‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ Is ‘The Dark Knight’ of This Decade

The Pacific Rim: Uprising trailer hit the internet today and it dazzled the planet.

Whooooooooooo-wee! Pacifim Rim: Uprising is The Dark Knight of this decade. You read it here first. I’m calling it after exactly ONE viewing of this monster vs. machines movie sequel trailer. Variety reported that it “wowed” the crowd at New York Comic-Con. I’m reporting goosebumps and chills on chills on chills. Nothing like a little Tupac Skahur scoring epic fight scenes to get the blood flowin’ on a Friday.

John Boyega as Jake Pentecost in front of a Jaeger in Pacific Rim Uprising movie poster

One of the biggest regrets in my life – and I have a universe’s worth – is not seeing Pacific Rim in theaters. Instead, I caught it on the small screen on the back of a seat on a flight and it still managed to get my motor runnin’.

The Dark Knight, though? Really, Neal? Yup. Do you actually remember Batman Begins? After seeing it, were you like ‘THAT certainly can’t be topped”?

Am I saying it will be as good as The Dark Knight. Nah, brah. But, I will stake what’s left of my reputation and authority to push my chips into the middle of the table on this sequel. Uprising will be better than the first and will spawn a third installment that ultimately won’t be as good, BUT will hopefully give us a figure on par with Tom Hardy’s Bane.

John Boyega aka Chef Boyega aka Solider Boyega brings the Queen-lovin’ British as Jake Pentecost, the son of Idris Elba’s character, Stacker Pentecost, from the first film.

Clint Eastwood’s son Scott Eastwood will play Boyega’s mind-melding Jaeger pilot partner, Nate Lambert. Kinda bummed about that character’s name. Like, you gave us Stacker Pentecost and Mako Mori and then we get Nate Lambert? Is he a boy band member turned NFL kicker?

Absolutely no sign of Charlie Hunnam, which… I hate to hate but is probably for the best. At least Hunnam’s character had a cool name – Raleigh Becket. We couldn’t name Eastwood’s character Warsaw Hindu or Shanghai Knight?

Thankfully, Charlie Day returns. Rinko Kikuchi will be back as Mako Mori. Ron Perlman’s nowhere to be found. I know his character Hannibal Chau got eaten in the first one, but then didn’t he bust out of the beast? That’s Perlman at his most Perlmanest. Like Hell Boy without the man-boobs.

The one concern? Guillermo del Toro is not directing. Normally, I’d be steamed, but he used his time wisely by directing The Shape of Water, a movie that made me wet. Instead, it’s the directorial debut of Steven S. Deknight who’s written, produced and directed episodes of Daredevil, Smallville, Spartacus, and Angel. Fun fact, he was also a creative consultant on a TV series called, Travel Boobs. He’s also from Millville, New Jersey. My kinda guy.

The movie releases March 23rd, 2018. So. Far. Away. Also, the release date is concerning. March isn’t a great month for good movies. I’m getting Zack Snyder-induced flashbacks from Watchmen and Sucker Punch.