Surviving the world apocalypse and the end of mankind is certainly all too familiar territory for film makers to explore time after time... and with the new animated film "9", Hollywood attempts a fresh new attempt at trial blazing new ground in this well worn genre. 

    The idea for this new film comes from a unique piece of source material.  In 2005, film director Shane Acker created his Oscar-nominated CGI animated short film about a small mechanical creature surviving a post-apocalypse world terrorized by larger rampaging machines.

    That short film was a masterpiece of simplicity... telling a unique story filled with awe and wonder in a mere 11-minutes of screen time... and devoid of any dialogue whatsoever.

    In this new film, director Acker... and co-screenwriter Pamela Pettler, have expanded the original 11-minute film into a 77-minute long feature with added dialogue, nuance and extended action scenes that are indeed exciting and at times awe inspiring.  However, overall - does the expanded, pumped up version improve or detract from the original concept.

    "9" is the story of a small, almost rag-doll like mechanical being... who awakes in a world decimated by war and destruction and devoid of anything human... save for a wasteland of rusting, decaying remnants of civilization and devastated cities.  Elijah Wood gives voice to the character of "9", named as such because of the same number scrawled across the back of his worn, burlap covered body.

   The beginning of this film more than echoes another similarly themed film, Pixar's "Wall-E" ... as "9" silently and alone scrounges around the devastated landscape, both on a tour of discovery... and of survival.  "9" believes he is indeed the sole inhabitant of this desolate world... but that soon changes with the arrival of two very different creatures.

   One is a kindly and wise creature made of gears and burlap just like "9"... named number "2" ( voiced by Martin Landau )

   Number Two literally helps "9" find his voice... and his way in navigating this desolate terrain.  However, both are almost immediately confronted by a vicious creature called "The Beast"  made from bones, demonic glowing eyes and mechanical parts.

   "2" bravely fights off "The Beast"... allowing "9" to hide and escape... before the creature conquers "2" in the fight and carries him away to a far off lair where more mechanical horrors await.

    This now leaves "9" alone on his own once again... but he soon encounters more of his own  kind, including a gentle, dim-witted, one eyed "5" ( John C. Reilly ), a valiant female warrior with wits, spectacular fighting skills ...and one imagines, a degree of puppet like beauty among her kind, "7" ( Jennifer Connelly )

...and finally, "1" ( voiced by Christopher Plummer ) as a older, sage-like, de-facto leader of these rag-doll creations who demands their obedience under the pretext of their very survival at his iron will.

  Despite the protests of "1" for the small group to stay hidden and safe inside a crumbling cathedral sanctuary ... "9" wants to embark on a rescue of "2" from within the bowels of The Beast's stronghold.  "9" prevails in this quest... and the group enters the stronghold to free "2".

However, in the process, "9" unwittingly energizes and unleashes a larger, more destructive mechanical beast that seemingly kills one of the frail creatures in a pitched battle.  The result leaves "9" and the others devastated... and the new mechanized monster to create more mechanical menaces to ravage the landscape.

    The rest of the film focuses on "9" journey of self discovery and preservation for his kind.  In the process, he discovers the reason behind his creation by a benevolent, well-meaning scientist who's desire to better mankind... only led to it's eventual destruction.

    The film "9" is a visually stunning piece of CGI animation... but, it's world has none of the colorful palettes of any of the Pixar films, including it's closest cousin "Wall-E".  This is a world of dismal desolation, dark shadows, and pastel glows... but, it works as a visual feast.  The action scenes are stunning, exciting and wonderfully staged and executed. 

    However, the film also has flaws that increasingly make it fall apart as it nears it’s climax.  The film is produced by filmmaker Tim Burton and his trademark touches are everywhere.  Many of the film's scenes, characters and mood echo several of Burton's own films that he directed.   The creatures at times seem to be refugees from "The Nightmare Before Christmas", "Edward Scissorhands" and "Corpse Bride" by way of "Popular Mechanics".

    Many other scenes and the plot line have echoes of many other well known films including "Terminator 2: Judgement Day",  "The Wizard of Oz",  the aforementioned "Wall-E"... and even "War of the Worlds" in it's mankind-killing war machines.

    It's this amalgam of so many iconic films that tends to distract from the film's initial uniqueness.  You find yourself spending so much time recognizing images from other familiar films... that the result is not so much positive and nostalgically derivative... as it's becomes mostly distracting.

    Add to that, the fact that the film's climax - though action packed... comes to a swift, abrupt conclusion and a finale that is equally abrupt... and jarringly unsatisfying in it's resolution.   The audience is left with the feeling as the closing credits roll - "Is that all there is?"

    Clearly, the feature film "9" is meant to be more detailed and textured than it's Oscar-nominated 11-minute predecessor.  However, as visually appealing the longer, louder, and more intentionally nuanced this expanded version to meant to be...

    ... it only seems to prove the old adage that sometimes "Less is More".

