Let us put “story” and “plot” aside for something so astoundingly stunning that it defies the imagination. 9, the new movie being marketed on the back of Tim Burton, is a visual masterpiece in every sense of the phrase. It is being pooh-poohed by critics for not containing enough story, or using overly simplistic clichéd ideas to get its point across. Instead 9 uses a simplistic plot as a backdrop to showcase some of the most outlandishly awesome computer animation to hit the big screen.

In a post-apocalyptic world, where sentient machines have taken over the earth, nine sock puppet-like figures have been created by a now deceased scientist. Their story is revealed in flashbacks here and there during the movie. The reason they are around isn’t especially important, it is what they do and how they do it that is the real key to the film.

People are missing the point of this film if they try and dig too deep or ask for meaning where there deliberately isn’t any. The film provides enough backstory of machines turning against their masters and taking over to suffice. We the audience see everything from the sock puppet point of view, making everything large, terrifying, and confusing. Part of the point is to be as confused as these sock puppets are. They don’t know why they exist; only that they do and that their instinct to survive is strong.

Each living puppet has a number painted on their back. Numbers one through nine. Each puppet has a distinct personality, figuring out what those personalities are and how they relate once the “secret” is revealed is part of the fun and will require rewatching to figure out exactly what and why they are. The puppet with a nine scrawled on his back is the newest one to come to life. He doesn’t know why, how, or what even brought him to life. Does he know what life is? That’s a good question. He has instincts, and he learns quickly. He soon meets up with others that look like him. They are all made of different materials, many of them resembling old potato sacks, stitched together into human-like bodies with what appear to be camera shutters for eyes.

Article Author: Aaron Peck

All of Aaron's reviews first appear in print for The Herald Journal Cache Magazine. He's also running the fledgling film site The Reel Place.com.

Visit Aaron Peck's author page — Aaron Peck's Blog