FILMS: ‘9’: Great effects, weak story

If you love movies about robots in a post-apocalyptic world, rent “Wall-e.” For a creepier, morally problematic version with less heart, “9” (Focus Features) is the film to see.

“9” is not a cartoon adventure meant for children. It is frightening, violent and not remotely humorous — though writer and director Shane Acker deserves credit for an interesting concept.

Thirst for technology brought the human race to its end — advanced machines turn on their creators. Yet nine small sack dolls — created by the same scientist responsible for the destructive machines — remain.

The scientist completes the final one, #9, as he dies. #9 wakes to find an empty world with only eight other small creatures like him — also named by their numbers, #1-#8, with varying personalities.

After #2 is captured, #9 sets out to rescue him, igniting a trajectory that carries through the rest of the film. The animation is so sharp — particularly during the battle scenes — you have to remind yourself it isn’t live action.

While the voices are performed well, including Elijah Woods as #9 with Jennifer Connelly and John C. Riley as supporting characters, the heroes are flat, making it difficult to care about their mission.

That said, there is no indication that defeating the machines will bring back the human race. The characters are basically just fighting for self-preservation.

There are a few elements in the film that might be seen as a negative portrayal of the Church — the fearful and harsh leader doll, #1, wears something like a miter and lives in a church. Still, if the writers were trying to make a negative commentary about the institution of religion, their message is as muddled as the rest of the plotline.

Pope Benedict XVI, during his Christmas Mass message in 2006, said, “Despite humanity’s many advances, man has always been the same: freedom poised between good and evil, between life and death.”

And this, more or less, is the thrust of the film. Humans initially created the machine that destroyed the world to be an instrument of peace and good. But they corrupted that intention and used the machines for war and destruction. The result was the death of humanity.

The film is a look at what may happen if technological advancements aren’t handled with great care. The world of “9” presents the same problem as the film itself — the technology is advanced, but the human element is lacking.

Media critic Rebecca Bostic is a regular contributor to The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.

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CNS photo/Focus Features

A character named #9, voiced by Elijah Wood, in the animated “9.”

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In theaters

The following film has been evaluated by the U.S. bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic merit and moral suitability.

9 (Focus/Relativity)

Artistically accomplished but intellectually problematic animated fantasy in which the doll-like titular creature leads a band of similar beings as they battle giant mechanical monsters amid the ruins of a post-apocalyptic world.

Director Shane Acker’s feature debut, an expansion of his 2004 short of the same title, implicitly contrasts a naysaying version of religious faith with enlightening science, a false dichotomy that, despite some eventual modifications, requires mature deliberation by spiritually well-grounded viewers. Complex religious themes, moderate action violence and frequent menace.

The USCCB classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Catholic Sun rating

Message: Poor

Artistic merit: Mediocre