    Surviving the world apocalypse and the end of mankind is certainly all too familiar territory for film makers to explore time after time... and with the new animated film "9", Hollywood attempts a fresh new attempt at trial blazing new ground in this well worn genre. 

    The idea for this new film comes from a unique piece of source material.  In 2005, film director Shane Acker created his Oscar-nominated CGI animated short film about a small mechanical creature surviving a post-apocalypse world terrorized by larger rampaging machines.

    That short film was a masterpiece of simplicity... telling a unique story filled with awe and wonder in a mere 11-minutes of screen time... and devoid of any dialogue whatsoever.

    In this new film, director Acker... and co-screenwriter Pamela Pettler, have expanded the original 11-minute film into a 77-minute long feature with added dialogue, nuance and extended action scenes that are indeed exciting and at times awe inspiring.  However, overall - does the expanded, pumped up version improve or detract from the original concept

    "9" is the story of a small, almost rag-doll like mechanical being... who awakes in a world decimated by war and destruction and devoid of anything human... save for a wasteland of rusting, decaying remnants of civilization and devastated cities.  Elijah Wood gives voice to the character of "9", named as such because of the same number scrawled across the back of his worn, burlap covered body.

   The beginning of this film more than echoes another similarly themed film, Pixar's "Wall-E" ... as "9" silently and alone scrounges around the devastated landscape, both on a tour of discovery... and of survival.  "9" believes he is indeed the sole inhabitant of this desolate world... but that soon changes with the arrival of two very different creatures.

   One is a kindly and wise creature made of gears and burlap just like "9"... named number "2" ( voiced by Martin Landau )

   Number Two literally helps "9" find his voice... and his way in navigating this desolate terrain.  However, both are almost immediately confronted by a vicious creature called "The Beast"  made from bones, demonic glowing eyes and mechanical parts.

   "2" bravely fights off "The Beast"... allowing "9" to hide and escape... before the creature conquers "2" in the fight and carries him away to a far off lair where more mechanical horrors await.

    This now leaves "9" alone on his own once again... but he soon encounters more of his own  kind, including a gentle, dim-witted, one eyed "5" ( John C. Reilly ), a valiant female warrior with wits, spectacular fighting skills ...and one imagines, a degree of puppet like beauty among her kind, "7" ( Jennifer Connelly )

...and finally, "1" ( voiced by Christopher Plummer ) as a older, sage-like, de-facto leader of these rag-doll creations who demands their obedience under the pretext of their very survival at his iron will.

  Despite the protests of "1" for the small group to stay hidden and safe inside a crumbling cathedral sanctuary ... "9" wants to embark on a rescue of "2" from within the bowels of The Beast's stronghold.  "9" prevails in this quest... and the group enters the stronghold to free "2".

However, in the process, "9" unwittingly energizes and unleashes a larger, more destructive mechanical beast that seemingly kills one of the frail creatures in a pitched battle.  The result leaves "9" and the others devastated... and the new mechanized monster to create more mechanical menaces to ravage the landscape.

    The rest of the film focuses on "9" journey of self discovery and preservation for his kind.  In the process, he discovers the reason behind his creation by a benevolent, well-meaning scientist who's desire to better mankind... only led to it's eventual destruction.

    The film "9" is a visually stunning piece of CGI animation... but, it's world has none of the colorful palettes of any of the Pixar films, including it's closest cousin "Wall-E".  This is a world of dismal desolation, dark shadows, and pastel glows... but, it works as a visual feast.  The action scenes are stunning, exciting and wonderfully staged and executed. 

    However, the film also has flaws that increasingly make it fall apart as it nears it’s climax.  The film is produced by filmmaker Tim Burton and his trademark touches are everywhere.  Many of the film's scenes, characters and mood echo several of Burton's own films that he directed.   The creatures at times seem to be refugees from "The Nightmare Before Christmas", "Edward Scissorhands" and "Corpse Bride" by way of "Popular Mechanics".

    Many other scenes and the plot line have echoes of many other well known films including "Terminator 2: Judgement Day",  "The Wizard of Oz",  the aforementioned "Wall-E"... and even "War of the Worlds" in it's mankind-killing war machines.

    It's this amalgam of so many iconic films that tends to distract from the film's initial uniqueness.  You find yourself spending so much time recognizing images from other familiar films... that the result is not so much positive and nostalgically derivative... as it's becomes mostly distracting.

    Add to that, the fact that the film's climax - though action packed... comes to a swift, abrupt conclusion and a finale that is equally abrupt... and jarringly unsatisfying in it's resolution.   The audience is left with the feeling as the closing credits roll - "Is that all there is?"

    Clearly, the feature film "9" is meant to be more detailed and textured than it's Oscar-nominated 11-minute predecessor.  However, as visually appealing the longer, louder, and more intentionally nuanced this expanded version to meant to be...

    ... it only seems to prove the old adage that sometimes "Less is More".

