9
From FilmFile
Taglines:
Contents |
Synopsis
When 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world where all humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must take the offensive if they are to survive, and they must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. As they'll soon come to learn, the very future of civilization may depend on them.
Review
Mankind has managed to bring about his own extinction thanks to the old chestnut of reliance on machines. When the machines revolted, humanity was doomed. In his final moments of life, a creator stitched together a doll out of clockwork and cloth, and imbued it with life energy. That doll was labeled with the number 9. As he awakens into this decimated world, the film begins, and we follow 9 as he explores. He finds others like him, with different numbers, and slowly the short tale unfolds - a last desperate tale of mankind.
9 looks stunning, with imagery coming from the creative minds behind films such as Nightwatch, Nightmare Before Christmas, and more. The animated detail is a true feast for the eyes, seeming very real and yet strangely surreal at the same time. Every frame is worthy of being mounted on a wall to enjoy in all its rich majesty. Kudos, indeed, to the production design and the animators for the work they have put into the twisted future landscape and its inhabitants.
So, to complement such fantastic animation, there is also a short, yet well told story. At a short running time, the film feels just right in pacing and exposition. We encounter strange metallic monstrosites, the lurking menace that is seeking out the rag-doll heroes. Amongst the dolls themselves we have opposing factions, quasi-religion, and rogue warriors. The personalites play against and alongside each other well as we, the audience, begin to unravel the background of this world.
This is an animated move which plays well to both young and old. Some scenes may be a little too dark for the youngest audience, but anyone over 7 years old should be fine with it all. Adults will get the most out of the film, and it is certainly one I will be going back to from time to time.
Trivia
- The design of 3 and 4 is based on a pair of garden gloves - the thumb can be seen in the back, and the wrist is gathered at the top.
- One tells 9 that he led the others to their current hideout, which he refers to as "sanctuary". The building happens to be Notre Dame church, famously referred to "sanctuary" in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".
Cameos and allusions to other films
- The film is an extension / remake of a short film called 9 which was made in 2005
External links
Comments
Want to comment on this review? Pop over to the forums and have your say
Add rating
Current user rating: 83% (1 votes)
