Genre: Action / Adventure / Animation / Cult / Fantasy
Run Time: 79
Director: Shane Acker,Tim Burton
Cast: Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover
Synopsis
When the small rag doll 9 ("The Lord of the Ring‘s" Elijah Wood) first comes to life, he finds himself in a post–apocalyptic world. 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 landscape intent on doing them harm. 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 ever to survive, and they must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. What follows is a sublime, heartwarming adventure where this most unlikely of heroes leads his troops into battle and, along the way, discovers that a band of miniature warriors may be the last hope for humanity.
In a year that‘s already bestowed upon us the animated joys of "Bolt", "Ice Age 3" and, most notably, "Up", comes another feast for the eyes! "9" is indeed a beauty to behold, the level of detail is absolutely extraordinary, but Shane Acker‘s more melancholy offering stands apart as a different prospect entirely.
Set in a post–apocalyptic world where man has been undone by his mechanical creations (a lesson you would have thought we had learnt ever since "The Terminator") humanity‘s only hope lies with a ragtag bunch of sock puppets…well, they‘re more like little sackmen but the upshot is equally grim! The ruthlessness of the AI, sending forth its miss–mash creations of bone and metal in a bid to snuff out the last vestiges of mankind, is offset by the compassion displayed by the plucky band of stuffed rebels. Led by the newcomer of the group, voiced by Elijah Wood, our team not only has to face down a new threat but must also discover their reason for being in the process…a question that would vex the keenest of minds at the best of times without the added incentive of killer machines on your tail!
Existentialism aside, Acker has crafted a little masterpiece with a macabre sensibility. Life as we know it is over and what we‘re left with isn‘t much to crow about either – a daring set–up not often found in such animated hits. The heroes of the piece are instantly endearing though thanks to their quirky design and strong vocal support from the likes of Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly and Martin Landau.
Steampunk, or ‘Stitchpunk‘ as it will heretofore be known, has never looked so good. Unlike their playful PlayStation cousins theirs is a Little Barren Planet, but it‘s no less beautiful. Ok, being based on Acker‘s own, Oscar–winning 2004 short, "9" does feel slight and you do find yourself amidst a repetitive series of attacks on the Big Brain AI in the middle third. But these little qualms aside, "9" has a big heart and could well mark a shift towards more mature, offbeat animated fare in the mainstream. We hope.
