9
The title character in Shane Acker's visually stunning 9
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Monday, 26, Oct 2009 04:06
Directed by Shane Acker, out October 28th, starring Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Connelly and John C Reily, running time 79mins.
In a nutshell...
Stunning imagery, uninspiring story
What's it all about?
When 9 (Elijah Wood) awakes he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by machines. He soon encounters a small community of sad sewn sacks living in hiding from The Beast, a red-eyed mechanical hell-bent on destroying everything in its path. 9 persuades his numbered friends to defeat the machines, leading them on a dramatic journey of discovery as they battle for survival. As the action unfolds, and the death toll rises our heroes learn that the future of preserving humanity's legacy lies in their hands.
Who's in it?
Elijah Wood leads the voice cast as the eponymous 9, with support from Oscar winners Martin Landau and Jennifer Connelly and Oscar nominee John C Reilly.
As an example...
"We had such potential. Such promise. But we squandered our gifts. And so, 9, I am creating you. Our world is ending. Life must go on." - The Scientist
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars
The chances of 9 scooping the Best Animated Film prize at the Oscars seems unlikely, that award is undoubtedly heading Pixar's way for Up. That said, 9 should not be discredited completely. Acker,s CG animation skills were rewarded by the Academy in 2005, with the release of 9, an 11-minute wordless short from which this feature length talkie has sprung. Unlike most animated movies 9 is dark and gritty, in which all the characters are fighting for their lives.
What the others say
"Visually 9, is extraordinary, offering a level of detail and imagination that makes even Pixar's back catalogue seem twee... Where 9 fails to match Pixar's output is on story and character; this evocative post-apocalyptic sprawl is married to a plodding plot." - Empire
"9 is a bold and ambitious movie, a contemplative CG animation for grown-ups that'll struggle to reach the broad audiences of the Pixar and DreamWorks toons." - Empire
So is it any good?
Expanding an already successful silent short into a feature length talkie is risky business. Whilst it provides you with the opportunity to expand your story and develop rounded characters, that story has to be compelling, and the characters deep, to ensure it is a success.
It is therefore rather disappointing sitting through 9 from director Shane Acker. It could have been a masterpiece. Artistically it pushes computer animation to new heights, away from the sweet, cuddly world of talking creatures, into a dark, gritty world full of peril and uncertainty. The landscapes convey a real sense of terror, while the overall look is polished and incredibly detailed, compared to uninspiring offerings like Monsters Vs Aliens. Unfortunately though, the plot is rather predictable and simplistic. Essentially it lacks any originality. It resorts instead to a series of set pieces, centred around our heroes' battles with the Terminator-like machine creatures who destroyed all human life, and their fight to preserve what's left of humanity.
If you can get passed the lack of story, 9 is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining affair, full of action and drama. It is also full of heart and good intention, as 9 and his pals fight to save what is left of the human soul, with the last remaining human scientist having implanted fragments of his own soul in their textile bodies.
The other pleasure from the film is that Acker doesn't seem hell-bent on preaching the environmental message of Wall-E; instead he focuses his attention to the more human traits of friendship and courage and their importance in defeating the destructive power of technology and humanity's fascination with it.
The most perplexing thing about the film though, is that it is difficult to pinpoint who Acker is targeting with it. It is too violent for young children and lacks any real depth to keep adults entertained. The characters sink into a sea of stereotypes, and are instantly forgettable, lacking the charm of those in Shrek and Toy Story.
All things considered 9 is overall a good movie. It is easy to become immersed in Acker's wilderness world. The action scenes are impressive, the cast list is strong, there is even a burst of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and yet there is something lacking preventing 9 from reaching a perfect score.
While there is enough here to please both adults and children alike for the 79-minute running time, it is unlikely to become a DVD favourite. It does however signify one thing - if Acker can nail a strong narrative story and combine it with his stunning visuals; we may soon be seeing a filmmaker set to unsettle the Pixar power house.
6/10
Matt Robinson