Review: 9

Review: 9

Rating: **1/2

Nonna's Rating: $$

Rotten Tomatoes: 56%

9's first incarnation as a film was as a taut, Oscar-nominated short (2005: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IQcMeNh7Hc). For some reason, Tim Burton and others thought stretching Shane Acker's compelling narrative to eight times its original length would produce an even better film. What were they thinking?

Unfortunately, although the new film explodes in visual artistry and graphic intricacy, the protracted, centerless plot results in a nebulous storyline that ultimately dissatisfies. The longer film gives male an female voices to the once asexual, silent characters, adds a backstory, and introduces a new, even more horrific villain -- but these devices add little to the tight beauty of the original narrative.

Even odder is the introduction of No. 1, a kind of machine-bishop with mitre, crosier, and cope, who resides in a ruined cathedral. He's repressive and bent on keeping secrets from the rest of the band, but, aside from promulgating fear among the troops until 9 arrives to save the day, there doesn't seem to be much purpose for this plot addition. Finally, the new, Hollywood ending seems to promise that organic life will return to the planet and all will be well -- someday. Such an ending wasn't necessary in the original short; it's not necessary here.

Nonna's Ratings:

$$$$ = Worth paying the Friday evening price
$$$= Worth paying the Matinee price
$$= Worth a rental
$ = Wait for cable
# = Skip it