Pacific Rim is a love letter by Guillermo del Toro to a legion of films that clearly inspired him to become a filmmaker. Yet, it is still an original cinematic moment. Pacific Rim soars above all the other summer “blockbusters” that seek to be the next film that is truly fresh and dominates the season where Hollywood makes most of its money.

We would even argue that the Pacific Rim trailer and its subsequent marketing efforts could have used a teaser where the true nature of the film is displayed.

The massive-in-scope tale is at its heart not as much about the monstrous aliens who invade us from the Pacific Ocean and the giant robots (called Jaegers) we build to combat them. It is a story of brotherhood and sisterhood that resonates stronger than ever, despite the threat of the entire human race being destroyed.

Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) is Jaeger pilot Raleigh Becket and we meet him in the film’s opening moments as narrator. We learn that aliens did not come from the stars above to enslave or worse, destroy completely. In fact, the Kaiju (as they are called) arose from a fault in the Pacific Ocean and promptly did their best to completely trash all the coastal cities along the… Pacific Rim.

The world's nations, unable to squash the monster threat using traditional means, worked together to create robots that are as large and even more powerful than the dinosaur-like creatures that seem indestructible. These massive war machines only work best when two pilots meld minds and operate the titan as one… and it was then that we started winning the war.

But then, something changed and our entire existence was inches from demolition.

The story picks up five years later and Hunnam is a changed man. Idris Elba is Stacker Pentecost, the man who runs the Jaeger operation and he -- despite the overt warning signs -- wants Hunnam back in the pilot’s seat after that tragedy that altered everything sent him to the sidelines.

It is through his “return” to the fighting ranks that the audience learns how the band of brothers and sisters who fight these monsters foster the exact strength that gives humans an advantage over their attackers.

In particular, the chemistry between Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi (who plays Mako Mori) gives Pacific Rim its soul. The two are paired together as pilots of a storied Jaeger and what seems like on paper is a disaster waiting to happen, in fact could be what turns the tide of the battle.

Also, Charlie Day is a monster… of talent! He provides not only the humor for the film, but also its scientific groundwork that only adds to the perception of peril. But, it is his scenes with Ron Perlman that truly pop. We even want a spin-off movie with just those two!

Our Pacific Rim review finds that the relationship between the pilots and those who support them in the effort to save humankind is the real reason to see the film. But, the massiveness of it is pretty awesome.

Del Toro has crafted a movie experience that recalls Jurassic Park and Independence Day in terms of its breadth and their ability to put large numbers of people in the seats. When the Kaiju and Jaegers battle, the sound and fury of the visuals combine to craft an experience (in 3D) that draws its audience into the war and thus increases its ability to transfer the emotional cost of the spectacle onscreen.

Disney has a long history of giving audiences some of the most memorable animated souls of all-time. Hoping to join that long legacy are the characters that inhabit the latest from the famed studio, Frozen. Up to now, fans of Walt’s animation studio have had to make do with a Frozen teaser trailer and a Frozen poster.

Disney has released a slew of photos identifying their new legion of characters that inhabit the chilly world of Frozen.

Frozen lands in theaters November 27 and features the vocal talents of The Internship star Josh Gad, Kristen Bell (of the currently filming Veronica Mars movie), Jonathan Groff and Alan Tudyk.

The story takes audiences into a world that is firmly entrenched in a winter with no end. That will not stop Anna (Bell) from joining forces with the outdoorsy Kristoff (Groff) to try to find a way to -- even figuratively -- warm things up a bit. They seek to embark on a mission to dethrone Anna’s sister Elsa (Idina Menzel), the Snow Queen, who is ruling with a Frozen fist.

Of all the movies out there, especially comedies, that we felt deserved a sequel… Grown Ups would not be anywhere near the top of the list. It was evident from the first Grown Ups 2 trailer that the humor factor could be even higher than the first time around. What if our Grown Ups 2 review surprisingly finds that the second film has far more laugh-out-loud moments than the first? By golly, it does.

