This is a fun movie, don't get me wrong, I just wish it was a slightly better movie. The CG battle sequences are really enjoyable. Unlike Man of Steel or the Transformers movies, Guillermo del Toro is good at adding little flourishes here and there to set a more realistic tone through extended CG sequences. There's more CG dirt, dust, and water in this film than any other I've seen, which can help sell a CG shot by hiding the seams, so to speak, and help it look more realistic. At one point a robot almost falls off of a pier prompting some birds to casually fly away. I appreciate a real-life moment in the midst of an outrageous summer blockbuster CG battle to help remind us we're human. Unfortunately, the movie's characters and the acting were nowhere near as good as the production design and effects. The film feels like half a movie as a result. I did enjoy Charlie Day and Ron Perlman's characters for some comedy relief.

3 Stars (out of 5)