Surviving the world apocalypse and the end of mankind is certainly all too familiar territory for film makers to explore time after time... and with the new animated film "9", Hollywood attempts a fresh new attempt at trial blazing new ground in this well worn genre. 

    The idea for this new film comes from a unique piece of source material.  In 2005, film director Shane Acker created his Oscar-nominated CGI animated short film about a small mechanical creature surviving a post-apocalypse world terrorized by larger rampaging machines.

    That short film was a masterpiece of simplicity... telling a unique story filled with awe and wonder in a mere 11-minutes of screen time... and devoid of any dialogue whatsoever.

    In this new film, director Acker... and co-screenwriter Pamela Pettler, have expanded the original 11-minute film into a 77-minute long feature with added dialogue, nuance and extended action scenes that are indeed exciting and at times awe inspiring.  However, overall - does the expanded, pumped up version improve or detract from the original concept

    "9" is the story of a small, almost rag-doll like mechanical being... who awakes in a world decimated by war and destruction and devoid of anything human... save for a wasteland of rusting, decaying remnants of civilization and devastated cities.  Elijah Wood gives voice to the character of "9", named as such because of the same number scrawled across the back of his worn, burlap covered body.

   The beginning of this film more than echoes another similarly themed film, Pixar's "Wall-E" ... as "9" silently and alone scrounges around the devastated landscape, both on a tour of discovery... and of survival.  "9" believes he is indeed the sole inhabitant of this desolate world... but that soon changes with the arrival of two very different creatures.

   One is a kindly and wise creature made of gears and burlap just like "9"... named number "2" ( voiced by Martin Landau )

   Number Two literally helps "9" find his voice... and his way in navigating this desolate terrain.  However, both are almost immediately confronted by a vicious creature called "The Beast"  made from bones, demonic glowing eyes and mechanical parts.

   "2" bravely fights off "The Beast"... allowing "9" to hide and escape... before the creature conquers "2" in the fight and carries him away to a far off lair where more mechanical horrors await.

    This now leaves "9" alone on his own once again... but he soon encounters more of his own  kind, including a gentle, dim-witted, one eyed "5" ( John C. Reilly ), a valiant female warrior with wits, spectacular fighting skills ...and one imagines, a degree of puppet like beauty among her kind, "7" ( Jennifer Connelly ) ... and finally, "1" ( voiced by Christopher Plummer ) as a older, sage-like, de-facto leader of these rag-doll creations who demands their obedience under the pretext of their very survival at his iron will.

    Despite the protests of "1" for the small group to stay hidden and safe inside a crumbling cathedral sanctuary ... "9" wants to embark on a rescue of "2" from within the bowels of The Beast's stronghold.  "9" prevails in this quest... and the group enters the stronghold to free "2".  However, in the process, "9" unwittingly energizes and unleashes a larger, more destructive mechanical beast that seemingly kills one of the frail creatures in a pitched battle.  The result leaves "9" and the others devastated... and the new mechanized monster to create more mechanical menaces to ravage the landscape.

    The rest of the film focuses on "9" journey of self discovery and preservation for his kind.  In the process, he discovers the reason behind his creation by a benevolent, well-meaning scientist who's desire to better mankind... only led to it's eventual destruction.

    The film "9" is a visually stunning piece of CGI animation... but, it's world has none of the colorful palettes of any of the Pixar films, including it's closest cousin "Wall-E".  This is a world of dismal desolation, dark shadows, and pastel glows... but, it works as a visual feast.  The action scenes are stunning, exciting and wonderfully staged and executed. 

    However, the film also has flaws that increasingly make it fall apart as it nears it’s climax.  The film is produced by filmmaker Tim Burton and his trademark touches are everywhere.  Many of the film's scenes, characters and mood echo several of Burton's own films that he directed.   The creatures at times seem to be refugees from "The Nightmare Before Christmas", "Edward Scissorhands" and "Corpse Bride" by way of "Popular Mechanics".

    Many other scenes and the plot line have echoes of many other well known films including "Terminator 2: Judgement Day",  "The Wizard of Oz",  the aforementioned "Wall-E"... and even "War of the Worlds" in it's mankind-killing war machines.

    It's this amalgam of so many iconic films that tends to distract from the film's initial uniqueness.  You find yourself spending so much time recognizing images from other familiar films... that the result is not so much positive and nostalgically derivative... as it's becomes mostly distracting.

    Add to that, the fact that the film's climax - though action packed... comes to a swift, abrupt conclusion and a finale that is equally abrupt... and jarringly unsatisfying in it's resolution.   The audience is left with the feeling as the closing credits roll - "Is that all there is?"

    Clearly, the feature film "9" is meant to be more detailed and textured than it's Oscar-nominated 11-minute predecessor.  However, as visually appealing the longer, louder, and more intentionally nuanced this expanded version to meant to be...

    ... it only seems to prove the old adage that sometimes "Less is More".