Grown Ups seemed like an excuse for Adam Sandler, with his Happy Madison production company, to get his friends together and spend the summer making a movie. When it hit big in 2010, nobody had to be more pleasantly surprised than Sandler -- as well as his troupe of merry men, led by Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider.

So when news arose that Sandler, who previously has strayed away from the institution known as the sequel, was making Grown Ups 2, shoulders shrugged. It’s not that the first film wasn’t that good -- it just seemed like the odd movie to bring everyone back and continue their story. But, what we do see in Grown Ups 2 is a story of grown men who supposedly don’t want to grow up. In fact, they learn that they have… and that’s OK, and pretty funny.

With the concept that Sandler’s big-time Hollywood agent has moved his family back to his hometown for a more “normal” upbringing, potential already exists for malarkey meets message. Plus, and I cannot believe I’m writing this, but the addition of Nick Swardson to the pack of good-natured misfits only adds to the comedy canon.

Although the plot hardly matters in a film like Grown Ups 2, it has the skeleton of one. Sandler and his wife, Roxanne Chase-Feder (Salma Hayek), have moved to the smaller town where he grew up and away from Los Angeles. That has reunited him with his buddies on a more permanent level than we saw in the first film. The ease with each other is still there and the off screen friendships of the cast permeate every frame of the film. But, let’s be real...

At its heart, Grown Ups 2 prides itself on being a comedy. The film is the rare funny fest where all the best jokes are not featured in the teasers. This is saying something.

The movie is fine for families as there are plenty of jokes for kids as well as adults. And besides, how often will we get to see theTwilight Saga star Taylor Lautner play a complete ass and kill it? Well… 

One of the biggest surprise hits of 2010 was How to Train Your Dragon and judging by the debut of the first How to Train Your Dragon 2 teaser trailer, it looks like the film’s success will continue. Yes, it’s only a teaser and solely features Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his dragon, Toothless, soaring through the air. But, what about that last shot? Why is Hiccup so concerned?

How to Train Your Dragon 2 Teaser Trailer

The film opens in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D on June 20, 2014 and features the return of Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

The action in How to Train Your Dragon 2 picks up five years after the last one and after Hiccup and Toothless hit the skies for a little adventure like the one in the teaser trailer, they discover a mysterious ice cave that is filled with a new breed of wild dragons and a Dragon Rider who does not appear to have the best of intentions. Our two favorite dragon and human friends must rally their pals and defeat the potential threat.

For those who want to go to Elysium, it can cost millions. But those of you who just want a glimpse of Elysium can do so for free, thanks to a new behind-the-scenes featurette from the film featuring Matt Damon and the brainchild behind the movie, Neill Blomkamp.

Elysium Behind-The-Scenes

We have less than a month until the film debuts on August 9 and by now, thanks to teasers such as this Elysium trailer, you know the story of Damon’s character and how he must get to the orbiting paradise above a wretched Earth in order to beat an illness that will kill him.

What else is shown, especially in the second Elysium movie trailer, is that the power that was District 9 was no fluke. Blomkamp is a visionary and his latest -- that also stars Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley and William Fichtner (The Lone Ranger) -- is sure to expand the South African filmmaker’s audience.

As the second weekend in July arrives, a most unique of contrasts is found in the battle for top of the box office: Pacific Rim and Grown Ups 2. We suspect that Despicable Me 2 will continue to do quite well, but the monsters versus robots epic or the Sandler sequel is likely to rule the roost.

Pacific Rim: Guillermo del Toro can finally release his passion project that was borne from his love of Kaiju movies, and so much more from cinema's past. Del Toro's latest is bombastic, but brilliant in its way to make the hugest story you will ever see on screen feel small and intimate. Yes, it is massive in scope and sometimes is almost overwhelming, but as our Pacific Rim review stated, it is the perfect summer movie.

