Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Loud robots vs. monsters movie could have used more heart.
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Why Age 12+?
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Pacific Rim
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 32 parent reviews
Based on 86 kid reviews
Kids say that this movie is an exhilarating blend of giant robots and colossal monsters, featuring outstanding visual effects, intense action sequences, and a compelling underlying story of teamwork and resilience. While it's recommended for older children due to swearing and some violence, many find it an enjoyable watch that successfully captures the excitement of classic sci-fi adventures.
- visual effects
- intense action
- teamwork theme
- age recommendation
- thrilling adventure
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the future, giant monsters (the Kaiju) arrive from another dimension, emerging through a fissure in the ocean floor along the PACIFIC RIM. After much destruction, the humans figure out a way to fight them: giant robots (called Jaegers). But these Jaegers are so complex that they must be piloted by two people, mind-melded together (a phenomenon called "the drift"). One such pilot, Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam), barely survived a Kaiju attack that killed his brother; he wants nothing more to do with Jaegers. But his old boss, Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba), needs him back for one, last big attack. And tough, pretty Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) may have some influence in Raleigh's decision as well. But can scientists discover the secret of the Kaiju in time?
Is It Any Good?
This movie is so big and loud that the characters are eventually stifled, none more so than the two romantic leads (Hunnam and Kikuchi). The great, visionary director Guillermo Del Toro has always loved monsters, but his previous movies (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth) have demonstrated a taste for the intricate as well -- in particular, clockwork and mazes. In Pacific Rim, anything intricate or delicate has been obliterated.
Interestingly, Del Toro showers special attention on the comical scientist characters, played by Charlie Day and Burn Gorman. It's likely that he identified with their passion for monsters. Likewise, Del Toro's favorite actor, Ron Perlman, appears in a showy, hilarious role as a black market monster parts dealer. Not surprisingly, the battles and effects are spectacular, making clear use of space and creating a sense of size and weight -- unlike the clumsy, shaky Transformers movies. It could have used more heart, but Pacific Rim gets the job done.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Pacific Rim's violence. Does it have the same kind of impact as more realistic fighting/destruction? Could the movie have succeeded with less violence?
Director Del Toro has said he wanted to make a "movie for kids." Did he succeed? Which parts seem right for kids, and which don't?
What's admirable about the main characters? How about the scientist characters? Are any of them role models?
The movie uses an international cast, is set all over the world, and is about different cultures coming together for a common cause. How does it succeed in this message? Does it use any stereotypes?
How did teamwork help the characters realize their goal? If you'd been part of the team, which character(s) would you have wanted to work with? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 12, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : October 15, 2013
- Cast : Charlie Day , Charlie Hunnam , Idris Elba
- Director : Guillermo Del Toro
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Mexican Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy , Robots
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 131 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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