Pity the parents who buy tickets for “9″ thinking it’s another animated tale tailored for the kiddie set.
The new movie, directed by Shane Acker and co-produced by Tim Burton, proves anything but family friendly.
It’s a dark, disturbing realm where burlap-clad heroes fight for humanity’s last gasp.
Visually astounding and quietly beautiful, “9″ is a provocative treat for adults until the film’s narrative starts repeating itself.
For a few moments, though, it matches the raw power of “Wall*E’” earliest sequences.
The movie stars Elijah Wood as the voice of 9, one of a handful of creatures left standing after war wiped out humanity – and just about everything else.
Poor 9 has just woken up as the movie opens, but he quickly teams up with a few other creatures who look something like him – burlap bodies, Coke-bottle eyes, zippers where their belly buttons should be.
These seemingly friendly folk come under assault from an array of nasty machines, all intent on wiping them off the earth.
But why? And where did 9 and his new friends come from?
“9″ teases us with those questions, but the film’s 80 minute running time doesn’t leave room for satisfying answers. The film, stretched out from an Oscar-nominated short by Acker, focuses on the battle between 9’s pals and the rickety monsters leaving the big picture dark.
The sequences offer jaw-dropping action, but the moments soon grow tiresome.
And while “9″ assembles a crackerjack vocal cast – John C. Reilly, Martin Landau and Jennifer Connelly among the stars – it doesn’t invest the characters with enough personality.
But “9″ looks so truly stunning – and magical – from the opening frame that its narrative failings can almost be forgiven.
(Photo: #9 (voiced by Elijah Wood) peers out from a hiding place in Shane Acker’s epic adventure fantasy 9/ Photo Credit: Focus Features)
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
After watching “Coraline” I was wondering why it was only rated PG. Beautiful to look at but at the same time a very excellently creepy movie.
If only more horror movies could get under my skin as “Coraline” did … very unnerving.
This reminds me of the time a friend and myself went to see the South Park movie and a woman had taken what looked like a couple of boys around that ages of 13 to see it. Man I wonder what she was thinking when the first musical number started. I was actually glad to see that her and the two boys were not in the theatre when the lights went up.
Ryan is dragging me to this one later today. He’s a huge Tim Burton fan and me? not so much. But he’s been looking forward to it for ages. No doubt the theater will be crowded with kiddos. I’m starting to think most parents just don’t care.
Caroline totally creeped me out!!! And I’m glad I wasn’t the only one. I too was surprised at the PG rating.
Is “9″ in 3D? Ryan thought it was, but I don’t see it playing anywhere in 3D.
I thought it might be in 3-D, but no. It’s one case where the great visuals might? have been even more intriguing in that third dimension.
Is it time to have an official, “Creepiest Movies” thread?