Linh9 ; animated fantasy adventure film review
December 9th 2009 22:51
Harming or Helping Humanity by Linh
9 began as an animated short from director Shane Acker, which was nominated for an Academy Award, before it was expanded into a feature film. Director Tim Burton jumped onboard as one of the producers for 9, and his influence is strongly felt throughout, as the characters have echoes of Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Set in a post-apocalyptic time in the aftermath of a war between humans and machines, the story follows the restoration and renewal of humanity in the tiny hands of nine rag dolls or 'stitchpunks' which are handcrafted by a scientist as a last attempt to defeat the machines and save what's left of humankind.
The scientist creates a machine so powerfully intelligent that it not only works for humans, but also creates other robots to do work for the government. As the scientist was close to giving the machine the ability to empathise, the Chancellor orders the scientist to surrender the machine and forces it to work in a factory creating war machines. The machine rebels and turns against humanity, creating destruction and devastation - virtually wiping out the entire human population.
In an effort to save humanity, the scientist makes nine stitched dolls which he knows will survive the poisoned and desolate wasteland better than the remaining humans, and gives each stitchpunk a piece of his soul. He also gives each one a number (using the myths and workings of numerology) that represents their character traits. He dies as he completes his final stitchpunk, and the last doll plays an integral role in the story.
Despite the convoluted storyline, there is much to enjoy in the eighty minutes of 9. The computer-generated animation is created by Starz Animation and although not as polished as Pixar or dynamic as Dreamworks, it still succeeds in bringing a sense of gloom and sadness among the vast, desolate wasteland. It also achieves in showing the glimmering sense of hope instilled in the characters who must work together to save the future of civilisation.
The voice cast is a curious choice with Elijah Wood as 9, the number which represents humanitarianism, so it was obvious for his character to be the hero of the film.
As the number 1 represents 'protection', Christopher Plummer's character becomes the self-declared leader who can at times be cowardly and domineering, or dutiful and self-sacrificing, depending on the situation. Christopher Plummer will be one to watch as a potential Oscar nominee when he plays Russian author Leo Tolstoy in the upcoming film The Last Station; Martin Landau gives a brief yet great performance as 2,the kind and gentle inventor and explorer of the group, but is the first of the group to be sacrificed to the Beast; 3 and 4 is the mercurial and delightful set of twins who only communicate visually and are constantly processing, programming and preserving information for their historical records. Although they are unvoiced, the pair are remarkably expressive and entertaining to watch; John C. Reilly continues to expand his talents in all genres of films and his contribution here is the caring and loyal 5, who is a healer and engineer; Crispin Glover (most (in)famously remembered for kicking David Letterman in the head while appearing as a guest on the talk show) voices the visionary recluse and artistic 6; the lone female of the group is 7, who's a brave, self-sufficient and quick-witted stitchpunk and voiced by Jennifer Connelly and Fred Tatasciore is the muscle-bound and not too bright 8, the guard who wields a meat cleaver and half a scissor.
The film has many binaries such as good versus evil, science versus spirituality and man versus machine, but the message regarding the extent of technology's impact on society is one that may escape younger audiences.
The use of animation to deliver adult themes to a younger audience seems to be a trend that would continue, mostly to attract a wider demographic. The side effects may be fewer youth-oriented animated films, less diversity in storytelling technique and fewer people who are willing to take risks in animation filmmaking.
Shane Acker's first feature animated film is a solid effort with plenty of imagination and creativity used to concoct a fine mix of audio and visual effects to accompany the action and story.
The philosophical and complex concepts of the narrative may make this film quite a confusing mess for some audiences and children wouldn't easily grasp the plot. However, 9 remains an entertaining film with some fantastic visuals and engaging characterisations.
Director: Shane Acker
Cast: Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, John C.Reilly, Crispin Glover, Fred Tatasciore, Alan Oppenheimer, Tom Kane, Helen Wilson.
Writers: Pamela Pettler, Shane Acker
Producers: Tim Burton, Jim Lemley, Timur Bekmambetov, Dana Ginsburg, Jinko Gotoh, Mary Clayton
Music: Deborah Lurie
Running Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
ENERGY SOURCE: 5 (John C. Reilly) and 9 (Elijah Wood) inspect the talisman symbol in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features,Madman Entertainment.
