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Film Review: 9
Posted by: – Sep 09, 2009
There is something to be said for a film that takes a played out premise and still finds a way to make it feel original. We have all seen countless movies in which technology turns on humanity and leaves the world populated by only a handful of survivors trying to live by avoiding monstrous hordes of evil machines. Shane Acker’s 9 turns that premise on its ear a bit. In this world, the only survivors are animated ragdolls, products of the same technology that wiped out humanity. With this one major difference, 9 manages to become an exciting adventure without reminding us too much of other films that tackled this story before it.
The film begins with the ninth ragdoll awakening alone in what seems to be the shambles of a humble laboratory. He does not know what he is or where he is, and he has no idea why the entire world around him is in ruins. He spies another ragdoll out a window, though, and he hurriedly exits the lab to meet #2. #2 only has enough time to explain that he and #9 are friends, and that there are others they should rejoin before he is attacked and taken by a giant evil looking machine.
The battles are done incredibly well in this movie. The monster is so large and powerful compared to the tiny ragdolls that right away the situation appears hopeless. This makes #9’s decision to go after the beast and try to rescue #2 all the more incredible. He makes this decision after he is rescued by #5 and taken before the leader of the survivors, #1. #1 is a seemingly cowardly ragdoll who would rather hide away than face down the beast and rescue anyone. After hearing the creature’s terrifying mechanical cries, it is difficult to blame him. #9 took the short lesson of friendship from #2 to heart, though, and cannot abandon him. #9 and #5 set off to track the beast and save their friend.
I will not reveal the outcome of their quest, but if you have seen Shane Acker’s original short film that this feature is based on, you have a fairly good idea of how it ultimately turns out. That is not to say that this film is just a longer version of the Oscar nominated short. While the exceptional visual style is retained, it seems clear that Acker was glad to have the chance to more fully develop the universe he created. Major questions about the origins of the ragdolls and the evil machines are answered, and the ragdolls are individually given much more personality.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the film is the short length. The original short film was roughly 10 and a half minutes, and it gave us an excellent glimpse at, essentially, a great idea. Now, the feature length 9 clocks in at only 79 minutes. We are given considerably more than what the short provided, but in many areas it is still not enough. I was left wanting more about the world before the machines turned against humanity. I was curious about what caused the machines to turn in the first place. What was their overall goal? It is not just the origin that is left a little flat. Several scenes with the ragdolls should have been given more attention. As I mentioned, each one is given his or her own personality, but they are not given the chance to fully explore them. We could have had genuinely compelling characters running through this fascinating world, but in order to keep the movie short and sweet, the opportunity is missed.
9 allows us to see an excellent new take on the old post-apocalyptic premise. The visual style is phenomenal, and the movie builds well off of the short film on which it is based. The only real shortcoming is that it feels more like a step in the process rather than the final product. Given the creativity demonstrated in both this film and the original, I can only imagine how much was left out in order to bring the film in at under 90 minutes. It is probably unrealistic to hope for an extended version of this film, and even if we never get one, we can at least be pleased with this more in-depth look at this world. It is only because this film is so good that I wish there was even more.
by Gareth Mussen
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