Charlie Hunnam and his Jaeger pilots battle the alien monsters from below our seas and manage to simultaneously rivet us with the spectacle of action, but also care about every soul who is fighting inside those giant machines.

Pacific Rim Final Trailer

Grown Ups 2: Sandler brings back his buddies, such as Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade, for a sequel to his smash hit Grown Ups. We reported in our Grown Ups 2 review that the film is better than the first... but what is that saying really? The film's comedy is fine for families and we suspect the movie will do even better box office than the first go-around of the grown men who won't grow up.

Grown Ups 2 Movie Trailer

With Comic-Con merely days away, Warner Bros. is fanning the fire of expectation of their sequel to 300 as they have released a poster for their follow-up to Zack Snyder’s epic. The 300: Rise of an Empire Comic-Con poster is here and it has only increased our anticipation for the film.

We’ve got the one 300: Rise of an Empire trailer, and we would be completely surprised if Warner Bros. does not roll out a new one in San Diego next week. Movie Fanatic will be at Comic-Con and will talk to the cast and filmmakers and we’ll bring you any new photos, teasers or clips as those responsible for the film have a lot to live up to as the first film has a special place in audiences’ hearts.

Despite the challenge of two enormous contenders, Pacific Rim and Grown Ups 2, Gru and his Minions did it again. Despicable Me 2 made it two-for-two, winning the weekend box office by adding another $44.8 million to its already explosive box office numbers. Globally, the Despicable Me sequel has made an astounding $472.4 million thus far.

The Adam Sandler comedy Grown Ups 2 inched out a victory over the other big movie to open this weekend, the Guillermo del Toro passion project Pacific Rim. Where Sony had to be thrilled with the performance of its latest Sandler film, Warner Bros. has to be slightly disappointed with what was considered one of the most anticipated movies of the summer debuting in third place.

And The Heat continued its strong run, coming in fourth with a $14 million take.

Closing out the top five is Disney’s The Lone Ranger, starring Johnny Depp. It’s $11.1 million in ticket sales continues its disappointing run… another highly anticipated summer movie that has come up short. Internationally, The Lone Ranger’s total is sitting at just over $119 million, almost exactly half what it cost to make.

And one more thing: Despicable Me 2’s victory now makes it a full month where an animated movie has ruled at the multiplexes…

Box office top 10:

1. Despicable Me 2, $44.8 million
2. Grown Ups 2, $42.5 million
3. Pacific Rim, $38.3 million
4. The Heat, $14 million
5.The Lone Ranger, $11.1 million
6. Monsters University, $10.6 million
7. World War Z, $9.4 million
8. White House Down, $6.2 million
9. Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, $5 million
10. Man of Steel, $4.8 million

When one sees a movie like Fruitvale Station in the midst of the summer blockbuster cavalcade, you hope that Oscar remembers it for lauding at the end of the year. Not only does Michael B. Jordan deliver an Academy Award-worthy performance and Octavia Spencer should start thinking about her Oscar speech after winning for The Help, but the riveting film deserves to be considered for Best Picture.

First time writer-director Ryan Coogler has his film commence with the real, albeit grainy, video footage of the shot that killed Oscar Grant (Jordan) and reverberated throughout the Bay Area and the nation. Grant was coming home to Oakland from New Year's Eve festivities on the BART train when a transit officer shot and killed him in front of his girlfriend and young daughter’s mother. He was 22.

The success of Fruitvale Station comes from several fronts. Coogler directs from his screenplay that announces him as a cinematic force of nature. The way he tells the story builds such compassion for his protagonist, especially in the face of the tragedy that we all know is coming. Even as it is happening, one finds themselves hoping that what did happen… won’t. That speaks volumes to Coogler's efforts as a screenwriter and a helmer.

