and conclusions are all so engaging and interesting. I could listen to our intro theme all day. I love it. Great work.

Always excited to see a new video from you Mikey. Glad to see you praising one of my favorite movies. Awesome visuals, great soundtrack, and all the feels. I like watching it a couple times a year, and I don't care how hard my wife rolls her eyes at me when I do ^_^

I grew up watching , what I now refer to as “Japanese Stompers”. I saw the Frankenstein Kaiju flick in a theatre. Every week I would make my way downtown to the Met for the Saturday matinee- usually a Japanese Stomper. Pacific Rim is a love letter to my childhood and one I now share with my children. Great video Miley, love ya man.

Almost nothing makes me happier than your videos. Thank you so much for all of your hard work.

This Intro was just absolutely amazing👏

Pacific Rim still, to this day, remains my favorite movie of all time. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for "Dumb, Punch a Monster" movies. Del Toro loved this movie, and it really does show. For something that very, very obviously could and would never be possible, this is so believable. The movie is absolutely beautiful. The Jaegers look ten million times better than any bayformer. The Kaijus are so terrifying. The characters are real people. I really do love everything about this movie.

Holy hell Mikey!!! That intro has to be the best one you have done so far!!!

that intro made me miss Scooter even more

Mikey quoted EVA as a Kaiju series I already love this video

I love your videos and look forward to every one of them that comes out.

When it came out, I got into an online argument with someone who hated PR, because it was "not realistic". Yep, the robots punching monsters movie is not realistic; shocker. Anyway, he thought it was the worst ever. Then I asked what movie he was comparing it to, thinking it might be another kaiju movie. There was a five minute pause, and then "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." Can someone please explain to me how Indiana Jones is realistic, let alone comparable to Pacific Rim?

I'm only halfway through and I'm frankly blown away by how good the music selections are for this video. I find myself kind of jamming out to each track.

Mikey, I love ALL of your MwM series! I realized I selfishly forgot to like the videos, so just want you to know I’m pausing, going back to like them all, then resuming my daily watch. Patreon is next stop. Thanks, bud.

Your dramatic narrations make me think of a Lincoln commercial 😂

Hey thanks for the little real talk intermission there. 👍

Every time I watch one of your videos I just want to go out and create. You’re my halftime speech.

...and when the monsters are stalking you, and the children cry in terror, their tears mixing with the dust and the rain in a shadowy blasted hellscape, you raise your eyes to the sun and.... There stands Idris Elba, and everything is alright again...