Pacific Rim is one of those movies where one viewing just isn’t enough. So much happens with every scene that the movie’s charm glitters even more so after multiple viewings and with plenty of popcorn.
From the grand scale cast comes an intrepid fighter with a grudge to settle and the will to die for an ideal filled with hope. Women Who Wow Wednesday celebrates Pacific Rim’s Mako Mori.
Japan once again becomes the footstool to giant monsters, this time they’re called the Kaiju. To fight against them, humanity builds skyscraper-sized robots known as Jaegers, fully armed and packing the heat to take down the Kaiju in the streets of the small island. Controlled by two pilots, the Jaegers become fodder to the Kaiju’s weapons of mass destruction. In hopes of stemming the clash with the mainland, the world’s military take one last chance on former Jaeger pilot Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) in an attempt to defeat the Kaiju.
As part of the Jaeger program, Raleigh needs a partner of equal talent to pull off the impossible—the destruction of the Kaiju. Played by The Brothers Bloom’s Rinko Kikuchi, Mako Mori is program leader Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba)’s right-hand go-to girl. If anyone knows anything about the invading monsters, it’s Mako. She’s met one up close and personal. Her experience leads her to team up with Raleigh in a battle of nerves against the giants.
To control the Jaegers, Raleigh and Mako need to hook up to become drift compatible. Drifting’s all about melding the pilots’ brains into one in order to maximize strategy and control the giant robot. Without it, the pilots would die.
Mako’s resiliency proves to be on the cutting edge of the Kaiju’s bad side. She displays a cunning for fighting Raleigh hasn’t seen since the death of his previous partner of war. The skill by which she deploys the weaponry proves surprising as they dispatch one monster after another in the heart of a battle-infested ocean.
What makes Mako admirable is how she doesn’t run away from insurmountable odds, but sticks to her guns, plows ahead and fights without so much as a whimper. She doesn’t scamper from her problems, scared. She doesn’t cry because things are too hard for her. No. Mako stands her ground and doesn’t budge on the first sight of trouble. What’s more? She trusts Raleigh with her life. No matter how bad things get, she learns to let go and allow herself to surf the drift with Raleigh by her side as her closest friend in arms. She doesn’t care what others think. She gets the job done.
Mako Mori lives as she preaches, without fear and having the will to fight no matter what stands in her way.
What did you think of the movie Pacific Rim? What do you think of Mako?
Looking to God 
When I finally watched Pacific Rim, I loved it! Mako Mori is hands down my favorite character of the film, too. She is determined, strong and brave but also vulnerable (I’d venture to say she shows signs of PTSD just like Raleigh). I appreciated that the writers let her have that complexity!
I was impressed by her and that training fight was great.
I liked her, but sometimes she seemed so tragic. I didn’t like her right away. But I liked her determination and grit to hold on with both hands, feet and mental tenacity.
I want to be Mako when I grow up!
Hi Jack – I have seen this movie, and while I enjoyed it, I think we watched it a little too late at night – it lost us a bit in the middle. That said, my favorite character (nerdy brit scientist) was played by Burn Gorman (Torchwood), but Mako was pretty cool too!
Well, I can’t say he made my day, for sure. I guess he’s a character that grows on a person after multiple viewings! 😉
Yeah, he kinda is! 🙂 We had just been watching Torchwood, so we were kind of looking for him, too.
Great character, one of the reasons I loved the movie. Her relationships with both Raleigh and Pentecost were nicely done–her line at the end “Sensei aishitemasu” just killed me.
Pacific Rim is still on my list, Jack. Now more than ever.
It really is good, Karen. I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for the recommendation, Jack. As Guillermo del Toro was involved – I will most certainly enjoy Pacific Rim.
I’ve never watched Pacific Rim, but now I want to.
Echoing other commenters. It’s in my Netflix queue. I need to boost this to the top. Because I am a sucker for fighting robots, and now I know there’s a woman who fights with a quarter-staff? Better and better.
Thanks for reminding me that I still need to see this movie. I’d say more, but I fear spoilers on this one.
I haven’t seen this one yet either, and I’ve been meaning to! It’s going on the list now for sure. Thanks Jack!
I’ve tried not to give away too much, but I can’t say the same for the official trailer, which gives away all the plot. I’ve had to watch this several times get what was going on. So much happens!
Reminds me that Godzilla is coming out soon.
I can’t wait for that movie. I saw the trailer at the theater before The Lego Movie. Whoa, is all I can say!
Same here. Though Lego Movie is another one that I have to see.