Also, as teased in the Fruitvale Station trailer, Jordan makes quite a pronouncement as well. We first saw his talent on TV with his work on HBO's The Wire and Friday Night Lights. But, it will be his performance in Fruitvale Station that will catapult the young star to the upper echelons of Hollywood. He manages to simultaneously paint a picture of a character who may have had a less than savory past, but on this particular New Year’s Eve… we feel his desire for change and can see it on every frame of film until the heartbreaking end.

Fruitvale Station could stand on a soap box and make a societal statement about racial profiling, especially in the shadow of the George Zimmerman verdict from the killing of Trayvon Martin. Sure, they are different cases, but it could be argued they come from the same rough spot in American culture. Yet, Coogler manages to let the audience draw all the conclusions it needs, solely based on the dramatic power he presents in his film.

Then, there is Spencer. Yet again, she harnesses a power that is breathtaking as Grant’s mother. She captures the loss of a parent who has to say goodbye to a child through tragic means. But, Spencer also manages to show a whole lot of light within a characterization of a mother who adores her son, wants the best for him, and doesn’t judge him on past indiscretions.

She is encouraged by his desire to change and it is all the more emotional when his fate is met in the final act of the film. Her tears are our tears and through her, Jordan and Coogler’s work, the greatest aspect of what happened to Grant is achieved. Our Fruitvale Station review can state that we will never, ever forget his story. It's easy to see that it was a must to put the film on our Top 10 of 2013 So Far.

Well, this is good news: Zachary Quinto has stated that he has been told by Paramount Pictures that he should block off some time in 2014 to shoot the third installment of the J.J. Abrams Star Trek series. Yes, you read that right -- including that last part about Abrams being a part of the third film of his Star Trek trilogy.

Given that Abrams released Star Trek in 2009 and it took until 2013 to get the second Star Trek feature in his series, Star Trek Into Darkness, it is incredible that the third film will be shooting next year.

Quinto was speaking to a group at the Galway Film Festival in Ireland where he stated that given the $444 million Star Trek Into Darkness made and the fact that Abrams will be making Star Wars Episode VII, looks like Star Trek 3 will proceed quickly and we’re guessing that it will shoot in England where Abrams is doing pre-production work on his Star Wars.

Now, does this have Abrams doing too much? Well, we know that William Shatner called J.J. Abrams a pig for doing both!

Is this wishful thinking on the part of the man who plays Spock? Is there any way that Abrams, given the schedule, can shoot Star Trek 3 in 2014? He has to deliver Star Wars Episode VII for release in 2015! These are all valid questions, but as we all know… it is impossible for Spock to lie.

Perhaps lost in the awesomeness that was the Entertainment Weekly Comic-Con photo of Spider-Man and Electro was this little gem: Tom Cruise in All You Need Is Kill. He stars, opposite Emily Blunt (who is also in the photo below), as a soldier who is killed within minutes of being deployed in a combat mission that goes to hell quite quickly. In a page from Groundhog Day, he has to live the day over and over… until he gets it right.

See, Cruise’s character, and Blunt’s, are on a mission to destroy an alien race who lives in hives that are threatening our way of life. Is it us, or do Cruise and Blunt's mechanical suits look a bit like the Matt Damon Elysium exoskeleton suit?

All You Need Is Kill is set to open June 6, 2014 and also stars Bill Paxton and Marianne Jean-Baptiste in the latest film from director Doug Limon (The Bourne Identity) and we'll bring you more on this interesting idea from Comic-Con!

Going to Comic-Con like Movie Fanatic is, we have one freebie you are going to want to get as Marvel has released its Comic-Con posters for Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Both will be available at their booth, (#2329). If you can’t make it to San Diego, we’ve got the images of both below.

First up is the one for Captain America: Winter Soldier because it is just so awesome. It shows both title characters in a battle that previews the action that is to come when the film lands April 4, 2014. That is much more than the simple shield we got for the Captain America:  The Winter Soldier teaser poster.

Next is the wildly graphic, and informative, poster for Thor: The Dark World. In it, we not only see our titular hero, but also the fact that Loki is back and so much more. From the first Thor: The Dark World trailer to images such as the one below… we think Marvel’s success streak will continue.

