Beyond ‘Pacific Rim:’ 5 Best Monster vs. Robot Movies
Film critics don’t often wax rhapsodic about loud summer blockbusters. But in her review for pop sci-fi blog io9, Annalee Newitz has dubbed Pacific Rim “the greatest fairy tale of the 21st century.”
Of the monster vs. robot fight scenes in Pacific Rim, Newitz writes: “There is nothing more magnificent than jaegers punching out kaiju. As Del Toro has said in interviews, this movie is as much an homage to Mexican wrestling as it is to Japanese kaiju movies. And in every fight scene, you can see the luchador moves. You probably won’t be able to make it through an entire jaeger vs. kaiju fight scene without growing a goofy grin on your face and pumping your fist in the air.”
A fairy tale romance between kaiju and luchador? “Yes, please!” say nerds everywhere. Shortly after its release, I brought up Pacific Rim in conversation with Brandon Zuern, nerd extraordinaire and manager of Austin Books and Comics and Guzu Gallery. “I’ve seen it twice, and I plan to see it again before it leaves theaters,” he replied.
Can you relate? Can’t get enough epic fight sequences like those in Pacific Rim? We’ve got you covered. We picked the brain of another of the country’s top nerds to bring you the best giant monster vs. giant robot movies. Kevin Maher, curator of Kevin Geeks Out, was kind enough to curate this list for our viewing pleasure:
1. “The first title that comes to mind is Frankenstein Vs. Baragon, where a giant Frankenstein monster battles a Godzilla-like creature. The filmmakers felt there weren’t enough giant monsters, so after the final fight scene ended, they just added a giant octopus to attack the Frankenstein monster. There’s no explanation, and none is needed. It’s just a great tacked-on fight scene.”
2. “King Kong Escapes, because the plot involves a giant robot styled after King Kong (named MECHANI-KONG), and there’s a fantastic image of the metal monkey fighting the real Kong.”
3. “Gamera Vs. Barugon gained notoriety on Mystery Science Theater 3000. A giant flying turtle who goes to a far-off planet to rescue two young boys must battle a giant monster whose head looks like a carving-knife. It’s beautifully weird, and the film really commits to the lunacy.”
4. “Destroy All Monsters is an ensemble monster movie that brings together all the giant monsters from the era.”
5. “Lastly, there’s a wonderful fight at the end of Godzilla 2000, which is the most Freudian monster fight I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Also not to be missed is Godzilla Vs. Megalon. Says Maher, “When I saw the VHS cover art for Godzilla vs. Megalon, I had to buy the tape. I’ve never watched it, because it could never live up to the movie that I imagine when I see that cover. Also, I don’t own a VCR.”
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Beyond ‘Pacific Rim:’ 5 Best Monster vs. Robot Movies
Film critics don’t often wax rhapsodic about loud summer blockbusters. But in her review for pop sci-fi blog io9, Annalee Newitz has dubbed Pacific Rim “the greatest fairy tale of the 21st century.”
Of the monster vs. robot fight scenes in Pacific Rim, Newitz writes: “There is nothing more magnificent than jaegers punching out kaiju. As Del Toro has said in interviews, this movie is as much an homage to Mexican wrestling as it is to Japanese kaiju movies. And in every fight scene, you can see the luchador moves. You probably won’t be able to make it through an entire jaeger vs. kaiju fight scene without growing a goofy grin on your face and pumping your fist in the air.”
A fairy tale romance between kaiju and luchador? “Yes, please!” say nerds everywhere. Shortly after its release, I brought up Pacific Rim in conversation with Brandon Zuern, nerd extraordinaire and manager of Austin Books and Comics and Guzu Gallery. “I’ve seen it twice, and I plan to see it again before it leaves theaters,” he replied.
Can you relate? Can’t get enough epic fight sequences like those in Pacific Rim? We’ve got you covered. We picked the brain of another of the country’s top nerds to bring you the best giant monster vs. giant robot movies. Kevin Maher, curator of Kevin Geeks Out, was kind enough to curate this list for our viewing pleasure:
1. “The first title that comes to mind is Frankenstein Vs. Baragon, where a giant Frankenstein monster battles a Godzilla-like creature. The filmmakers felt there weren’t enough giant monsters, so after the final fight scene ended, they just added a giant octopus to attack the Frankenstein monster. There’s no explanation, and none is needed. It’s just a great tacked-on fight scene.”
2. “King Kong Escapes, because the plot involves a giant robot styled after King Kong (named MECHANI-KONG), and there’s a fantastic image of the metal monkey fighting the real Kong.”
3. “Gamera Vs. Barugon gained notoriety on Mystery Science Theater 3000. A giant flying turtle who goes to a far-off planet to rescue two young boys must battle a giant monster whose head looks like a carving-knife. It’s beautifully weird, and the film really commits to the lunacy.”
4. “Destroy All Monsters is an ensemble monster movie that brings together all the giant monsters from the era.”
5. “Lastly, there’s a wonderful fight at the end of Godzilla 2000, which is the most Freudian monster fight I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Also not to be missed is Godzilla Vs. Megalon. Says Maher, “When I saw the VHS cover art for Godzilla vs. Megalon, I had to buy the tape. I’ve never watched it, because it could never live up to the movie that I imagine when I see that cover. Also, I don’t own a VCR.”