Recently a trailer was released for a strange CGI film simply called 9, directed by Shane Acker and co-produced by an up-and-comer named Tim Burton. Appropriately scheduled for release on 9-9-09, the film has an impressive cast that includes Elijah Wood as the title character, as well as stars Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, and more as a host of other numbers.
The film centers on a ragtag group of rag dolls (characters reminiscent of the creatures in the game Little Big Planet on the Playstation 3) living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland populated with mechanical monstrosities that threaten their survival. Some may not be aware that this feature film is an expansion/adaptation of an 11-minute short film of the same name, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005. It’s unknown how closely the longer film ties into the original short, but it presents an excellent glimpse of the eerie world of 9 and his people, and stands as a satisfying and haunting film on its own.
What do you think? Has this whet your appetite for more? Do you think the feature film can be as powerful as the dialogue-free and exposition-lite short, particularly with 9 sounding like Frodo Baggins? It’s a bit like reading a short story versus a novel–each form has its own strengths and weaknesses, so maybe it’s a matter of preference.
Wow. That was gorgeous and eerie and so sad. I’d seen the trailers for the long version, but didn’t realize it was based on a shorter film.
I’d actually like a little more exposition and characterization, so I’m really looking forward to the film here. But then, I’m one of those people who usually prefers the novel version of a well-regarded short story to the original. I prefer immersing in a world, and short stories are rarely long enough to allow that.
Agree with Nora, gorgeous and sad, the movie looks like is has that AND it’s epic and mythical…CAN’T WAIT to see it.
That was astonishing, not least for all the seamlessly integrated elements from other works we are so familiar with. The lamp, in particular, carries so much resonance, just starting with the light keeper, the light bringer, and the Pixar little lamp cutie-pie.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Love, c.
Do you think the Wall-E people saw the 11 minute piece and were influenced to a degree by it?
Love, C.
Constance @ 2:
I think that with the time frame involved, Pixar was likely already developing Wall*E before this film came out, if they weren’t already in production. Of course they could have seen 9 early, and it may very well have inspired them.
That is absolutely beautiful.
I’m not sure if my curiosity for more is overpowered by my hesitancy for the new movie to ruin the magic of it.
I loved the details on this. The predatory junk creature made of bike parts and a cat skull. Every element of their design was recognizable from our everyday lives except for that green light doohickey. It really draws attention to itself in that way.
The tribal elements made me think of Oddworld’s “Abe’s Exodus” video game. I liked the use of motion too in that it showed us that there was danger around every corner in this world of junk.
The light actually put me off. I remember the early days of Pixar with the lamp animation, watching it on laserdisk long ago. I’m sick of the lamp. Other than that, it was great. Not sure how Tim Burton’s involvement will help or hurt the movie quite yet. I hope its not as much of a dog as Sweeney Todd or even Corpse Bride.
If they stick to these elements, like we just watched, it will be gold.