More from Comic-Con and Marvel arrives from Movie Fanatic on July 20!

Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds are joining forces to police the dead in R.I.P.D., landing in theaters July 19 and Movie Fanatic has a chance for you to win a $50 Visa gift card to see the film, an R.I.P.D. T-shirt, sunglasses, a microfiber cloth and a notepad. As seen in the R.I.P.D. trailer, Bridges and Reynolds are deceased cops, who live on in a world where the dead need to be kept under watch, so as to not violently disturb the living.

Bridges is a product of his era, the Old West (perfect casting, no?) and Reynolds is a hot shot cop of today who died tragically. The film introduces the concept by following Reynolds and his onscreen partner (Kevin Bacon!) as they tackle a case. When Reynolds meets his maker, his actually winds up meeting Mary Louise Parker (soon to be seen in Red 2… also arriving July 19!), who indoctrinates him into the police force known as R.I.P.D. (Rest in Peace Division).

Use the widget below to enter on Facebook or Twitter. There are three unique ways to enter, and by entering all three ways you can increase your chance of winning. A winner will be announced on July 26. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The latest poster for Kick-Ass 2 features all our favorite characters, and one special new one, front and center. Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) gets the shiny look while newbie Jim Carrey, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse get a close-up.

Kick-Ass 2 arrives in theaters August 16 and Movie Fanatic is getting video interviews with the cast at Comic-Con and we’ll be sure to bring you all the scoops we get.

One of the stars already let us know his joy, in our Mintz-Plasse exclusive interview. He was surprised they got a chance to make another. Fans have rallied to make Kick-Ass a cult hit, but judging by the Kick-Ass 2 trailer, the film series is well on its way to becoming a franchise worth fighting for.

Fresh off that hot shot of Aaron Eckhart in I, Frankenstein, Lionsgate has released a trio of character posters in honor of this week’s Comic-Con. The three Comic-Con posters reveal Eckhart as Adam, the film’s personification of “evil” and “good.” Both look pretty bad if you ask us. First up… it’s Eckhart!

The battle for the control of Earth lies in the victor of a war between gargoyles (who are good, we guess?) and demons (definitely evil) and a man who may hold the key to the entire war: Eckhart’s characterization of a creation of Victor Frankenstein.

I, Frankenstein is based on a graphic novel by Kevin Grievous and will likely be one of the more buzzed about movies to come out of this year’s popular culture fest in San Diego. The cast includes Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski and Jai Courtney and debuts in theaters nationwide January 24, 2014.

Up until now, we just have the I, Frankenstein motion poster. We're betting we won't leave Comic-Con without a first trailer! Stay tuned...

We’re getting in major Comic-Con mode over here at Movie Fanatic as it is less than 48 hours until we head out the door and down the road to San Diego to bring you the biggest news in movies… all year! The latest piece of reporting we have to bring you is that Lionsgate has confirmed who exactly will be presenting new footage (and we’re guessing a trailer) from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. To tease us, Yahoo Movies released a new still from the film. We knew that Catching Fire is coming to Comic-Con... but exactly which stars will attend?

Jennifer Lawrence, fresh off her Academy Award victory for The Silver Linings Playbook, will be there! As will her cinematic romantic interest(s) Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. Also in attendance is one of our faves, Lenny Kravitz. Filling out the panel is Willow Shields and Jeffrey Wright with director Francis Lawrence.

Also, Entertainment Weekly unveiled a new Katniss photo where she appears to be in... a wedding dress?

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will land on November 22 and is considered one of the most anticipated movies of the entire year. We think it will be the most in-demand panel in all of Comic-Con.

As Johnny Depp moves his production company, Infinitum Nihil, to Disney, news arises that the star of The Lone Ranger is set to reprise a role for the Mouse House. Looks like Depp will return to being a bit Mad (Hatter) for the sequel to Alice in Wonderland. Given all the work Depp does with Disney (Pirates of the Caribbean movies), this should hardly be a surprise that he is moving from Warner Bros. across Burbank to the studio that Walt built.

