"9" Film Review by: Matthew R. Reis
When will it be over! (Now on DVD)
2 Stars
As featured in: The Ithacan
Shane Acker’s first feature- length film, “9,” is a flawed, post- apocalyptic vision of the not-so- distant future. Based on a short film, also named “9,” the film has some thrilling moments but should have never been adapted for the big screen.
The film, set in a time of economic upheaval, depicts a dictator known only as the Chancellor who enlists the help of a team of scientists to develop technologies that will allow the state to prosper. The smartest scientist develops a ma- chine so ingenious, fittingly called The Brain, that it regrettably starts thinking for itself. Though the creator insists The Brain isn’t fully operational, it is put to use anyway by the Chancellor. The machine eventually turns its back on its creator, ensuring the inevitable destruction of the world.
“9’s” fairly simple story line prevents the film from becoming a great, dark fantasy in the vein of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Burton, the film’s producer, clearly shares a similar animation style with Acker. But Burton’s screenplay takes center stage over the arbitrary action present in “9.”
The survivors of the destruction are not human, but rag dolls officially known as “stitchpunks.” They live in hiding, forced to pick up the pieces that mankind left for them. The film centers around nine stitchpunks creatively named No. 1 through No. 9. Some fighting exists between the stitchpunks, especially with the arrival of No. 9, the youngest of these odd but strangely cute creatures. The oldest and most conservative of the group, No. 1, would rather wait and die in the stitchpunks’ hideout than fight the machines like No. 9 proposes. This tension reveals that the “punks” have their own idiosyncrasies and quirks that make for some humorous moments here and there. Collectively, these moments give the film a much-needed sense of realism, but they are few and far between. This is primarily because “9’s” short run time did not give the proper time needed for any significant character development.
No. 9 (voiced by Elijah Wood) plods along way too much, particularly in the first half-hour, where the main emphasis isn’t on his plan to save the world, but rather on the film’s animated artwork. The effects are indeed Oscar-worthy, and the beautiful CGI helps bring the post-apocalyptic landscape to life. Pools of light collect on crumpled buildings, smoke litters the air from a massive factory, and debris lines the street. Unfortunately, “9’s” amazing backdrop primarily serves as filler for the thin story line and mundane plot.
The film is advertised as a post-apocalyptic nightmare, but few will be scared while watching “9.” As a whole, it lacks a certain bizarre and grotesque quality and feels empty without emotional punch and maturity.
One of the unsettling things about this film is that its basic premise has already been seen. “The Matrix,” for one, deals with humanity rebelling against the machines that oppress them, like the rag dolls who find themselves at the mercy of these mechanical beasts. The character No. 9 is naïve and reckless, and his behavior results in the death of a backup character. For a supposedly strong- willed hero, No. 9’s voice cracks at any sign of danger, but yet he suddenly develops into a mature leader capable of fighting for the survival of life on Earth.
The movie’s story matures in spite of the first 30 minutes, paving the way for an exciting climax and conclusion. The film could have shed 25 minutes off of its run time and still have gotten its point across. The fast-paced, yet uneventful, beginning of “9” may annoy some people, but the upbeat ending nicely completes the movie. “9” lacks the magic to be a classic. If the film stopped trying to satisfy both preteen and adult audiences, maybe the story would have mattered. To save two and half hours of one’s time, just wait until “9” comes out on DVD.
“9” was written by Pamela Pettler and Shane Acker and directed by Shane Acker.
This trailer is a compilation of the few good parts of the movie... give it a shot:
As always thanks for reading!
©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.
2 Stars
As featured in: The Ithacan
Shane Acker’s first feature- length film, “9,” is a flawed, post- apocalyptic vision of the not-so- distant future. Based on a short film, also named “9,” the film has some thrilling moments but should have never been adapted for the big screen.
The film, set in a time of economic upheaval, depicts a dictator known only as the Chancellor who enlists the help of a team of scientists to develop technologies that will allow the state to prosper. The smartest scientist develops a ma- chine so ingenious, fittingly called The Brain, that it regrettably starts thinking for itself. Though the creator insists The Brain isn’t fully operational, it is put to use anyway by the Chancellor. The machine eventually turns its back on its creator, ensuring the inevitable destruction of the world.
“9’s” fairly simple story line prevents the film from becoming a great, dark fantasy in the vein of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Burton, the film’s producer, clearly shares a similar animation style with Acker. But Burton’s screenplay takes center stage over the arbitrary action present in “9.”
The survivors of the destruction are not human, but rag dolls officially known as “stitchpunks.” They live in hiding, forced to pick up the pieces that mankind left for them. The film centers around nine stitchpunks creatively named No. 1 through No. 9. Some fighting exists between the stitchpunks, especially with the arrival of No. 9, the youngest of these odd but strangely cute creatures. The oldest and most conservative of the group, No. 1, would rather wait and die in the stitchpunks’ hideout than fight the machines like No. 9 proposes. This tension reveals that the “punks” have their own idiosyncrasies and quirks that make for some humorous moments here and there. Collectively, these moments give the film a much-needed sense of realism, but they are few and far between. This is primarily because “9’s” short run time did not give the proper time needed for any significant character development.
No. 9 (voiced by Elijah Wood) plods along way too much, particularly in the first half-hour, where the main emphasis isn’t on his plan to save the world, but rather on the film’s animated artwork. The effects are indeed Oscar-worthy, and the beautiful CGI helps bring the post-apocalyptic landscape to life. Pools of light collect on crumpled buildings, smoke litters the air from a massive factory, and debris lines the street. Unfortunately, “9’s” amazing backdrop primarily serves as filler for the thin story line and mundane plot.
The film is advertised as a post-apocalyptic nightmare, but few will be scared while watching “9.” As a whole, it lacks a certain bizarre and grotesque quality and feels empty without emotional punch and maturity.
One of the unsettling things about this film is that its basic premise has already been seen. “The Matrix,” for one, deals with humanity rebelling against the machines that oppress them, like the rag dolls who find themselves at the mercy of these mechanical beasts. The character No. 9 is naïve and reckless, and his behavior results in the death of a backup character. For a supposedly strong- willed hero, No. 9’s voice cracks at any sign of danger, but yet he suddenly develops into a mature leader capable of fighting for the survival of life on Earth.
The movie’s story matures in spite of the first 30 minutes, paving the way for an exciting climax and conclusion. The film could have shed 25 minutes off of its run time and still have gotten its point across. The fast-paced, yet uneventful, beginning of “9” may annoy some people, but the upbeat ending nicely completes the movie. “9” lacks the magic to be a classic. If the film stopped trying to satisfy both preteen and adult audiences, maybe the story would have mattered. To save two and half hours of one’s time, just wait until “9” comes out on DVD.
“9” was written by Pamela Pettler and Shane Acker and directed by Shane Acker.
This trailer is a compilation of the few good parts of the movie... give it a shot:
As always thanks for reading!
©2011 Matthew R. Reis, All rights reserved.
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