Obviously, a 10 on stunning visuals – nothing wrong there.

The biggest problem I had was that I wanted more. Each character had so much potential – why was this character created as this number, how did the creator’s personality change throughout the process of creation, how do the characters, originally just facets of a personality, come to grow into fuller personalities of their own – and very little of it was ever realized.

I would even like to see development not only the “good guys” but also the “bad” ones – even the evil overlord with the military outfit must have had his reasons. I don’t like the stilted plot device of “we want a machine that will help the world, OH LOOK, we really just want to make war on everything.” I wish that the movie had spent a little time finding out what went on on both sides to create this nightmare inhabited only by machines and post-apocalyptic sock puppets with cool hardware.

The dipping of a little toe into alchemy was fascinating, but scarce; I wish the film had gone more into the philosophy of the alchemy behind the process of creation – especially because it seems like alchemy is a legitimate science in this world – and the physical, metaphysical, spiritual impact that alchemy has on the creator, the creations, and their world. (Luckily, I can go to Fullmetal Alchemist for a taste of that.)

I think I would have liked 9 very much more as an RPG or a television serial. (It would be doable; a backstory definitely exists. The 9 movie website actually has excerpts from the scientist’s journals – an excellent place to start.) That would have preserved the stunning visual landscape while allowing development of all these characters and ideas without making a 6-hour-long movie; a serial format would allow more continuity and development in a story that I think would be more engaging and satisfying if fully told.

I will happilby be the voice of dissent. I really enjoyed this movie. Yes, the skiffy elements have all been done before, but with so many future worlds so well trodden, that’s nothing new. I mean, what are you going to do, ban all plots with a machine revolution? That would be a shame. Yes, perhaps the characters aren’t as deep as they could be, but really that was explained given the origin of the characters. Yes, the ending could certainly have been better, but it continued the plot even if it didn’t totally make sense.

But the amazing renditions had my jaw on the floor. The fight scenes had me jumping in my seat. The AMAZING designs of the enemy machines, The Machine included, were worth the price of the movie ticket alone. I don’t think this movie would be the same on home video. The size of the screen just lent more weight to the size of the dolls’ adversaries.

Also, I was happy to hear so many good voice talents, though the only one I was able to pick out by sound was John C. Reilly. I love that Crispin Glover was the least sane of the group, as always.

I went to the movie in a really foul mood, but I came out of the movie quite happy because I was so pleased.