Well, seeing as even those of you whose opinion this review may have swayed can't exactly decide to up and see the film since it's probably out of circulation now, I'm not sure as to the point of this article. I guess that its main point is to just be SOMETHING new, for there hasn't exactly been a glut of updates lately. Ah, well.

About a month ago, some friends of mine and I resolved to catch Tim Burton's latest, the CGI animation flick "9." Technically, the film isn't Burton's latest as a director, as he simply produced the film with Shane Acker at the reins. Needless to say, 9 is perceived by many as being "Burton's latest," much as District 9 is "Peter Jackson's latest." There's much to be said of the recent phenomenon of nameless directors playing sidekick to big-name directors-turned-producers, but I digress.

This review is not a summary, and I will refrain from spoiling key story developments. What I will primarily address is how the film made me feel, as it is a heavily atmospheric film, relying not so much on dialog as on more subtle nuances and cues to carry the film forward.

The aptly named "Nine," voiced by Elijah Wood, is the ninth and last of his kind-- a race of Sack Boy-esque, mechanical rag-dolls. One of the film's key plot points is Nine's quest for personal purpose and the reason behind the existence of his kind. Since we ourselves are ever in search of such truths, Nine is rendered especially endearing. As a result, moviegoers will find it easy to empathize not only with Nine but also with his curious kin, each possessing their own unique personalities and motivations. Each of the 9 harbors some distinct quality or another which any human being should be able to identify within his or her own self. Thus, one cannot help but grow attached to the film's quirky cast.

Nine's adventurous nature clashes with the isolationist philosophy of the rest of his tribe, a philosophy which is primarily perpetuated per the mandate of their stubborn leader, One. As a result, One and Nine are put at odds with each other from the moment they first meet. While One's leadership had indeed kept his people out of harm's way, the potential change of pace that Nine represents is met with little resistance.

The post-apocalyptic world of 9 is certainly a perilous one, especially if you're approximately 10 inches tall. The "scary imagery" that apparently earned the film its PG-13 rating consists of the odd corpse here and Terminator bloodhound there. I distinctly remember many PG- and G-rated films of my youth that far surpassed 9 on the creep-meter.

Regardless of whether or not the film could have squeeked by with a PG- rather than a PG-13 rating, 9's desolate wasteland setting remains utterly breathtaking. I, for one, found it to be almost disturbingly comforting, so serene was this world without people. One scene in particular brilliantly integrates the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow, creating a juxtaposition of scenery and soundscape that is more than reminiscent of the famous Mad World Gears of War commercial. it's truly wonderful, and definitely my favorite part of the movie.

Before I wind up divulging all of the film's high points, I will conclude this review on a high note. When the film ends, you will immediately find yourself wishing for more. Shortly thereafter, though, you will conclude that 9 felt short, yes, but was ultimately sweet, and any more would surely spoil you. Sweet, but not sickly so. Satisfying and uplifting. 9 more than holds its own against all contenders for the title of Best Animated Film of 2009, of which there are many worthy candidates.

-Clown

Cross posted from www.NeoToonami.com courtesy of PompousClown.