The sequel is tentatively called Through the Looking Glass and given how director Tim Burton made Alice a bit more of an adult than a child, you can count on Mia Wasikowska returning to the role that made her famous. Although it appears that Burton won’t return to helm the sequel, it will be director James Bobin (The Muppets).

Can you blame anyone for looking to head down the rabbit hole again? Alice in Wonderland banked over a billion dollars… yes, with a “B.” Depp isn’t done with Disney sequels with this one -- he’ll be back as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 5.

The action thriller that debuted its first still yesterday of Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt has changed its name. All You Need Is Kill will now be known as Edge of Tomorrow when it makes its big splash at Comic-Con. Warner Bros. announced the change along with the film’s first poster in honor of the annual pop culture fest.

Edge of Tomorrow will debut June 6, 2014 and honestly, we kind of like the title All You Need Is Kill. But, knowing very little about the film, perhaps the new moniker fits it better.

The first footage of the film that features Cruise as a military man who has to relive the day he died in battle over and over until he gets it right (a la Groundhog Day) will debut at Comic-Con on Saturday. Seems an alien race has invaded Earth and the key to our survival is Cruise’s military man succeeding in his mission. 

Just in time for his planned swing into Comic-Con this week, Spider-Man has given us a new image of the hero and the official logo for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in one fell swoop of his web!

The image made its debut on the movie’s official Facebook page. We think the film will be one of the biggest buzzed about stories at this year’s Con. The photo of Spider-Man and Electro released for Comic-Con alone has us electrified with excitement for the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man.

We were just confirmed for interviews with the cast (including Andrew Garfield!)… so stay tuned for more insight into Peter Parker and his latest adventures! 

As we stated in our theatrical 42 review, it is frankly surprising that it took so long to have a biopic arrive chronicling the life of one of the more inspiring souls of recent memory. The story of Jackie Robinson is custom made for the lights of Hollywood in how he rose above discrimination to not only change the game of baseball, but also to elevate it in terms of its quality, message and athleticism while changing the world.

42 lands on DVD and Blu-Ray -- set to inspire a whole new generation.

It was 1946 and there was not one single African American in Major League Baseball. There was the Negro Leagues, but Brooklyn Dodgers' Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) thought that was a crime, not only against society, but against the greatest game on Earth. He was determined to change that and as shown in the 42 trailer, he not only sought to find the perfect ballplayer to play for his team, but he also needed one who would be headstrong enough to withstand the tsunami of hate that would be thrown his way.

That man was Robinson, who had been an athletic superstar since his high school days in Pasadena, California. See, the key to a powerful biopic is having the right actor or actress play the part that will (hopefully) live on forever on celluloid. Although the story has been out there, literally since Robinson first put on that Dodger uniform, it took decades to find the right actor and he arrived in the form of Chadwick Boseman. His performance is as tenacious as Robinson was a player and agent for societal change.

This film is a must-see for all, but especially for the young. We didn’t always have a society that would elect an African American president, and movies like 42 are too important to merely just be another film that has arrived on home video. The arrival of 42 on DVD and Blu-Ray is a chance to educate, entertain and yes… uplift and inspire.

The extras in the 42 Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack we received are only three, but each is more powerful than the previous. Stepping into History showcases how the film managed to capture a moment in time that was incredibly important that filmmakers get it right. Full-Contact Baseball shows what Robinson went through on the field, and it was far from pleasant… that is until he started impressing people with his prowess.

Then, the creme de la creme of DVD extras arrives in The Legacy of Number 42. Did you know that the number “42” is the only jersey number in professional baseball that is retired across the entire sport? This bonus feature explores that fact and so much more as to the importance of the man who wore that number on his back and how his legacy transcends sport and culture.