Reviewed by Alicia Glass

Studio: Focus Films

MPAA Rating: PG 13

Director: Shane Acker

Review Rating: 7.5

 After yet another war saw the last of humanity, nine live poppets made by one of earth’s last scientists go on a quest to save whats left of their world amid predators.

 Yes, it’s an amazing movie to look at, and yes, it was a fairly neat plot. Unfortunately, the movie wasn’t anywhere near as popular as it should have been, given the voices used and the fact that the movie was produced by Tim Burton.  These tiny life-like poppets, hand-made by the scientist with cloth outsides and zippers that hide clockwork insides, act more or less just like people do, despite not needing to eat or sleep much; fear and survival are the most pressing points. The world of course has been taken over by the machines, after humanity disappeared, and they are the greatest threat to the 9, as they make their way across the blasted landscape…to what? That was something I didn’t quite understand – why would the last scientist leave the poppets a way to start the machines all over again? Doesn’t that seem not-helpful to survival?

 The pivotal character 9 is voiced by Elijah Wood, along with Martin Landau as 2, John C. Reilly as 5, Crispin Glover as 6, Fred Tatasciore as 8, and Jennifer Connelly as amazing Hunter 7. As visually stunning as it is, this is not at all a movie for children under 12 to watch. And if you do, be prepared for all sorts of unpleasant questions, about war and death and such. I’d like to give the movie a total thumbs-up, but I can’t help wondering why they made it in the first place. I do hope it wasn’t just to shake fingers at us as far as going too far with technology, in the spirit of Terminator. Nevertheless, as one of those curiosity cult movies you’ve heard about, 9 does stand out as a visual treat.

Tim Burton has a huge fan following, and 9 is a dive into a world unlike any other he’s created!