More Jaeger Than Kaiju in 'Pacific Rim Uprising'

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(Universal Pictures)

"Pacific Rim Uprising" (out now on 4K Ultra HD, 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital) is set ten years after the Jaegers defeated the Kaiju and saved the world. The planet has sort of recovered and the giant robot suit technology has progressed in the decade since Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba, not appearing in this movie) sacrificed himself for humanity.

His son Jake Pentecost (John Boyega, taking a break from his Star Wars duties) is a scavenger trying to ignore his father's legacy. Bad things are happening and he's brought back into the Jaeger pilot program where he's back with his old partner/rival Nate Lambert (Scott Eastwood).

It's all Jaegers all the time for a while there, something that's certain to disappoint everyone who's just here to see some damn monsters. Fortunately Dr. Newton Geiszler (Charlie Day) has been up to no good in his corporate job and there's a giant plot twist coming that will unleash an entire army of new Kaiju in the final reel.

Guillermo del Toro spent years putting this together before skipping the sequel to direct "The Shape of Water," a decision that won him Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. "Pacific Rim Uprising," directed by Steven S. DeKnight ("Daredevil" Netflix series), may not even be nominated for special effects Oscars.

Maybe there's a plan for more Kaiju in a third "Pacific Rim" movie or maybe this idea has run its course. Still, there seems like someone should be able to make big-budget tributes to Japanese monster movies that both make money and keep everyone interested. "Pacific Rim" seems to have veered off course.

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