9 began as an animated short from director Shane Acker, which was nominated for an Academy Award, before it was expanded into a feature film. Director Tim Burton jumped onboard as one of the producers for 9, and his influence is strongly felt throughout, as the characters have echoes of Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Set in a post-apocalyptic time in the aftermath of a war between humans and machines, the story follows the restoration and renewal of humanity in the tiny hands of nine rag dolls or 'stitchpunks' which are handcrafted by a scientist as a last attempt to defeat the machines and save what's left of humankind.
The scientist creates a machine so powerfully intelligent that it not only works for humans, but also creates other robots to do work for the government. As the scientist was close to giving the machine the ability to empathise, the Chancellor orders the scientist to surrender the machine and forces it to work in a factory creating war machines. The machine rebels and turns against humanity, creating destruction and devastation - virtually wiping out the entire human population.
In an effort to save humanity, the scientist makes nine stitched dolls which he knows will survive the poisoned and desolate wasteland better than the remaining humans, and gives each stitchpunk a piece of his soul. He also gives each one a number (using the myths and workings of numerology) that represents their character traits. He dies as he completes his final stitchpunk, and the last doll plays an integral role in the story.
SACRIFICE: 1 (Christopher Plummer) must decide the next move with 8 (Fred Tatasciore) and 9 (Elijah Wood) in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features,Madman Entertainment.
Despite the convoluted storyline, there is much to enjoy in the eighty minutes of 9. The computer-generated animation is created by Starz Animation and although not as polished as Pixar or dynamic as Dreamworks, it still succeeds in bringing a sense of gloom and sadness among the vast, desolate wasteland. It also achieves in showing the glimmering sense of hope instilled in the characters who must work together to save the future of civilisation.
The voice cast is a curious choice with Elijah Wood as 9, the number which represents humanitarianism, so it was obvious for his character to be the hero of the film.
As the number 1 represents 'protection', Christopher Plummer's character becomes the self-declared leader who can at times be cowardly and domineering, or dutiful and self-sacrificing, depending on the situation. Christopher Plummer will be one to watch as a potential Oscar nominee when he plays Russian author Leo Tolstoy in the upcoming film The Last Station; Martin Landau gives a brief yet great performance as 2,the kind and gentle inventor and explorer of the group, but is the first of the group to be sacrificed to the Beast; 3 and 4 is the mercurial and delightful set of twins who only communicate visually and are constantly processing, programming and preserving information for their historical records. Although they are unvoiced, the pair are remarkably expressive and entertaining to watch; John C. Reilly continues to expand his talents in all genres of films and his contribution here is the caring and loyal 5, who is a healer and engineer; Crispin Glover (most (in)famously remembered for kicking David Letterman in the head while appearing as a guest on the talk show) voices the visionary recluse and artistic 6; the lone female of the group is 7, who's a brave, self-sufficient and quick-witted stitchpunk and voiced by Jennifer Connelly and Fred Tatasciore is the muscle-bound and not too bright 8, the guard who wields a meat cleaver and half a scissor.
DANGER: 9 (Elijah Wood), 7 (Jennifer Connelly) and 5 (John C. Reilly) avoid the wrath of the Beast in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features,Madman Entertainment.
The film has many binaries such as good versus evil, science versus spirituality and man versus machine, but the message regarding the extent of technology's impact on society is one that may escape younger audiences.
The use of animation to deliver adult themes to a younger audience seems to be a trend that would continue, mostly to attract a wider demographic. The side effects may be fewer youth-oriented animated films, less diversity in storytelling technique and fewer people who are willing to take risks in animation filmmaking.
CAUTION: 6 (Crispin Glover), 5 (John C. Reilly), 9 (Elijah Wood) and the twins 3 and 4 take measures against the Machine in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features,Madman Entertainment.
Shane Acker's first feature animated film is a solid effort with plenty of imagination and creativity used to concoct a fine mix of audio and visual effects to accompany the action and story.
The philosophical and complex concepts of the narrative may make this film quite a confusing mess for some audiences and children wouldn't easily grasp the plot. However, 9 remains an entertaining film with some fantastic visuals and engaging characterisations.
CONFRONTATION: 9 (Elijah Wood) faces off with the Machine in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features,Madman Entertainment.
Director: Shane Acker
Cast: Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, John C.Reilly, Crispin Glover, Fred Tatasciore, Alan Oppenheimer, Tom Kane, Helen Wilson.
Writers: Pamela Pettler, Shane Acker
Producers: Tim Burton, Jim Lemley, Timur Bekmambetov, Dana Ginsburg, Jinko Gotoh, Mary Clayton
Music: Deborah Lurie
Running Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
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