review; pacific rim

Pacific Rim: The Official Movie Novelization
by Alex Irvine

The official novelization of the sci-fi blockbuster Pacific Rim from visionary director Guillermo del Toro!

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju.

On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes-a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)-who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

“I wanted to make not a war movie, but an adventure movie, with a huge, romantic sense of adventure, a sense of grandeur, and operatic battles…” – Guillermo Del Toro

Review:
If you enjoyed the movie (like I did) then the novelization is a must read.

There were a few grammar mistakes and typo errors throughout the novel, but it does not detract from the story. I am not going to rehash the story, or go very in-depth because if you’re planning to read the book, you’ve watched the movie, and you know the story.

There are some slight differences in the novelization from the film, and some more information – among them ages of the pilots and more fleshing out of the characters.

Chuck is more of an ass in the book than in the film (but he’s still my favorite). A little bummed we never got his point of view for everything. I would assume there would be a lot of cursing and a more spirited point of view.

Thoroughly enjoyed Newt’s point of view. He was entertaining and I am very intrigued and interested in knowing more about the Anteverse and the Precursers and what the kaiju are and can do.

Looking forward to the second movie, and hoping they somehow retcon Chuck’s death because nope.