‘Pacific Rim’s’ WonderCon Trailer: 7 Things We Learn About the Film

After blowing a lot of people away with the first trailer for Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming behemoth slugfest, he’s gone one step further with the newest look at Pacific Rim courtesy of this year’s WonderCon. With this new lengthy peak we get heaping piles of monster-fuelled mayhem set everywhere from San Francisco all the way to Japan. Though I certainly hope Del Toro is keeping the juiciest elements under wraps, he unveils enough to chat some of the ingredients we can expect to see when the film opens on July 12.

Del Toro is Being Heavily Influenced by Asian Culture 

Being one of the most outwardly friendly and down to earth directors when it comes to his projects and more importantly his fans, we’ve already learned a great deal through his countless interviews and appearances at popular conventions like Comic Con. One of these confirmations was the man’s ode to Asian cultures, particularly Magna, Mecha and Kaiju tropes and with this trailer it’s all but confirmed. 

From the design of the Jaeger mechs which overly call to mind the design of samurai garb, sparring sessions, the very monsters themselves which give numerous nods to Godzilla and all its successors, to the simple nature of the Asian locale, we’re in for a treat when it comes to a spin on what could have been a very traditionally approached story. 

The Kaiju Will be Diverse in Appearance 

Another tidbit that was previously dropped by Del Toro, we’re once again treated to visual validation that the director’s knack for creature design is not going to be wasted despite the increased budget and use of CGI. It’s difficult to accurately discuss the appearance of these monsters in writing as there is so much going on with their architecture but we’re got a flying Kaiju reminiscent of Rodan, a more reptilian creature born from Godzilla, a clawed rhinoceros-looking beast, aquatic brute and some that frankly don’t fit into one category or another. Not only is it great to see what Del Toro has crafted, we can be sure the diverse nature of these hellions will result in equally diverse fight sequences.

The Mind Meld Works Using Memories 

In Pacific Rim, to pilot the colossal Jaegers, two pilots engage in a neural link, each guiding half of the robot but simultaneously working as one. Though this process is still shrouded in a great deal of mystery we do get the reveal that this routine is achieved through shared memories. It’s unclear if this means that these two must share the same memory in order to pull off this feat or if using the technology they are able to view each other’s past and thus become on brain. Whatever we ultimately find out, it’s simply another cool little creative decision from the mind behind the camera that gives Pacific Rim an identity.

The Kaiju Have Classes 

In this particular trailer, we have what sounds like either a sentient A.I. or perhaps a female dispatcher order a team to tackle a “Category 3” Kaiju, followed up by directions from Idris Elba’s Stacker Pentecost. The giddy afterthought that comes with that line is the question: how high do these categories go? Five? 10!? Are they ranked on lethality or does that rating come down to the aforementioned angle that the film has a wide assortment of monsters which can be used to wreak havoc? Perhaps one category is a flying Kaiju and another aquatic. Again, this is all speculation but damn if it isn’t fun to speculate.

The Jaegers Weigh 2,500 Tonnes 

Along with a first look at Charlie Day’s character, we receive the nugget that your typical Jaeger weighs in at a whopping 2,500 tonnes (give or take I’m sure). To put this in perspective a full grown male blue whale records 100-120 tonnes on the scale. Enough said.

Despite the Scope, Del Toro Hasn’t Forgotten About Production Design 

The trailer’s final scene in particular which sees – quiver – a Jaeger dragging an oil tanker down the street before using it as a blunt instrument of destruction is more than just a badass standoff if you pause and take a closer look. From the composition of the shots and angles to the use of the neon signs which litter the buildings to either side of what has to be a street in Japan, attention is being paid to elements outside of monster punching. 

The contrast between this sequence and the earlier, nearly black and white scene which sees a wounded Jaeger slumping to his knees before keeling over truly illustrates a diverse use of aesthetics that compliment that of the monsters. We already know Del Toro to be a stickler when it comes to the nuances of his creations and that isn’t lost in Pacific Rim’s aggressive scope.

We’re in for a New Type of Slow Motion 

Completely contrary to Michael Bay’s transformers which flit about like weightless bits of aluminum foil, Del Toro’s behemoths, both metal and flesh, lumber like they should (or at least appear to do so). What I mean by that is they actually don’t trudge, we’re just seeing these sequences from the perspective of bystanders and these beings are just so mammoth it appears they are moving in pseudo slow motion. With this approach it truly feels like the Kaiju and Jaegers are towering over all else and simply put it is quite unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s once again a touch which adds distinctiveness to a summer blockbuster which could have been something so much more ordinary. 

Bonus: It’s Not Getting Any Less Awesome the More We See 

Pure and simple. 

And if for some reason you haven’t checkout out the WonderCon trailer yet, you can do so below.