9 a gorgeous but flawed mini-epic
The struggle begins in the very first scene: You will want to love 9 far more than you are actually able to love it. That’s because this postapocalyptic, computeranimated adventure is — visually, at least — in elite company. 9 looks as good as anything Pixar has ever produced, and nearly everything about its look, from the character design to the luminous color palette, is captivating. It could have soared, but a pedestrian story drags it back down to earth.
And what a scorched earth it is. 9 takes place in a world where humans are freshly extinct thanks to that perpetual lurking menace, the violent robot uprising. Before the last man on earth dies, he plants the spark of life into nine small rag dolls, mostly meek creatures that spend their days hiding from the homicidal robot sentries that roam the wasteland. The film picks up with the birth of Number 9 (voiced by Elijah Wood), who comes into the world alone, disoriented and unable to speak. He throws the rag dolls’ world into upheaval when he arrives bearing a mysterious, powerful artifact.
As a PG-13 animated movie, 9 is something of an anomaly. It’s a short, heavy picture, and parents should pay more attention to the rating than the appealing art style. 9 is definitely not for the little ones, with its dark themes and abundant death. There’s no shortage of animation that appeals simultaneously to adults and children, but there’s very little aimed largely at an older audience that also enjoys a wide theatrical release like this.
Given that, it feels like a waste that 9 is, in many ways, thoroughly ordinary, even sub-par. Clocking in at well under an hour and a half, it feels almost as if 9 has had a number of scenes removed, especially the ones that establish the culture of the dolls prior to Number 9’s arrival. Too much in their interaction implies character development that simply isn’t present in the film, though the film benefits greatly from lively voice work by Christopher Plummer, John C. Reilly and Martin Landau.
If it were geared toward kids, it might be easier to forgive the stock characters and all-too-familiar storyline. But 9 is clearly designed for a more sophisticated audience, so why does it take so few chances with its plot, which plays like a mercifully shorter version of the final Matrix movie? It’s a frustration soothed by the wildly creative production design and the spirited direction of Shane Acker, who expanded 9 to a feature based on his own short film. He enlists the help of Monster House writer Pamela Pettler, who succeeds in giving the film the feel, if not the substance, of an epic.
Despite its flaws, 9 is one of the rare movies I’d recommend strictly on the quality of its visuals, which tell a story all their own. Acker was a film student when he started crafting these characters, and his attention to detail and obvious affection for his creation promises great things in the future. 9 isn’t the best film he’ll ever make, but it’s an okay place to start. To comment on this article, send your e-mail to glen.baity@gmail.com. !
Log onto YesWeekly.com — click on the “Flicks” section. Then go to “What’s Showing” Keep up with the latest movie news!
Check out YesWeekly. com for movie times and video trailers from all your favorite Triad Theatres!
The struggle begins in the very first scene: You will want to love 9 far more than you are actually able to love it. That’s because this postapocalyptic, computeranimated adventure is — visually, at least — in elite company. 9 looks as good as anything Pixar has ever produced, and nearly everything about its look, from the character design to the luminous color palette, is captivating. It could have soared, but a pedestrian story drags it back down to earth.
And what a scorched earth it is. 9 takes place in a world where humans are freshly extinct thanks to that perpetual lurking menace, the violent robot uprising. Before the last man on earth dies, he plants the spark of life into nine small rag dolls, mostly meek creatures that spend their days hiding from the homicidal robot sentries that roam the wasteland. The film picks up with the birth of Number 9 (voiced by Elijah Wood), who comes into the world alone, disoriented and unable to speak. He throws the rag dolls’ world into upheaval when he arrives bearing a mysterious, powerful artifact.
As a PG-13 animated movie, 9 is something of an anomaly. It’s a short, heavy picture, and parents should pay more attention to the rating than the appealing art style. 9 is definitely not for the little ones, with its dark themes and abundant death. There’s no shortage of animation that appeals simultaneously to adults and children, but there’s very little aimed largely at an older audience that also enjoys a wide theatrical release like this.
Given that, it feels like a waste that 9 is, in many ways, thoroughly ordinary, even sub-par. Clocking in at well under an hour and a half, it feels almost as if 9 has had a number of scenes removed, especially the ones that establish the culture of the dolls prior to Number 9’s arrival. Too much in their interaction implies character development that simply isn’t present in the film, though the film benefits greatly from lively voice work by Christopher Plummer, John C. Reilly and Martin Landau.
If it were geared toward kids, it might be easier to forgive the stock characters and all-too-familiar storyline. But 9 is clearly designed for a more sophisticated audience, so why does it take so few chances with its plot, which plays like a mercifully shorter version of the final Matrix movie? It’s a frustration soothed by the wildly creative production design and the spirited direction of Shane Acker, who expanded 9 to a feature based on his own short film. He enlists the help of Monster House writer Pamela Pettler, who succeeds in giving the film the feel, if not the substance, of an epic.
Despite its flaws, 9 is one of the rare movies I’d recommend strictly on the quality of its visuals, which tell a story all their own. Acker was a film student when he started crafting these characters, and his attention to detail and obvious affection for his creation promises great things in the future. 9 isn’t the best film he’ll ever make, but it’s an okay place to start. To comment on this article, send your e-mail to glen.baity@gmail.com. !
Log onto YesWeekly.com — click on the “Flicks” section. Then go to “What’s Showing” Keep up with the latest movie news!
Check out YesWeekly. com for movie times and video trailers from all your favorite Triad Theatres!
