The film 9 was originally presented as a graduating student short film by Shane Acker. The story of 9 follows a group of nine animatronic, tweed-covered puppets that have been brought to life by a “brilliant” scientist at the brink of humanity’s extinction. Why this is done or what is the bringer of such chaotic destruction is never explained. However, Tim Burton liked the premise of the film so much upon seeing the short that he paid for and produced Shane Acker’s feature length.

I was completely dissatisfied after the trailers built up my anticipation and brought me to fork over a meal’s worth of salary to the Century Theater here in Boulder, only to find myself occasionally nodding off and constantly checking the time on my cell phone. For me, 9 was not what you’d call immersive. The plot is full of unexplained holes which leave your imagination in complete control of interpreting the why’s and how’s. If you are an adult, expect to fulfill the duties of a scriptwriter while watching 9. The animation is surprisingly flat and dull, which in today’s market of competition from studios like Pixar, Lucas Arts, and whatever James Cameron’s decided to call his studio, is one hundred percent unacceptable.

So, enough slander of 9 from me. It’s apparent I didn’t like the film but there is an age for which I feel 9 can successfully be marketed. Like the animated Star Wars: Clone Wars movies, 9 is probably best suited for the younger age market. However, given its post-apocalyptic content, I wouldn’t go under the age of 12 and due to the weak story and frustrating animation, I wouldn’t recommend to many over the age of 16. If you’re looking for a newer flick with flashy animation or a good plot, why not go with Up. – [DVD]

Animation/Adventure/Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13

DVD Release Date: 12/29/09

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